Orlando City B (11-9-7, 44 points) earned a huge three points with a 3-1 win over Toronto FC II (11-12-4, 39 points) tonight at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. Ignacio Gomez and Gustavo Caraballo scored first-half goals before Harvey Sarajian made it 3-0 in the 58th minute. Elias Khodri converted a penalty late, but it wasn’t enough for the visitors.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding deployed the same starting lineup that cruised to a 4-1 win over Inter Miami II on Sept. 4. Tristan Himes was in goal, behind a back line of Clovis Archange, Nolan Miller, Landon Okonski, and Parker Amoo-Mensah. Justin Hylton and Gomez were the defensive midfielders, Caraballo, Sarajian, and Issah Haruna were the attacking midfielders, and Pedro Leao started up top.

The hosts were the better team from the opening whistle and fully deserved the win. They created more chances and better opportunities, taking a commanding lead just before the hour mark. They bunkered down in the final 10 minutes, allowing the visitors to control possession, and it took some good saves from Himes to avoid a nail-biting finish. But they come away with a huge result heading into the last game of the regular season.

The first chances came in the third minute when a poor pass by Amoo-Mensah for Himes went over the end line for a Toronto corner kick. While the visitors couldn’t create anything from the set piece, the eventual cross went just over Reid Fisher’s head. Richard Chukwu collected the ball, and Okonski headed away his cross.

Caraballo broke the other way with Sarajian and Leao. The attacker decided to play the ball to his left for Sarajian, who dribbled into the box and sent his shot just wide of the near post.

Toronto had another good chance in the seventh minute when Chukwu sent a dangerous ball to the back post where Damar Dixon was making a run. Fortunately, Archange reached the ball first, knocking it over the end line. The Young Lions cleared the ensuing corner kick, ending the attack.

Leao intercepted a bad ball out of the back by Toronto goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario. Rather than dribbling into the box, the striker sent an off-target pass toward Sarajian. Fortunately, it was also just beyond Gabriel Mikina’s reach. Caraballo took possession and sent a weak shot that didn’t cause any trouble for De Rosario.

The Young Lions opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Amoo-Mensah found Haruna with space, allowing him to enter the Toronto third of the field. While Leao was calling for a square ball, Haruna played a beautiful pass between a pair of defenders for Gomez’s well-timed run into the box. The midfielder’s second touch was a shot past De Rosario and inside the far post to give OCB the 1-0 lead.

Gómez slides it past the keeper and @OrlandoCityB take the lead at home! 👏 pic.twitter.com/1XYFx7uCqz

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 13, 2026

Amoo-Mensah made a run to the end line in the 42nd minute before sending a cross to the back post. Leao had his back to the goal and attempted a bicycle kick, sending his attempt wide.

A minute later, the Young Lions doubled their lead. It started with an innocuous ball from Archange to Caraballo in the OCB half. The attacker dribbled into the Toronto third with no defender stepping up to challenge him. As he approached the top of the box, Caraballo took a touch inside and sent a gorgeous, curling shot past De Rosario and just inside the far post to make it 2-0.

Delgado slots it home from the top of the box! 🎯

2-0 @OrlandoCityB pic.twitter.com/jooXMmGbIX

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 13, 2026

Miller touched the ball off of Salaou’s foot in the third minute of stoppage time and Sarajian broke the other way. Caraballo sprinted down the field to provide support and Sarajian sent him into the Toronto box. The attacker opened up and attempted to curl the ball around De Rosario, but the goalkeeper got down to make a terrific save. However, Sarajian waited too long to make the final pass, causing Caraballo to be offside, so it wouldn’t have counted had it gone in.

It was a good first half by the hosts, who held the advantage in shots (7-2), shots on target (3-0), and passing accuracy (90.4%-90.1%). Toronto had more crosses (3-2) and corner kicks (4-1) in the first 45 minutes.

OCB had a great chance for a third in the 48th minute when Himes threw the ball long for Sarajian. The Young Lions had a two-on-one break with Leao to Sarajian’s right. However, as the defender closed him down, Sarajian tried to take it himself, lost possession, and ended up being called for a foul.

A minute later, Sarajian had the ball in the Toronto box with more defenders. This time, the attacker played it square for Caraballo, whose first touch sent it further right for Haruna. The midfielder settled and shot, but his attempt was deflected off target.

Toronto had a golden chance to get one back in the 54th minute when Marko Stojadinovic played Bryce Boneau in the OCB third of the field. Boneau’s first touch was a lovely pass for Jahmarie Nolan behind the back line. But, as the attacker prepared to open up for a shot, he tripped, softly touching the ball into Himes’ arms.

The Young Lions nearly scored a third in the 57th minute when Amoo-Mensah sent a fantastic cross beyond the far post. It was just over Dixon’s head where Okonski was waiting for it. The center back headed the ball toward the back post, forcing De Rosario to dive to his right to make a one-handed save.

Toronto quickly went the other way, losing the ball in the OCB third and allowing the Young Lions to build a counterattack. A give-and-go between Haruna and Gomez gave Haruna space to play the ball to Sarajian on the left. Stojadinovic was in a good defensive position, but Sarajian used his change of pace to create space for a shot, placing a left-footed shot from the left behind De Rosario and inside the right post to make it 3-0.

Sarajian fires it home and @OrlandoCityB has three! 👏 pic.twitter.com/MVlOmaHYwW

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 14, 2026

The goal seemed to spark Toronto as the Reds attempted to get back into the game to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention with one match remaining. In the 61st minute, Lucas Dawson dribbled through several OCB defenders before it was tapped off his foot. The ball went directly to Nolan at the top of the box, but his shot was over the target.

A minute later, Boneau winded through the OCB defense before playing the ball wide left for Fletcher Bank. Dixon came in from the right and tried to direct the ball on target but sent it over the crossbar. Bank created a chance for himself in the 65th minute, dribbling strongly down the left. The attacker had a step on Amoo-Mensah and found space for a shot, but he sent the attempt off target.

Wilding made his first substitution in the 66th minute, replacing Caraballo with Matthew Belgodere.

Stojadinovic received a pass from Boneau just inside the OCB half of the field in the 73rd minute and made a long run to the top of the box. The defender took a hard shot that Himes could only block wide. Toronto kept possession, eventually creating a cross for Dixon with nobody near him. The attacker’s first touch was a poor one, taking him inside and allowing Himes to close him down. By the time he was able to shoot, Himes was in an excellent position to make the save.

Wilding made two more changes during the 77th-minute hydration break. Brady Kendall and Nicolas Lasheras came on for Sarajian and Leao.

Kendall attempted to make his presence apparent in the 80th minute after receiving a pass from Haruna near the top of the Toronto box. The substitute took a touch before unleashing a right-footed shot that skipped wide of the target.

De Rosario tried to make something happen in the attack off the restart, sending a long ball into the OCB box. Dekwon Barrow had space and was behind the back line, but he couldn’t get enough on his header, allowing Himes to make the stop.

Toronto got a lifeline in the 83rd minute when Salaou found Fisher near the top of the OCB box. Belgodere challenged the center back, popping the ball up and towards the end line. It was a race bewteen Himes and Barrow to reach the ball with the Toronto attacker getting there first. As a result, Himes bundled him over from behind and referee Russell Miller pointed to the spot.

Khodri stepped up to take the spot kick. He sent Himes the wrong way, tucking the ball into the corner to make it 3-1.

Khodri pulls one back from the spot! 💫 pic.twitter.com/ES0JiFE9Wc

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 14, 2026

In the 86th minute, a cross into the box went off Lasheras’ head, giving Toronto a great chance for a second. The deflection sent it over a group of players to Barrow and Khodri at the top of the six-yard box. Khodri was the one to get his head on the ball, sending his attempt over the crossbar.

Wilding made his two final changes in the 89th minute. Nicolas Torres and Caleb Trombino entered the contest, replacing Hylton and Haruna.

A poor touch by Kendall after receiving a pass from Archange in the 89th minute resulted in Stojadinovic taking possession. The defender carried the ball into the OCB third before firing from long distance right into Himes’ hands.

OCB put everyone behind the ball as the Young Lions tried to hold onto the two-goal lead. While Toronto controlled possession in the opposing half, the visitors couldn’t create any more shots, allowing the Young Lions to come away with the 3-1 win.

At full time, both teams had taken 14 shots and Toronto put one more on target (6-5). The visitors also attempted more crosses (12-5), won more corner kicks (6-3), and had better passing accuracy (88-7%-84.4%). But most of that was after OCB had a three-goal lead.

The Young Lions were struggling heading into the business end of the season. However, they responded from a five-game losing streak by winning their last three and putting themselves in a great spot to make the postseason.

The win puts OCB in eighth place on 44 points with every team having one game remaining. The Young Lions are only two points behind New England Revolution II for third and three points ahead of Huntsville City FC for 11th. As a result, they could finish anywhere from third to 11th, depending on what happens in the final game of the season.

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That game will take place Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. when OCB hosts Atlanta United 2 at Oscoela County Stadium.

Orlando City B (10-9-7, 41 points) controlled in-state rival Inter Miami II (3-18-5, 15 points) tonight, winning 4-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Issah Haruna, Harvey Sarajian, Gustavo Caraballo, and Ignacio Gomez were the OCB goal scorers, while Nash Dearmin scored the lone goal for the South Florida club.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made one change to the team that beat Crown Legacy FC 3-2 Sunday night. Sarajian entered the starting lineup in place of Matthew Belgodere, who started on the bench.

Goalkeeper Tristan Himes started behind a back line of Clovis Archange, Nolan Miller, Landon Okonski, and Parker Amoo-Mensah. Justin Hylton and Gomez were in the defensive midfield behind Caraballo, Haruna, and Sarajian with Pedro Leao up top.

This was a much bigger game for OCB as the Young Lions fight for a playoff spot and Miami is already eliminated. That difference showed as the visitors were the more aggressive team and looked more determined to come away with three points. Miami created more shots than its opposition, but most of those attempts were from long range and well off target or blocked. Meanwhile, OCB had the better opportunities with a much higher percentage of shots on target.

The hosts created the first shot in the sixth minute when Nicholas Almeida intercepted a Sarajian pass and sent Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida forward. The attacker got behind the back line and it appeared as though he would be in on goal. But Okonski and Amoo-Mensah caught up. Amoo-Mensah deflected Zeltzer-Zubida’s shot from outside the box off target, and the Young Lions cleared the ensuing set piece.

OCB’s first chance came in the 10th minute and resulted in the game’s first goal. It started when Miller lifted the ball long on the right for Haruna. The attacker dribbled inside, used a spin to create space from his defender, and beat Matias Marin to his near post to give the Young Lions the early 1-0 lead.

Haruna fires it home at the near post! 🎯

1-0 @OrlandoCityB pic.twitter.com/vYazTUYts9

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 4, 2026

It was Haruna’s third consecutive game with a goal after finding the net against Atlanta United 2 on Aug. 22 and Crown Legacy FC on Aug. 30.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for Miami to respond. In the 12th minute, Marin sent a long ball down the right for Theo Vorenkamp. The right back cut back to create space from Archange and lifted a cross into the box for Mateo Saja. The attacker chested the ball down, but it was too far in front of him and Okonski sent it away.

The ball landed Dearmin’s feet. He took a couple of dribbles toward the center of the field before beating Himes to his right post to even the game at 1-1.

Dearmin from distance! ⚡@Intermiamicfii are level at Inter Miami CF Stadium. pic.twitter.com/cFsC5ADoo3

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 4, 2026

The Herons thought they’d taken the lead in the 15th minute when Zeltzer-Zubida sent a nice ball behind the back line for Saja. The attacker dribbled into the box and chipped Himes. However, the assistant referee correctly ruled Saja offside.

Miami forced Himes into his first quality save in the 19th minute when Matteo De Paula played Diego Rey to the end line. Okonski had a chance to clear the cross, but the center back couldn’t get a piece of the ball. It landed at Dearmin’s feet, but Himes tipped his shot over the crossbar. OCB cleared the ensuing corner, ending the threat.

Okonski headed away a set piece in the 22nd minute and a poor touch by Sloan Morrison gave OCB a two-on-one. Haruna drove down the field with Caraballo to his right. As Vorenkamp closed Haruna down, the midfielder played Caraballo into the box. Unfortunately, Caraballo’s shot was too close to Marin, allowing the goalkeeper to push the ball wide.

Four minutes later, the Young Lions took their second lead of the game. Amoo-Mensah gave the ball away in his own half, but a bad touch by Vorenkamp allowed Archange to retake possession. The left back played a beautiful ball between two defenders for Sarajian, making a run into the Miami third of the field. The attacker placed the ball behind Marin and inside the far post to give OCB a 2-1 lead.

Sarajian puts the visitors back in front! 👊 pic.twitter.com/I5dWksIjzc

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 4, 2026

Miami nearly responded right away, just as it did earlier. Vorenkamp laid the ball off for Rey, approaching the top of the OCB box. The attacker’s first touch was a shot past Himes and off the far post. The rebound set Saja up perfectly with a completely empty goal, but he couldn’t get over the ball, sending it over the crossbar.

Amoo-Mensah sent a long ball forward for Sarajian in the 32nd minute, giving the attacker a good opportunity for his second goal. Vorenkamp caught up, forcing Sarajian to use a nifty touch to create space for a shot. However, Marin had his near post covered and blocked the attempt over the end line.

The ensuing set piece by Amoo-Mensah found Gomez at the far post. The midfielder’s initial header was blocked, but it fell right back to him. Marin blocked his second shot to the near post and the goalkeeper fell on the ball, ending the attack.

The hosts looked to even the game again in the 36th minute when Joseph Convers played a give-and-go with De Paula, setting Convers up just outside the OCB box. However, his first touch from the return pass was a shot that went right at Himes. Seconds later, Rey took the ball off of Miller’s foot and dribbled down the end line. He had a teammate trying to find space, but Archange and Okonski filled in that space, forcing Rey to fire a shot wide of the near post.

Leao broke down the middle in the 43rd minute, playing the ball to his right for Caraballo. The midfielder was unable to create a shot, causing him to look for Gomez instead. His pass was deflected, going to Hylton, who immediately found Leao. The striker quickly took a shot that forced Marin to tip it wide.

Less than a minute later, the Young Lions extended their lead. It started with Archange’s throw-in to Sarajian down the left. The attacker’s long cross through the box was controlled nicely by Haruna, laying the ball back for Caraballo. Gomez turned his back in the box as Caraballo fired from distance. In a bit of luck, the ball bounced off Gomez, redirecting past Marin and in to give OCB the 3-1 lead.

A deflected shot finds the back of the net and @OrlandoCityB have their third of the half! 💪 pic.twitter.com/QUo7enw0HM

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 4, 2026

In the dying seconds of the first half, Leao played Haruna behind the back line. It looked like the midfielder might have a free shot on goal, but Vorenkamp slid in to deflect the attempt over the crossbar at the last second. The referee called a foul on the ensuing corner kick, ending the attack and the half.

Both teams took 10 shots in the first half, but OCB put more on target (7-3). While the Young Lions won more corner kicks (4-3) in the first 45 minutes, Miami had better passing accuracy (82.4%-75.3%).

OCB started the second half on the attack, just as it had ended the first. The Young Lions created a shot less than a minute after the restart as Sarajian found Caraballo near the penalty spot. But the attacker’s first-touch shot was over the target.

Miami’s first chance of the half came in the 48th minute when Dearmin played a lovely ball behind the back line for Rey. Himes did well to react quickly, coming off his line and blocking Rey’s attempt to chip him.

While both teams scored early in the first half, most of the early second-half shots were from outside the box and blocked. Miami put a chance on frame in the 57th minute when Saja lifted the ball from the left to the back post. Rey got his head to the ball but put his attempt into Himes’s chest.

Wilding made his first change in the 66th minute, replacing Leao with Belgodere. The substitute took his place on the left side and Sarajian moved into the striker role.

Gomez intercepted and cleared a Jerremy Ortela cross in the 74th minute, but Caraballo immediately lost possession to De Paula. Rather than looking for a teammate, De Paula took a long-distance shot from outside the box, sending his attempt into Himes’s arms.

De Paula received a pass on the left in the 76th minute, lifting a cross to the back post. Vorenkamp was there to get his head on the ball, sending his attempt wide of the near post. It was fortunate for OCB, as Vorenkamp had more time than he realized.

Wilding made two more changes in the 77th minute. Caraballo and Archange exited the contest, replaced by Nicholas Lasheras and Titus Sandy, Jr.

Sarajian played the ball to Belgodere on the left in the 81st minute and the midifeilder dribbled inside before finding Hylton near the penalty spot. Hylton spun to beat Morrison, who stuck his leg in, causing Hylton to go to the ground. Referee Jack Joyce pointed to the spot without hesitation, giving the Young Lions a golden opportunity to score a fourth.

With regular penalty takers Leao and Caraballo having departed, Gomez stepped up to take the kick. The young attacker did well with his first penalty of the season, sending Marin the wrong way to give OCB a commanding 4-1 lead.

THE EXCLAMATION POINT

NACHO SLAMS IT HOME TO CAP OFF A HARD-FOUGHT GAME 🥊 pic.twitter.com/ms85dVh1GR

— Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) September 5, 2026

Wilding made his final two changes in the 84th minute as Brady Kendall and Caleb Trombino came on for Haruna and Hylton.

Shortly after the changes, Miller fouled Judeson Aldeclat just outside the OCB box, giving the hosts a chance to get a goal back. Alejandro Flores took the set piece, sending his attempt just wide of the near post.

With the result no longer in question, the final minutes were more of a formality. A long-distance attempt by Flores that caused Himes little concern was the only shot by either team as the game slowly approached the final whistle.

At full time, Miami had more shots (22-16), but both teams put eight attempts on target. Despite Miami also winning more corner kicks (8-5), attempting more crosses (11-3), and having better passing accuracy (84.8%-73.8%), OCB came away with a relatively stress-free win.

The three points put OCB in a much stronger position to qualify for the playoffs. The Young Lions currently occupy the eighth position, which would host the No. 9 team in a one-game play-in game. They’re one point behind Atlanta United 2 and two ahead of NYCFC II. While both have a game in hand on the Young Lions, OCB and Atlanta will end the season against each other at Osceola County Stadium.

But that’s not all. OCB is only two points behind New England Revolution II and Connecticut United FC for the fifth and sixth spots. As a result, one of several results  — combined with a pair of OCB wins — will see the Young Lions qualify for the postseason.

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OCB will likely have to win both of its last two games to make the postseason. That starts on Sept. 13 when the Young Lions host Toronto FC II in their penultimate game of the regular season.

Orlando City B (9-9-7, 38 points) snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating first-place Crown Legacy FC (13-5-7, 51 points) 3-2 tonight at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. Adrian Mendoza gave the visitors the early lead, and Issah Haruna equalized late in the first half. Goals inside the first three minutes of the second half by Matthew Belgodere and Gustavo Caraballo made it 3-1. Crown Legacy got one back through an Ignacio Gomez own goal in the 54th minute, but the Young Lions held on for the win.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made two changes to the team that lost 5-1 to Atlanta United 2 on Aug. 22. Clovis Archange and Caraballo entered the lineup, replacing Albright Chikamso and Nicolas Lasheras.

Goalkeeper Tristan Himes started behind a back line of Archange, Nolan Miller, Landon Okonski, and Parker Amoo-Mensah. Justin Hylton and Gomez were the defensive midfielders behind Belgodere, Caraballo, and Haruna, with Pedro Leao up top.

It looked like it would be a long night for OCB when Crown Legacy hit the post and scored inside six minutes. But they settled down and even got an equalizer before halftime. The key period of the game was the first three minutes of the second half, when OCB scored twice to take a 3-1 lead. The hosts were helped by the post two more times, allowing them to hold onto the lead and win their first game since July 12.

An Amoo-Mensah giveaway in the fifth minute gave Crown Legacy the first chance of the night. Andrew Johnson intercepted the pass and played it forward for Magic Smalls. The striker played it forward for Mendoza, who set up Andrej Subtoic for a shot that bounced off the near post. Unfortunately, the ball went right to Mendoza at the top of the box. The attacker dribbled inside to create space from Leao before sending a shot past Himes to give the visitors the early 1-0 lead.

Adrian Mendoza from all the way downtown! 😱

Perfect start for @crownlegacyfc! pic.twitter.com/w9VO8Z8Tyk

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 30, 2026

The Young Lions created their first chances in the eighth minute when Haruna played Amoo-Mensah forward, and the right back’s cross was blocked out for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece was to the near post, where Johnson headed it over the end line for another. The second attempt bounced around the box before it landed at Okonski’s feet beyond the back post. The center back got a shot off, but Jahiem Wickham came off his line to make the save.

Crown Legacy was unable to clear, allowing Belgodere to find Archange making a run down the left. His cross glanced off Gomez’s head and fell to Caraballo on the right. Mikah Thomas blocked the midfielder’s first touch, ending the attack.

OCB turned a Crown Legacy corner kick into a counter in the 16th minute, led by Leao. The striker found Caraballo in the box, but he was unable to create enough space for a shot. However, after Crown Legacy headed out Belgodere’s cross, Archange found Leao. The defender wanted Leao to send the ball through for him, but Leao turned and fired wide instead.

Baye Coulibaly intercepted Himes’ poor pass out of the back in the 24th minute. The midfielder played the ball forward for Nathan Richmond before receiving it right back and sending his attempt over the goal.

OCB found the equalizer in the 31st minute. The Young Lions struggled at first to get the ball out of the back, but Belgodere was able to tap it to Leao, leading to a break down the field. The striker played the ball to the right for Haruna, who dribbled inside before firing behind a diving Wickham and into the far corner to even the game at 1-1.

Issah Haruna scores in back-to-back matches! 🦁 pic.twitter.com/aGFMvJV1eL

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 30, 2026

Belgodere carried the ball into the Crown Legacy third of the field in the 45th minute and had space for a left-footed shot. But Willian Sangoquiza stuck his foot in and deflected it over the end line. The Young Lions played the ensuing set piece short to Caraballo and eventually played it wide to Amoo-Mensah. The right back’s cross found Leao’s head, but he put his attempt off the near post, narrowly missing giving OCB the late first-half lead.

At halftime, OCB had the advantage in shots (8-5), shots on target (2-1), corner kicks (5-4), and passing accuracy (82.7%-82.4%), but the teams traded goals and were even at the break.

The Young Lions got the second half off to the best possible start. Just 35 seconds in, Belgodere took the ball off Sangoquiza’s foot, dribbled inside to find some space, then beat Wickham to his near post to give OCB the 2-1 lead.

.@OrlandoCityB wasted no time to equalize 🗣️
Matthew Belogodere left them all guessing! 😤 pic.twitter.com/Zzzo0XcYeS

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 31, 2026

Three minutes later, Caraballo knocked the ball off of Johnson’s foot. It popped up to Haruna, who played a beautiful ball forward for Caraballo. The Homegrown product beat Johnson into the Crown Legacy box and used a deft chip to beat Wickham, making it 3-1 to the hosts.

GO ON, CARABALLO!!! pic.twitter.com/KIj7kyx0IV

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 31, 2026

In the 54th minute, Sangoquiza fired a ball off Gomez and over the end line for a corner kick. Jack Neeley volleyed the looping set piece, but Gomez cleared it. Coulibaly collected it outside the box and played it through Neeley and Mendoza for Richmond. Smalls and Gomez challenged for the cross, resulting in the ball glancing off Gomez’s head. It deflected over Himes, bounced off the inside of the post, and crept over the goal line to make it 3-2.

A short corner in the 61st minute gave OCB a great chance to extend its lead. Haruna found Amoo-Mensah in the box, and the right back quickly saw Leao nearby. The striker’s first touch was a shot with space, but he sent the ball well over the target.

An Amoo-Mensah giveaway in the 64th minute gave Crown Legacy an opportunity. Brian Romero took possession and laid the ball off for Sebastian Ventura with his back to the goal. Instead of a risky shot, the attacker found Daniel Longo approaching the OCB third of the field. Longo fired from distance, sending his attempt over the crossbar.

Wilding made his first changes of the game in the 75th minute. Hector Aguirre came on to loud cheers from friends and family, joined by Lasheras. The pair replaced Caraballo and Miller.

Aguirre collected a poor pass by Hugo Mbongue in the 78th minute and played it forward to Belgodere. Haruna made a run into the box and called for the ball, but Belgodere fired from distance instead, sending his attempt over the target.

Crown Legacy nearly equalized in the 82nd minute when Coulibaly found Sangoquiza darting down the right. The right back sent a low cross through the box that reached Romero on the left. The substitute cut inside to lose Amoo-Mensah and sent a shot just over the leg of Okonski. He beat Himes, putting his attempt off the far post. Longo followed the shot, putting his attempt off Okonski.

Ventura had a chance to even the game in the 86th minute when an Okonski clearance went to Thomas outside the box. Thomas played the ball square for Coulibaly, who sent Ventura between Okonski and Amoo-Mensah. The attacker used a nice spin move to get in on goal with Himes coming off his line. He tried to lift the ball over the OCB goalkeeper, but Himes got his right arm to it, sending the ball off the crossbar and out of play.

A 90th-minute ball into the OCB box found Ventura’s head between Haruna and Amoo-Mensah. Nobody in purple even jumped for the ball, but Ventura couldn’t get much on it, providing Himes with an easy save.

Wilding made two final changes as the game entered the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Brady Kendall and Titus Sandy, Jr. entered the contest for Haruna and Belgodere.

Crown Legacy created one final chance in the dying seconds of the game. Again, Ventura was unable to get much power behind his header, allowing Himes to fall on the ball and secure the win.

At full time, Crown Legacy had the edge in shots (15-14), but OCB put more on target (4-3). The visitors also finished with more corner kicks (7-6) and better passing accuracy (84.5%-80.8%).

The win snaps OCB’s five-game losing streak and a six-game winless streak. The team’s last previous point was on July 18 in Chattanooga, TN, and the most recent win was on July 12 away to FC Cincinnati 2.

Despite the three points, the Young Lions remain in 11th place in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference. However, they’re tied with Huntsville City FC for 10th and just one point behind Chicago Fire FC II and NYCFC II for the final playoff spot with three games remaining.

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They’ll look to build on this performance when they face rivals Inter Miami II Friday night in Fort Lauderdale.