Orlando City B (8-9-7, 35 points) continued its slide this afternoon, falling 5-1 to Atlanta United 2 (12-8-4, 40 points) at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, GA. Cameron Dunbar and Issah Haruna traded late first-half goals, but the hosts took over in the second 45 minutes. Dunbar scored a second in the 52nd minute and Arif Kovac added a third in the 74th minute. It got out of hand in stoppage time as Patrick Weah and Kovac added two more goals.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made three changes to the team that lost 2-0 to Chicago Fire II on Aug. 15. Landon Okonski, Nolan Miller, and Haruna replaced Titus Sandy, Jr., Clovis Archange, and Gustavo Caraballo. The most significant change was the inclusion of Miller. The center back was in the first team early in the season, but has been out since April 25 after suffering a knee injury. This game was his return to competitive action.

Goalkeeper Tristan Himes started behind a back line of Albright Chikamso, Miller, Okonski, and Parker Amoo-Mensah. Nicolas Lasheras and Ignacio Gomez were the defensive midfielders behind Matthew Belgodere, Haruna, and Justin Hylton with Pedro Leao up top.

Atlanta was the better team throughout this game, creating more chances and causing constant concern for the OCB back line. The Young Lions were fortunate to go into halftime at 1-1 and let the game get away from them in the second half. Dunbar scored an early second-half goal to give the hosts a deserved lead, while OCB didn’t create a shot after the break until the hour mark. It was only 3-1 heading into stoppage time, but Atlanta scored two late goals to create the lopsided result.

The Young Lions created the first shot of the game in the fifth minute when Lasheras played the ball wide on the left for Belgodere. It initially looked like the attacker would shoot as he dribbled inside, but he laid it off for Lasheras instead. The 17-year-old attempted to curl the ball around Atlanta goalkeeper Jonathan Ransom, sending his attempt wide of the target.

The hosts had their first chance in the ninth minute when Dunbar found Amir Henry on the right. The defender looked to send a cross to the top of the six-yard box, but Chikamso got in front to deflect it out of play for a corner kick. Himes and Kovac attacked the ensuing set piece, resulting in it going to Mohamed Cisset. The center back headed the ball over Hylton and wide of the near post.

Amoo-Mensah lost possession in the 11th minute as Matthew Senanou intercepted his pass forward for Leao. The center back’s first touch got away from him, but his long legs allowed him to beat Lasheras to the ball. He ended up colliding with Chikamso as he shot, sending the ball wide. The collision caused Chikamso to go down and he went down again three minutes later. This time, the left back wasn’t able to continue, forcing Wiliding into an unwanted early substituion. Nicolas Bobea Torres came into the game in a like-for-like change.

Atlanta had a good chance for an opening goal in the 20th minute when Henry made a strong run down the right, using his change of pace to beat Belgodere and Torres. Kovac stopped his run outside the six-yard box to create space between Miller and Okonski, getting his head to the cross. However, his effort sailed just over the crossbar.

Atlanta wanted a penalty in the 36th minute when Dunbar used his speed to get past Okonski and into the OCB box. The attacker went down after some contact, causing the Atlanta players, bench, and fans to appeal for a spot kick. Instead, referee Izlen Peksenar told Dunbar to get up and continue playing.

Dominik Chong Qui dribbled into the OCB third in the 40th minute and attempted a cross that Lasheras blocked out of play for a corner kick. Lasheras beat Senanou to the near-post ball, heading it out of the box. Santiago Pita collected it and shot from distance, sending his attempt well high and wide.

Atlanta put its first shot on target in the 42nd minute when Dunbar collected a weak header by Amoo-Mensah and chipped the ball to the penalty spot. Kovac was making a run and got his head to the cross. But it was a little too low, ensuring the striker couldn’t get much on it and allowing Himes to make the stop.

The fourth official showed eight minutes of first-half stoppage time, largely due to the two OCB injuries and hydration break. The hosts took the lead in the second of those eight minutes.

Torres knocked the ball off of Henry’s foot, sending it to Andrew Jardines. A quick give-and-go with Pita allowed Jardines to find Dunbar near the penalty spot. The attacker placed it past Himes to give the hosts the 1-0 lead.

Following the goal, the Young Lions went on the attack, looking for an equalizer. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Hylton played a square ball for Leao. The striker dribbled inside to create space from DD Sibrian and unleashed a shot that Ransom blocked wide for a corner kick.

The ensuing set piece was partially cleared to the top of the box where Leao — with a defender on his back — played it back to Amoo-Mensah. The right back sent a long ball to Hylton on the right, who dribbled into the box before Sibrian knocked the ball off his foot, but it went right to Haruna, whose hard shot deflected off Chong Qui and inside the far post to even the game at 1-1 just before the break.

Atlanta had the better of the first half, finishing the opening period with the edge in shots (8-3), shots on target (3-2), and passing accuracy (86.9%-81.8%). OCB had more crosses (4-2) and both teams won two corner kicks. Despite Atlanta being the better side in the first 45 minutes, the teams traded stoppage-time goals to enter the break tied.

Wilding made one change at halftime. Caleb Trombino came into the game for Miller, who was on a minutes restriction as he returns from injury.

Atlanta retook the lead with its first second-half chance in the 52nd minute when Jardines played Dunbar into the OCB third of the field. Nobody stepped up to challenge the attacker, so he fired from distance. Himes clearly wasn’t expecting the shot, allowing Dunbar to beat the goalkeeper to his near post and giving the hosts the 2-1 lead.

Two minutes later, Atlanta won a throw-in and nearly turned it into a third goal. Senanou flicked on the long throw by Chong Qui for Kovac making a run into the six-yard box. He had a step on Amoo-Mensah and got a touch to the ball, tapping it just wide of the far post.

Atlanta nearly scored again in the 60th minute when Daniel Chica played the ball to Henry on the right. Chica backheeled Henry’s low pass into the box to Dunbar. Looking for a hat trick, Dunbar sent a shot toward the far post that deflected off Amoo-Mensah past a diving Himes and just beyond a sliding Lasheras for a corner kick. The Young Lions headed away the ensuing set piece to keep the deficit at one.

OCB created its first chance of the second half in the 62nd minute when Amoo-Mensah played the ball forward for Trombino and continued his run into the box. Trombino played a beautiful ball through multiple defenders back to Amoo-Mensah, whose first-touch shot forced Ransom into a save with his right foot.

Belgodere looked to get OCB back even in the 67th minute when he received the ball on the left. The midfielder didn’t have anyone with him as he challenged Henry one on one. He dribbled inside to find some space, but Henry did well to keep up with him, blocking the shot.

Dunbar was sent long down the left in the 70th minute with Kovac making a run into the OCB box. As the cross came in, Kovac went down with Okonski right behind him. For the second time in the game, the Atlanta players, coaches, and fans appealed for a penalty and Peksenar again allowed play to continue.

The hosts found their third goal in the 74th minute when Gomez won the ball from Chica but quickly gave it away to Ignacio Suarez-Couri. The halftime substitute sent the ball wide for fellow substitute Gonzalo Riveras as they broke on the counterattack. Riveras found Kovac, who held his run to create space from Okonski. The striker handled it well, bringing the ball in and beating Himes to give his team a commanding 3-1 lead.

Wilding made his final change before the restart, bringing Deshnick Nkeh on for Haruna.

Atlanta found a third goal in the second minute of second-half stoppage time when Suarez-Couri dribbled into the OCB third of the field. Torres blocked his through ball for Weah, but Suarez-Couri retook possession and completed his second attempt. Lasheras got into a defensive position on Weah, but the attacker cut inside and sent a hard, low shot past Okonski and Himes to make it 4-1.

The final goal came two minutes later, starting with a long ball by Ransom from the top of his box. Okonski headed the ball down for Amoo-Mensah, who immediately lost possession. Dunbar looked like he was going to shoot from distance, but played it to his left for Kovac instead. The striker sent an excellent shot past a sliding Okonski and a diving Himes to seal the 5-1 victory.

At full time, Atlanta had more shots (17-6), shots on target (7-3), and corner kicks (3-2), and better passing accuracy (87.9%-85%).

The Young Lions have now lost five consecutive games, dating back to their 1-0 loss to Huntsville City FC on July 26. Their last point was a 1-1 draw with Chattanooga FC on July 18 and they haven’t won since July 12 when they earned a 2-1 victory over FC Cincinnati 2.

At the beginning of this losing streak, OCB sat in fourth place and weren’t far behind the league leaders. They’ve now fallen all the way to 10th place and could fall further as Philadelphia Union II and Huntsville City both have games in hand.

This game ends the team’s four-game road trip in which it was outscored 14-3. The Young Lions will return home on Aug. 30 as they welcome league-leading Crown Legacy FC to Osceola County Stadium.

Orlando City B (8-7-7, 35 points) was completely outplayed in a late morning kickoff today, falling 3-0 to New York City FC II (9-7-4, 33 points) at Icahn Stadium in New York City. Kevin Pierre and Maximo Carrizo scored three minutes apart to give the hosts an early 2-0 lead. Carrizo then scored a second in the 51st minute to seal the victory.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made several changes to the team that lost 4-2 to Connecticut United FC on Aug. 1. Albright Chikamso, Clovis Archange, Caleb Trombino, Brady Kendall, and Nicolas Bobea Torres entered the lineup, replacing Landon Okonski, Tahir Reid-Brown, Ignacio Gomez, Nicolas Lasheras, and Issah Haruna.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Tristan Himes was made up of Archange, Chikamso, Titus Sandy, Jr., and Parker Amoo-Mensah. Trombino and Justin Hylton were the defensive midfielders behind Matthew Belgodere, Kendall, and Torres, with Pedro Leao up top.

OCB was never really in this game from the start. NYCFC II dominated the chances early and never let go of control of the game. NYCFC II goalkeeper Mac Learned wasn’t threatened and was rarely called into action as New York handled the Young Lions with relative ease.

NYCFC II created the first chance of the game in the sixth minute when Juan Ponce sent Cooper Flex to the end line. As the attacker attempted to cross the ball into the box, Hylton slid in to block it out of play.

The short corner kick was sent through the box to El Hadji Samb on the far side. The attacker played the ball in front of goal before Ponce cleared the ball to the top corner of the box. However, Amoo-Mensah blocked his shot.

Four minutes later, the hosts took the lead. Carrizo sent a dangerous ball down the right for Samb, whose first touch was a low cross into the box. Sandy and Flex attacked the ball, and it popped out to Pierre. The midfielder guided the ball past Himes to give NYCFC II the 1-0 lead.

OCB quickly went the other way and created a chance. Leao received a pass from Sandy and flicked it forward, sending Torres behind the back line. Driving down the right, the attacker let his touch get a little too far in front of him, allowing Learned to come out and block Torres’ attempted chip.

NYCFC II took advantage of a terrible mistake by Himes in the 13th minute for the second goal. Sandy played a pass back to Himes with plenty of time and space. However, the goalkeeper misplayed his pass out of the back, giving it straight to Carrizo. The first-team player calmly passed the ball past Himes to make it 2-0.

The Young Lions created their second chance in the 15th minute when the high press caused a turnover. Archange dribbled to the end line before lifting a cross to the top of the six-yard box. A poor clearance went to Leao, but the striker was unable to get over the ball, sending his attempt over the target.

As NYCFC II broke on a counterattack in the 27th minute, Carrizo played a beautiful ball forward for Seymour Reid. It looked like the forward would be in on goal, but Sandy did well to catch up and force the shot wide of the far post.

OCB went on the attack with numbers in the 36th minute. Torres carried the ball over the midfield stripe before finding Belgodere on the left. The midfielder tried to find space for a shot but was well defended. He laid the ball off for Trombino, who took a first-touch shot, but it was blocked, ending the attack.

Belgodere used some nifty footwork in the 40th minute to create enough space for a cross. Leao volleyed the ball on target with a scissor kick at the back post, forcing Learned into an excellent save. However, it wouldn’t have counted as the flag went up for offside.

At halftime, NYCFC II had more shots (6-4) and shots on target (2-1), while each team won one corner kick. It could’ve been a bigger deficit for OCB, but NYCFC II was offside five times.

The hosts continued to cause problems for OCB, creating their first chance less than a minute after the restart. Flax took the ball off Amoo-Mensah’s foot in the OCB third, creating an attack for the hosts. Jonathan Lopez found Reid just outside the box and the forward unleashed a shot, but Chikamso was there to block it wide.

The Young Lions gave the ball away in their own end again in the 50th minute as Sandy played a pass out of the back directly to Flax. The young attacker’s sent a long-distance shot sailing wide of the target.

Less than a minute later, NYCFC II scored its third goal of the game. Leao headed a long ball out of the back to Kendall, whose header was right to Carrizo. The ball ended up with Flax on the left and, after Sandy blocked his first cross, the midfielder found Carrizo near the top of the box. Carrizo did well to place the ball past Himes to give the hosts a commanding 3-0 lead.

Ponce played Reid toward the end line in the 53rd minute, and the forward attempted to cross the ball, but Sandy did well to slide in and block it. The Young Lions quickly went the other way and created their own chance. Kendall found Belgodere on the left, and the midfielder dribbled inside before being tripped up. The ball found Torres, whose second touch was a shot that forced a diving, one-handed save from Learned.

Wilding made his first change of the game in the 55th minute, replacing Trombino with Lasheras.

Peter Molinari played a long diagonal ball for Samb in the 56th minute, sending the hosts into the OCB third of the field. The forward sent a ball into the middle for Reid, who split Amoo-Mensah and Sandy to find space in front of goal. His first touch was a redirection that went just wide of the near post.

Flax received a pass in the OCB third in the 59th minute before laying it back for Molinari and making a run behind the back line. Molinari’s first touch was a pass forward for Flax, sending the attacker in on goal. Lasheras pulled at the attacker, causing his shot to roll wide of the far post.

Ponce received a pass on the left from Pierre and attempted a rabona cross in the 60th minute that Archange headed to the top of the box. Pierre collected the clearance and took a shot that Lasheras got in front of.

Kendall lost possession as he attempted to carry the ball out of the OCB third, allowing NYCFC II to get back on the attack. Lopez dribbled into the box and took a shot that Chikamso was able to slide in and block.

Wilding made two more changes in the 63rd minute as Jakob Garcia and Hector Aguirre replaced Torres and Kendall.

Samb was sent to the end line in the 72nd minute before playing it back for Ponce at the top corner of the box. The attacker had plenty of space and attempted to beat Himes to the top far corner. However, he sent his shot just wide.

Wilding made his final two changes in the 77th minute, bringing on two new players for OCB. Deshnick Nikeh and Landon Mellecker came on for Chikamso and Belgodere.

NYCFC II nearly scored a fourth in the 79th minute when Molinari sent Reid behind the OCB back line. Himes came off his line quickly to cut down Reid’s angle and blocked the shot wide.

Drew Kerr sent Reid behind the OCB defense and into the box in the 82nd minute. Himes came out, forcing Reid to turn with the ball away from the goal. The forward turned and tried to beat Himes to his near post but sent his attempt into the outside of the net.

The final chance of the game came in the third minute of second-half stoppage time when Mellecker fouled David Duque 25 yards from goal. The ensuing set piece found Eoin Martin, who sent his headed attempt wide of the far post.

At full time, NYCFC II held the advantage in shots (18-6), shots on target (4-3), corner kicks (6-2), and passing accuracy (90.7%-87.8%).

OCB has now lost three straight games as the Young Lions slide down the Eastern Conference standings. They now sit in sixth place, just one point ahead of Atlanta United 2 and Connecticut United FC, who sit in the final playoff spots. They’re just two points ahead of NYCFC II and Chicago Fire II, who are in ninth and 10th. All of those teams have at least one game in hand on OCB.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Young Lions as they have two more road games before heading home. The upcoming matches are against Chicago and Atlanta, making them crucial for staying in the playoff positions. They then head home to take on first-place Crown Legacy FC.

OCB’s road trip continues Saturday when the Young Lions face Chicago Fire FC II at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, IL

Orlando City B (8-5-7, 35 points) was completely shut down tonight, falling 1-0 to Huntsville City FC (7-7-5, 28 points) at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. The lone goal came from Zidane Yanez in the 64th minute, one of the game’s few decent chances.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made three changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Chattanooga FC on July 18. Parker Amoo-Mensah, Albright Chikamso, and Landon Okonski replaced Titus Sandy, Jr., Clovis Archange, and Dylan Judelson.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Juan Rojas was made up of Tahir Reid-Brown, Chikamso, Okonski, and Amoo-Mensah. Ignacio Gomez and Caleb Trombino were the defensive midfielders behind Gustavo Caraballo, Issah Haruna, and Matthew Belgodere with Pedro Leao up top.

Despite the narrow scoreline, this was probably OCB’s worst performance of the season. The Young Lions weren’t able to get anything going offensively, taking just three shots and failing to put any on target. A 47th-minute blocked shot from Leao was OCB’s last chance of the game. The goal by Yanez was all that Huntsville needed to claim all three points.

The visitors had the first chance of the game when former Lion Thomas Williams took the ball off Leao’s foot and charged into the OCB third of the field. The OCB striker stuck his leg out in an attempt to win the ball back, tripping Williams and earning a yellow card.

Charles Brunet stepped up to take the set piece and went for goal. However, he sent his attempt high and wide of the target.

Amoo-Mensah tried to play the ball forward down the right in the ninth minute, but Reed Baker-Whiting blocked the ball, allowing Jordan Knight to take possession. The attacker tried to split Okonski and Amoo-Mensah, but Okonski knocked the ball out of play for a corner kick.

Amoo-Mensah cleared the ensuing set piece, but only to Aiden Jarvis at the top of the box. The forward volleyed the ball without getting much on it, allowing Rojas to make the easy save.

In the 12th minute, Belgodere split his defenders, attempting to enter the box from the right before Knight tripped him. Amoo-Mensah took the free kick, sending a hard shot towards the far post that went wide.

Huntsville nearly opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Baker-Whiting sent Maximus Ekk past midfield on the right side. Baker-Whiting continued his run and Ekk found him as he neared the six-yard box. Fortunately, his shot with the outside of his right foot hit the outside of the net.

OCB had trouble keeping possession in its own third and turned it over again in the 39th minute. Brunet touched the ball off of Amoo-Mensah’s foot to Williams before receiving it back. The midfielder carried the ball to the top of the box before unleashing a shot that Rojas handled with ease.

Nigel Prince played a long diagonal ball for Knight on the left in the 41st minute. The attacker controlled the pass before laying it off for Baker-Whiting, who appeared to have enough space for a shot. However, he curled the ball so much that it went out of play for a throw-in.

After 45 minutes, Huntsville had the advantage in shots (6-2), shots on target (2-0), corner kicks (2-1), and passing accuracy (90.9%-88.8%). While the visitors had more chances and were closer to scoring, it was even at the break.

Haruna pushed Brunet off the ball in the 47th minute and darted into the Huntsville third of the field. He played it to his right for Leao before making a run between Prince and Williams. However, Leao continued with the ball to the top of the box before taking a shot that Prince blocked.

The ensuing short corner to Amoo-Mensah was crossed into the box. But the right back put too much on it, sending the ball beyond everyone and out of play.

Prince lifted the ball from midfield into the OCB box in the 53rd minute. Ekk headed it down for halftime substitute Malachi Molina, who volleyed it to the near post. Rojas did well to dive to his right, tipping it wide. The short corner ended up with Jarvis, but Trombino got in front of the attempt, allowing the Young Lions to clear.

Brunet received a pass entering the OCB third in the 62nd minute. He briefly lost possession, but got it right back and fired off a shot that sailed off target.

Wilding made his first change in the 63rd minute, replacing Gomez with Nicolas Lasheras. At the same time, Huntsville replaced Ekk with Yanez.

It was an inspired substitution by the visitors, as Yanez scored less than a minute after coming on. Quick passing saw Molina send Misei Yohizawa behind the back line. The attacker was able to cross the ball before it crossed the end line, finding Yanez right in front of goal. The 18-year-old attacker tapped it past Rojas to give Huntsville the 1-0 lead.

Now chasing the game, Wilding made three more changes in the 70th minute. Justin Hylton, Nicolas Bobea Torres, and Sandy entered the contest, replacing Caraballo, Trombino, and Chikamso.

With the Young Lions still unable to create anything in the attack, Wilding made his final change in the 81st minute, replacing Okonski with Brady Kendall.

Huntsville did well to keep control of the game while OCB searched for a goal. During one of the team’s few trips into the opposing third, Belgodere went down near the edge of the box, but referee Carlos Rodriguez saw it as a clean challenge.

The only shot for either team in the final 25 minutes was a Xavier Aguilar attempt from the top of the box in the first minute of stoppage time. However, Amoo-Mensah got in front, ensuring it didn’t go anywhere near Rojas’ goal.

The Young Lions had a final chance on a corner in the dying seconds, sending everyone — including Rojas — into the box. But Huntsville headed it away, securing the win away from home.

At full time, Huntsville had the edge in shots (13-3), shots on target (4-0), corner kicks (4-3), and passing accuracy (89.2%-87.7%). It was a deserved loss for OCB, which was lucky to lose by such a narrow margin.

OCB settles into fifth place in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference after 20 games. The Young Lions are two points ahead of Atlanta United 2 and three points ahead of Red Bull New York II. However, they sit one point behind New England Revolution II, two behind Chattanooga FC, four behind Columbus Crew 2, and five behind league-leading Crown Legacy FC. So, the Young Lions could still challenge for the top spot or cling to one of the final playoff spots, depending on how they perform in the upcoming games.

The Young Lions will have to forget this one as they head back out on the road, taking on Connecticut United FC Saturday night.