Orlando City B vs. New England Revolution II: Final Score 1-1 as OCB Draws and Falls in Penalties

Orlando City B (12-10-4, 41 points) played poorly in the first half, but fought back valiantly in the second to draw New England Revolution II (14-5-8, 56 points) 1-1 at Gillette Stadium. The hosts dominated the first half, taking the lead through Victor Souza in the 14th minute. But they missed several golden opportunities to double the advantage, and Jack Lynn equalized in the 65th minute. The game went into penalties to decide the extra point, with New England winning the shootout 3-2.

OCB Head Coach Martin Perelman made two changes to the team that lost 6-3 to Crown Legacy FC Sunday night. Moises Tablante entered the starting lineup at left back in place of Franco Perez, who started on the bench. Jhon Solis, who had started every game this season, was suspended after being sent off the last time these two teams met on Aug. 9. He was replaced in the lineup by Lynn.

Starting in their usual 4-4-2 formation, the back line in front of Javier Otero was Imanol Almaguer, Nabi Kibunguchy, Abdi Salim, and Tablante. Alex Freeman, Cristian Medina, Juninho, and Wilfredo Rivera were in the midfield, with Lynn and Shak Mohammed up top.

This was a game of two halves for the Young Lions. They were lifeless in the first 45 minutes and should’ve been down multiple goals if not for some poor finishing by the opposition. They took advantage of the opportunity and played much better in the second half, resulting in an equalizer. Despite failing to secure a playoff spot tonight, they brought themselves closer to making the postseason for just the second time in team history.

OCB controlled possession in the first few minutes, but it was New England that created the chances. In the fifth minute, Colby Quinones found Damian Rivera running behind the OCB defense. It looked like the midfielder would get a shot off, but Kibunguchy did well defending and knocked it out for a corner kick. Jake Rozhansky’s ensuing set piece was too close to Otero, who caught it.

In the seventh minute, forward Joshua Bolma got his first attempt when he cut back inside from the right to lose Tablante and create enough space for a shot. However, it was right to Otero, who made the easy save.

Rivera had his second opportunity in the eighth minute when he received the ball at the top of the OCB box. The 20-year-old midfielder cut inside to lose Almaguer and shot towards the near post, but it skipped just wide.

OCB had its first chance of the game in the 12th minute when Juninho made a long run into the New England box. He had Mohammed and Lynn flanking him, but decided to take it himself. With two defenders closing in, Juninho shot to the near post but missed wide, which became a theme for the Brazilian throughout the match and into the shootout.

In the 14th minute, Almaguer got in front of a New England shot, blocking it out for a corner kick. Rozhansky took the set piece, sending over the head of Noble Okello and Jordan Adebayo-Smith at the near post and into the center of the six-yard box. Souza darted to the ball, beating Medina and Kibunguchy. It was an awkward attempt by the defender and difficult to tell whether it came off his head, chest, or foot, but went inside the near post to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The Young Lions tried to play the ball out of the back, but a turnover in his own third by Lynn provided another opportunity for New England. Rivera took possession, sprinted to the top of the OCB box, and found Bolma to his left. The forward attempted to curl the ball inside the far post beyond the reach of Otero, but missed just wide.

New England should’ve scored a second goal in the 22nd minute when Bolma received the ball on the right side of the box. He quickly sent a low cross in for Adebayo-Smith, who was left uncovered at the far post. The ball popped up on the artificial turf, bouncing off the striker and wide. It was a fortunate bounce for the Young Lions because the ball just as easily could’ve bounced off his chest and in.

Rivera had his third chance of the game in the 25th minute when he received the ball on the left. The midfielder took two touches to lose his defender and took a snap-shot on goal. Fortunately, the strong shot was right to Otero, who blocked it away with both hands. No attacking players were nearby, so OCB was able to clear.

In the 27th minute, Rozhansky entered the box and got behind Juninho. The OCB captain didn’t recognize the New England midfielder sneaking behind him, enabling Rozhansky to get his head on the Bolma cross. Otero’s positioning was perfect for the wide-open attempt and the header was right to the OCB goalkeeper.

Juninho made his second long run to the New England box in the 43rd minute. Similar to his earlier run, the OCB captain shot from the top of the 18, but sent it wide. It didn’t appear to touch any defenders, but the referee awarded a corner kick. OCB struggled to create chances from the set piece, eventually sending a shot right to New England goalkeeper Max Weinstein.

Otero has been solid for OCB this season but almost made a huge blunder in the 45th minute. The goalkeeper came out of his box, but was beaten to the ball by Marcos Dias. Cutting inside to create space for a shot, the midfielder sent the ball on goal. Fortunately, Salim was there to head it over the top and out of play, keeping the halftime deficit at one.

OCB had more first-half possession (56.7%-43.3%) and crosses (5-2) and passed more accurately (88%-86.5%). However, most of the Young Lions’ possession and passes were in the midfield rather than the final third. Rather than crossing into the box, New England found pockets of space for chances, resulting in more shots (11-5) and shots on target (6-0).

Perelman made one halftime change, replacing Wilfredo Rivera with Perez. The substitution pushed Tablante from left back into the midfield.

OCB nearly had a chance in the 49th minute when Mohammed played the ball out wide for Freeman. The Homegrown midfielder sent a low cross into the box, where Lynn attempted to turn and shoot, but the ball got caught in his feet.

Lynn had another chance in the 51st minute when Tablante found him in the box. The striker took a first-touch shot that skied over the target. Lynn had more time than he realized for a touch before shooting, but took it first time.

In the 55th minute, Mohammed took an ambitious shot from long range that appeared to be heading well wide. Weinstein dove to his left anyway and blocked the ball out of play, giving OCB a corner kick.

New England headed the ball away, which went to Adebayo-Smith and only Perez back. The striker touched the ball past the left back to get behind the entire defense. Otero came out of his box to near midfield, where he collided with Adebayo-Smith, heading it the opposite direction. Otero popped right up after the big collision, but Adebayo-Smith remained down and required medical attention.

Playing with a man advantage while Adebayo-Smith was treated on the sideline, OCB had a chance to equalize in the 61st minute when Mohammed played the ball wide for Juninho. The midfielder dribbled inside until he found some space and aimed for the far post. The shot was beyond the reach of the diving Weinstein, but skipped wide yet again.

Two minutes later, Tablante sent a long-distance attempt that was blocked out of play by Weinstein for a corner kick. The set piece ended with a chance for Lynn about three yards from goal. But the striker somehow managed to hit the post. OCB players wanted a handball, but the referee disagreed. Meanwhile, Perez got into the box and shot from close range, but it was saved by Weinstein.

In the 65th minute, Almaguer found Juninho in the box and the midfielder’s shot was blocked wide by Weinstein. The ensuing corner was played short to Juninho, who dribbled into the box and shot. Weinstein again blocked the attempt with his right hand, but put it right in front of goal. Lynn was in the right position to tap it in for his league-leading 18th goal of the season.

New England attempted to respond quickly when Olger Escobar received the ball from Adebayo-Smith. The halftime substitute took a shot from well outside of the box, but it didn’t cause any trouble for Otero.

The hosts nearly got the lead back in the 82nd minute when Dias received the ball at the top corner of the box from Escobar. Just after entering the 18, the midfielder sent the shot towards the upper corner. Otero dove to his right, but it was too far from him. Fortunately, the ball went just wide of the far post.

In the 85th minute, Escobar took a long shot of his own, but this one went well over the target. Perelman took the opportunity to make two changes for the final minutes. Cristofer Acuna and Zakaria Taifi came into the game for Lynn and Freeman.

Four minutes into second-half stoppage time, New England had a chance for a winner when substitute Patrick Leal was played behind the OCB defense. The midfielder entered the six-yard box from the left, but Otero came out to make himself big. The goalkeeper got down with his legs spread and blocked it to keep the game at 1-1.

OCB quickly went the other way and won a corner kick. It was taken quickly to Juninho, who sent a curling ball towards the back post. The ball ended up at the feet of Kibunguchy with enough space for a shot, but it bounced off of his leg and out for a goal kick. That was the last chance for either team and it ended 1-1.

OCB had less possession in the second half, ending with a slight advantage (51.5%-48.5%). However, the Young Lions were much better in the second 45 minutes. New England ended with more shots (17-16) and shots on target (7-5), but OCB outshot the hosts (11-6) and put more on target (5-1) in the second period of play. OCB also had more corner kicks (9-6) and crosses (11-6) and passed more accurately (89%-86.6%) during the game.

Per MLS NEXT Pro rules, each team took a point from regulation and went to penalties to decide who got the extra point. It didn’t start off well for OCB as Juninho sent Weinstein the wrong way, but fired his shot wide. After Leal and Medina converted, Jacob Akanyirige had a similar situation as Juninho, sending Otero the wrong way but missing wide.

OCB took the advantage after three rounds when Moises Tablante scored and Otero saved Souza’s penalty. But Weinstein stopped Kibunguchy on the next attempt, enabling Escobar to even the shootout at 2-2 after four rounds.

Despite having Acuna and Mohammed available, OCB continued to go with defensive players, sending Taifi to the spot. Weinstein guessed correctly on the first-year professional, making a comfortable save. Otero got his hand to Dias’ subsequent attempt, but didn’t get enough of it, and New England took the extra point.

The point gets OCB closer to claiming a playoff spot for the first time in MLS NEXT Pro and the second time in team history. But it also means the Young Lions can no longer catch Columbus Crew 2 for the top spot in the Central Division and the fourth seed in the playoffs.

OCB could still claim a playoff spot this weekend if NYCFC II and Philadelphia Union II lose in regulation or a shootout tomorrow night. If either gets at least two points, OCB will need to wait until next weekend for another chance to secure a playoff spot.

The Young Lions will take the field again next Friday night when they face Chicago Fire FC II at SeatGeek Stadium in Illinois.