A poor start and wasteful finishing was costly in Orlando City B’s 3-1 loss to FC Cincinnati 2 at TQL Stadium, as the Young Lions (11-8-9, 46 points) blew their opportunity to clinch a home playoff match and a chance to select their first postseason opponent. FC Cincinnati 2 (16-8-4, 54 points) clinched the Eastern Conference with the win behind a hat trick by Gerardo Valenzuela, whose third goal was a weak one but effectively ended OCB’s second-half comeback bid.

Alex Freeman continued his hot run of form with OCB’s only goal to pull his team within a goal at 2-1 early in the second half, but OCB soon gave up a soft third goal and could not climb back into the match, despite playing much better overall for the first 20 minutes or so of the second half.

With the loss, OCB handed the Southeast Division title to Inter Miami CF II and fell from third to fifth place in the Eastern Conference on Decision Day. If none of the top three teams select the Young Lions as a first-round opponent, they would travel to face fourth-place Chicago Fire FC II.

OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg’s lineup included Carlos Mercado in goal behind a back line of Luca Petrasso, Thomas Williams, Nabi Kibunguchy, and Freeman. Imanol Almaguer and Jeorgio Kocevski started in central midfield behind an attacking line of Yutaro Tsukada, Jhon Solis, and Shak Mohammed, with Jack Lynn up top.

Despite Orlando starting a strong lineup made largely of players on first-team contracts, FC Cincinnati dominated the game early, went up by multiple goals, and then seemed content to wait for opportunities to go forward to add to its lead. OCB put its first shot on target, but it was a wasteful high-quality opportunity, and then struggled to find any accuracy. At the other end, the Young Lions allowed far too much space at the top of the box and beyond, and didn’t mark well in their own third.

The Young Lions wasted no time in making the game more difficult. On Cincinnati’s first possession of the match, the ball cycled to Valenzuela near the left corner of the box. Kocevski was in good position to deal with the attacker but allowed Valenzeula to get clear on his preferred right foot. Valenzuela’s shot through traffic found the inside of the right post past Mercado, putting FCC 2 up 1-0 in just the second minute.

Freeman could have pulled the goal right back, getting forward up the right just a minute later. The fullback had room and time to shoot but blasted his effort straight at FC Cincinnati 2 goalkeeper Paul Walters. Freeman again shook free on the right side moments later but the defense was better positioned. The right back made a good move to free himself and dropped a ball to Kocevski just outside the top of the area, but the midfielder was slow on the ball, allowing Valenzuela to dispossess him from behind, ending the threat.

OCB won a couple of set pieces but wasn’t able to capitalize on them. In the ninth minute, Tsukada sent a good ball into the box on a free kick won by Solis. The service found Mohammed in front but his header sailed over the bar. A minute later, Freeman won a free kick on the right. The Young Lions played it quickly and Kocevski sent a curling cross behind the Cincinnati back line but it was just out of Lynn’s reach.

Valenzuela doubled the lead two minutes later. The attacker started the play by switching the ball to the right, sending Amir Daley in behind Petrasso, who was caught too far up field. Daley was alone on goal and fired, but Mercado made a huge save. The rebound found Valenzuela at the top of the area. This time, Valenzuela faked right to move Kocevski and fired in his second goal of the game with his left foot in the 11th minute, continuing the rough start to the game for the first-year pro.

Freeman again had a chance to answer a Cincinnati goal. He worked his way into the middle and then forward into the box in the 15th minute. Freeing himself for a shot with his weaker left foot, he left his shot high, as again OCB couldn’t hit the target.

Mohammed gifted FC Cincinnati 2 a scoring chance two minutes later. Taking the ball in his own end he retreated toward his own goal and then sent a wayward back pass, turning the ball over. Mercado was able to save the quick shot by pushing it off the woodwork.

OCB’s inattentiveness in its own half continued in the 23rd minute, when Stefan Chirilla was left alone in space outside the box. He attempted a shot and Mercado had to make a save. On the ensuing corner, Gael Gibert was given a free header but he missed the target.

The Young Lions should have pulled a goal back in the 25th minute. Freeman turned the defense inside out and got to the end line in the box. Dribbling toward goal, he picked out Tsukada alone at the far post. The left winger seemed surprised the pass got through and wasn’t able to get in front of it. He scuffed his shot anyway as he was being whistled for a handball.

Almaguer took his turn firing well over the bar in the 29th minute after working his way into the area, wasting another good opportunity. Mohammed won a couple of corners, mainly by failing to find an opening for his cutback crosses, but OCB did nothing with them and in fact was called for a foul on one of them.

Kenji Mboma Dem was left with too much space outside the area in the 31st minute and sent a shot just wide of the left post.

From then on out, OCB simply couldn’t connect in the attacking end or pay off a set piece. The half ended with Tsukada badly missing a volley shot on a recycled corner kick, and the hosts took their 2-0 lead into halftime.

The halftime stats reflected the performance on the field, as FC Cincinnati 2 held the advantage in shots (9-6) and shots on target (5-1). OCB passed a bit more accurately (90.1%-88.4%), but much of that came after the hosts started dropping deeper after going up two goals and was a product of working the ball backward and side to side rather than progressing it forward. OCB won more corners (4-1), but FCC came closer with its one attempt than anything the Young Lions did with their set pieces.

Neither side made any changes at the break and after a stop-start opening 10 minutes, things got more interesting. In those first minutes of the second period, Almaguer sent yet another shot high into the stands in the 48th minute and Mercado did well to make a save to his right, knocking a second ball off the goal frame in the match to keep it a 2-0 game.

In Freeman picked up the ball outside the area on the right in the 53rd minute and worked his way past two defenders before blasting it past Walters and in to make it 2-1.

This time it was Valencia trying to pull one back after an OCB goal rather than the other way around. The attacker fired a shot wide of the right post in the 55th minute.

OCB had a good opportunity to level the match a minute later. Freeman tried to send a cross to Tsukada at the back post but it was deflected by a defender. The ball ended up with Lynn just outside the area and the striker blasted a shot. The ball hit Malik Pinto’s arm just inches outside the area, setting up a free kick rather than a penalty. Pinto was booked for the infraction.

Petrasso and Tsukada stood over the set piece and it was the left back who fired a shot that went past the wall. Walters made a good save to keep it out and it fell to Lynn on the left, but the striker made poor contact with his shot, sending it softly back to the goalkeeper in the 58th minute.

Solis sent a gorgeous ball over the top to Freeman in the 59th minute, putting the fullback in alone on goal again. This time, however, Freeman scuffed his shot attempt and it was knocked behind by the defense for a corner before an OCB attacker could get to it near the far post. The Young Lions did nothing with the set piece, ending the threat.

Valenzuela completed his hat trick moments later off an OCB turnover. The ball ended up on the left and Valenzuela sent his shot close to Mercado, but the OCB keeper was unable to make what appeared to be a routine save. That essentially put the game away in the 63rd minute, as OCB rarely challenged the Cincinnati goal falling behind by two again.

Goldberg tried sending on fresh troops, but OCB only played more disjointed soccer in possession after the changes, repeatedly giving the ball away cheaply, hindering any attempted comeback.

Instead, it was FCC 2 that had the better chances down the stretch. Daley was left too much space again in the 73rd minute and sent a blast sizzling just over the bar. After Solis flopped to try to get a free kick call that was never likely, Chirilla came down the left and fired from a tight angle in the 77th minute, forcing Mercado to knock it out for a corner.

Petrasso tried to play a ball in to an open Kocevski in the box in the 80th minute but the midfielder’s touch let him down and he couldn’t bring it in, continuing his rough afternoon.

Mercado made another emergency save on Ben Stitz in the 86th minute.

Substitute Favian Loyola struck a shot well in the 87th minute that forced Walters into a diving save. OCB had a runner at the back post but the defense deflected it off the Young Lion and out for a goal kick.

Chirilla sent Mercado scrambling to make a good save in the 88th minute, as the keeper knocked it out for a corner. Petrasso whiffed badly on a clearance attempt on the ensuing set piece and OCB was fortunate that no Cincinnati player could make solid contact with the ball as it pinged around in the six.

The remainder of the game consisted mainly of terrible OCB turnovers between the tired legs of the starters and the lack of cohesion from the subs who came on. This was epitomized when Freeman — easily OCB’s best player on this day — sent Loyola down the right to ignite the break. The Homegrown midfielder tried to center it early for fellow sub Justin Ellis, but he put his pass at least 10 yards behind his teammate, ending the counterattack.

A few minutes later, the final whistle blew on OCB’s regular season.

FC Cincinnati 2 finished the game with the advantage in shots (20-17), shots on target (11-6), and passing accuracy (91.8%-90%), while OCB won more corners (6-4).

The Young Lions have completed the regular season and will next play in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs against an opponent and at a date to be announced. Finishing out of the top four, it’s possible that one of the top three teams will select OCB as its opponent in the first round.

Orlando City B (11-7-9, 46 points) clinched a playoff spot tonight with a 3-0 win over Chicago Fire FC II (9-8-9, 41 points) at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. After a scoreless first half, Jack Lynn, Yutaro Tsukada, and Favian Loyola netted second-half goals to push OCB into the MLS NEXT Pro postseason for the second straight season.

OCB made two changes from the team that won 2-0 over New England Revolution II on Sept. 15. Colin Guske and Yeiler Valencia entered the lineup for Jeorgio Kocevski and Tsukada. The back line in front of goalkeeper Carlos Mercado was Luca Petrasso, Thomas Williams, Nabi Kibunguchy, and Alex Freeman. Imanol Almaguer and Guske were in the defensive midfield behind Valencia, Jhon Solis, and Shak Mohammed with Lynn up top.

The first half was about as even as it could be, with both teams creating the same number of chances and shots on target. Either side could’ve gone into the break with an advantage, but neither were able to convert. The Young Lions dominated the second 45 minutes, keeping Chicago on its back foot. The two key moments in the game were Lynn’s goal in the 61st minute and the inclusion of Tsukada in the 66th minute. It always looked like the first team to score would come out on top, and Tsukada created several problems for Chicago after he came on. His goal in the 71st minute put the game away.

The first shot of the game came in the fourth minute when Mohammed received a pass in the middle of the field, Despite being 25 yards from the goal, the attacker took a chance, sending the ball well over the top.

In the sixth minute, Javier Casas fouled Solis near the top left corner of the Chicago box. Almaguer’s free kick found the head of Freeman, but the right back couldn’t redirect the ball on target. However, the poor clearance attempt went to Mohammed, whose shot was blocked.

OCB retained possession, with Guske trying to play it forward for Petrasso. The left back couldn’t control the pass, enabling Casas to send Omari Glasgow forward. Fire II had a two-on-one with only Guske back, and Glasgow played the ball square to David Poreba when he reached the OCB box. Rather than taking a first-touch shot, Poreba tried to control the ball, enabling Valencia to get back and block the shot out for a corner kick.

The ensuing set piece was cleared by Kibunguchy, and Solis sent Valencia forward. Lynn and Mohammed were making runs down the middle of the field, and Valencia could’ve put one of them free on goal, but the midfielder shot from outside the box instead. Unfortunately, his shot was over the target.

Glasgow put the game’s first attempt on goal in the 16th minute when the attacker turned Petrasso inside and outside to create space for a shot. The chance was from a tight angle, so Mercado was able to knock the ball wide.

The Young Lions struggled to clear and Poreba won it back from Freeman. His pass into the box was to Solis, but the OCB midfielder’s poor touch gave the ball to Jean Diouf. The right back took a touch before sending a shot on target, but Mercado was there to make another stop.

Poreba took his second shot of the game in the 18th minute when he found some space at the top of the box. The attacker had to turn to shoot, so he wasn’t able to get much on the shot and Mercado made an easy save.

Kibunguchy dribbled into the Chicago half of the field in the 22nd minute and sent the ball wide for Valencia. The midfielder dribbled inside before taking a strong, long-distance shot. The attempt was on target, but Fire II goalkeeper Patrick Los pushed it wide for an OCB corner kick.

Almaguer’s set piece was to the back post, where Kibunguchy got his head to the ball. It appeared to be at a good height for the center back, but he sent the header wide of the opposite post.

Kibunguchy had another chance in the 26th minute when Mohammed was fouled by Casas near the top left corner of the Chicago box, resulting in the game’s first booking. Almaguer’s free kick found the head of Kibunguchy at the top of the six, but his header was over the top.

The Young Lions had another good chance in the 33rd minute when Mohammed sent Freeman down the right. The right back used his body well to shield Lamonth Rochester and got to the end line. Lynn was making a run into the six-yard box and Freeman sent a knee-high cross for him. Unfortunately, the striker couldn’t get on the end of the ball and it went harmlessly through.

Solis beat two Chicago defenders to the end line in the 38th minute and sent a dangerous ball across the box. Lynn was able to get his foot on this one, but he couldn’t get enough of the ball to redirect it on target. Eventually, Valencia had possession outside of the box and turned to shoot. However, the attempt didn’t cause any trouble for Los.

A minute later, a Freeman throw-in to Lynn was tapped on for Solis. The midfielder dribbled to the center of the field, where he shot from just outside the box. It was a good effort but was too close to Los.

The OCB defense failed to close down Glasgow in the 41st minute as the attacker stood with the ball near the top of the box. Glasgow accepted the invitation to shoot, sending the ball right to Mercado. The OCB goalkeeper was visibly upset with his teammates for not closing down Glasgow and allowing him to put another shot on target.

Christopher Koffi got his first shot of the game in the 42nd minute when he received a ball out of the back. Again, nobody in purple closed down the attacker, so Koffi took a shot. He was aiming for the near post but hit the outside of the net.

The final chance of the half came in the first minute of stoppage time when Valencia tried to send the ball long for Lynn. It was a poor effort but nearly came down behind Los and the Chicago goalkeeper had to push it over the top to avoid conceding the opening goal. OCB couldn’t get anything from the ensuing corner kick and the game went into halftime scoreless.

It was an even first half, with both teams registering 10 shots and putting three on target. OCB had the advantage in other statistical categories with more crosses (5-1) and corner kicks (4-3) and better passing accuracy (90.2%-86.4%) in the first 45 minutes.

The first chance of the second half came in the 53rd minute when Solis laid the ball off for Mohammed. Los wasn’t convinced the shot was off target, diving to his left.  However, the attempt rolled wide of the goal.

The visitors had their first chance of the second half in the 56th minute when Glasgow sent Luka Prpa forward. The midfielder turned to shoot, but Williams was there to block it. The ball went to Glasgow, who took a shot of his own, but Williams got up quickly and challenged the shot. While he didn’t get a piece of this one, Kibunguchy was there to head it away.

OCB failed to clear the ball and Guske gave away possession near the top of the box. It ended up with Koffi, who took a long-distance shot that missed wide of the near post.

The Young Lions took the lead in the 61st minute when Petrasso sent a cross too far across the box. Fortunately, it went to Freeman, who headed it back to the center where Lynn was waiting. The striker put a second header into the corner of the goal, giving OCB a 1-0 lead.

OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made his first two changes in the 66th minute, replacing Mohammed and Valencia with Wilfredo Rivera and Tsukada.

Tsukada tried to make an immediate impact in the 67th minute, finding Lynn in the box. The striker took a first-touch shot, but Diego Konincks got in front to block the attempt out for a corner kick. Lynn got his head to Almaguer’s ensuing set piece, sending it over the goal and ending the attack.

On the other end, Chicago had a chance to equalize in the 69th minute. Receiving a long ball on the right from Poreba, Glasgow found Sergio Oregel in the box. The midfielder redirected the ball on target, but it was a weak shot and Mercado made an easy save.

Two minutes later, OCB doubled its lead. Lynn received a throw-in by Freeman near midfield and immediately sent the ball forward for Tsukada. The midfielder was alone with two defenders near, but Rivera and Solis soon joined him. Despite having two teammates making runs, Tsukada took the shot himself, putting it into the corner and giving the Young Lions a 2-0 lead.

Goldberg made two more changes in the 76th minute as Loyola and Tahir Reid-Brown came into the game for Lynn and Petrasso.

Chicago should’ve got one back in the 79th minute when second-half substitute Vitaliy Hlyut sent a low cross to the back post that found Glasgow, who got behind Reid-Brown. The attacker redirected it on target with his first touch, but the attempt went right into the legs of Mercado. The ball got caught between the OCB goalkeeper’s legs, keeping the clean sheet alive.

The Young Lions nearly had a third goal in the 80th minute when Freeman spotted Tsukada making a run into the six-yard box. He sent his cross over for the substitute, but Christopher Cupps got to it first, clearing it out of play.

Goldberg used the stoppage to make his fifth and final substitution, replacing Solis with Manuel Cocca.

Tsukada again tried to score his second of the night in the 85th minute when he received a long pass from Rivera. He was able to beat Cupps and avoid Glasgow before his shot was blocked by Jaylen Shannon.

As the clock wound down, Chicago was running out of ideas. In the 87th minute, Oregel took a long shot with little chance of beating Mercado and the ball sailed well over the target.

The Young Lions had a secure 2-0 lead, but they put the game away with a third in the 89th minute. Freeman laid the ball off for Loyola, and the first-team forward took a shot from well outside the box. It was a terrific strike that Los had little chance of stopping, giving OCB a commanding 3-0 lead.

Cocca sent a long ball across the field for Rivera in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The substitute dribbled towards the Chicago box and, with nobody closing him down, took a long-distance shot. It took a diving tip by Los to keep the ball out of the net.

The final chance of the game came in the sixth minute of added time. Poreba sent a dangerous ball into the box that Jason Shokalook tried to tap into the goal. However, he couldn’t get enough on it and the ball went wide of the far post. The final whistle blew seconds later and OCB came away with a 3-0 win.

At full time, OCB led in the most important statistical categories, including shots (20-17), shots on target (7-5), crosses (9-5), corner kicks (7-6), and passing accuracy (89%-86.8%).

“It was a very tough game, as we knew. They press really high. The first half was tough and we tried to push the next 15 minutes of the second half to try to find that early goal,” Goldberg said about the game. “We knew that in those moments we could find it and that opened the game.”

“It was a good game,” Lynn added. “Good to put the ball in the back of the net and see three goals go in. And, obviously, to keep a clean sheet as well.”

With other results this weekend going their way, the Young Lions knew three points would be enough to secure a playoff spot. The win sees OCB qualify for the postseason for the second consecutive year and the third time in team history.

“Of course, it feels really good. We’re really happy,” Goldberg said about clinching a playoff spot. “We wanted the team to do it again and again and again and continue to pull this club high and that’s the idea.”

While they’ve secured their spot in the postseason, the Young Lions still have more to play for. They currently sit in third in the Eastern Conference, four points ahead of Inter Miami II, New York City FC II, Columbus Crew 2, and Crown Legacy FC. A top-four spot would see the Young Lions host a playoff game for the first time. However, the teams behind have a game in hand and Miami has two.

With the regular season home schedule complete, OCB will have a nearly two-week break before ending the regular season on Oct. 6 away against FC Cincinnati 2.

Orlando City B (10-7-9, 43 points) defeated New England Revolution II (4-15-5, 21 points) 2-0 this evening at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee to inch closer to a spot in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro postseason. Alex Freeman and Jack Lynn scored goals in the second half to lift the Young Lions to victory.

OCB deployed the same lineup from the 4-1 win over Crown Legacy FC on Sept. 8. The back line in front of goalkeeper Carlos Mercado was Luca Petrasso, Thomas Williams, Nabi Kibunguchy, and Freeman. Imanol Almaguer and Jeorgio Kocevski were the defensive midfielders behind Yutaro Tsukada, Jhon Solis, and Shak Mohammed with Lynn up top.

Despite being in last place and not winning since June 14, the Revs were the better team for most of the game. The visitors came out as the aggressors, creating chances early in both halves. However, they struggled to hit the target, a key factor in the result. Freeman’s goal early in the second half took the wind out of the sails of Revs II, enabling the Young Lions to create more opportunities. That resulted in a second goal that put the game away.

The Young Lions nearly had a chance in the fourth minute when Tsukada found Mohammed in the box. Lynn was making a run to the top of the six, but Mohammed couldn’t control the pass and it went out of play for a goal kick.

The visitors almost had their first shot on the other end when Cristiano Oliveira tried to control a pass near the penalty spot. The ball got away from him, but Kibunguchy’s attempted clearance bounced off of the attacker. It looked like the Young Lions had a goal kick, but it deflected off of Freeman for a corner. Revs II couldn’t create anything from the set piece and OCB cleared.

Despite the Revs struggling offensively for most of the season, they were the aggressors in the early part of the game. Oliveira created more trouble around the 15th minute from the left side, forcing Freeman to block the ball out of play. However, the visitors again were unable to create anything.

The best chance of the first 20 minutes came in the 19th minute when Maciel played a beautiful ball over the back line for Damario McIntosh, who was making a run towards the end line. The right back had two teammates in the box, but he couldn’t find either. The ball went to Eric Klein at the top of the 18, but his shot was deflected out by Solis.

The ensuing corner found the head of Marcos Dias wide open in the box. The forward redirected the cross towards goal, but his attempt was over the crossbar.

OCB got its first shot of the game in the 21st minute when Petrasso played the ball back for Tsukada just inside the box. The midfielder’s first touch was a shot that was blocked out for a corner kick. After the first set piece was headed out for another corner, Kibunguchy was first to the second one. Unfortunately, his header went wide.

Dias got another chance at goal in the 26th minute when Gevork Diarbian found him near the top left corner of the OCB box. New England’s leading goal scorer felt the pressure arriving, so he shot with his left foot instead of his preferred right, but the ball traveled wide of the far post.

Joshua Bolma took an ambitious shot in the 27th minute from outside the box. He was looking to play a teammate through, but nobody in purple closed him down, so the attacker took a chance at goal. Mercado unsuccessfully dove for it, but the ball rolled wide.

The Young Lions tried to break out on a counterattack in the 30th minute, but Diarbian pulled Mohammed down, earning himself a yellow card. The ensuing free kick by Almaguer found the head of Freeman in the box and the right back redirected it on goal. Revs II goalkeeper Maxwell Weinstein did well to get down and make the stop.

OCB nearly found the opening goal in the 35th minute right out of the hydration break. Kocevski lifted the ball into the box for Lynn and the striker came within inches of connecting with it, but the ball was just out of his reach. However, McIntosh knocked the ball out of play for a corner kick.

The ensuing set piece was cleared to the top of the box, where Solis won possession back. His shot was blocked by the foot of Tiago and went directly to Mohammed. The OCB attacker took a touch inside to create space and shot for the near post. It took an excellent diving save by Weintein to keep the game scoreless. Lynn was first to the free ball but was ruled offside, ending the attack.

Freeman dribbled into the box from the right side in the 41st minute. Mohammed set up at the top of the box and the right back laid it off for him. Mohammed’s first touch was a shot, but he sent the attempt over the goal.

New England nearly had a chance in the 43rd minute when Diarbian sent a dangerous ball through the box to the far post. Mcintosh was making a run, but the ball was a bit too far in front of him, traveling wide of the goal.

The final chance of the first half came in the third minute of stoppage time when Dias took a shot from the top of the box. Kocevski got in front of the attempt, deflecting it out for a corner kick. The Young Lions cleared the ensuing set piece and the halftime whistle blew.

New England created more shots in the first half (8-6), but OCB put more on target (3-2). Revs II also had more corner kicks (7-3) and crosses (7-1) and better passing accuracy (92.1%-88.7%) in the first 45 minutes.

Similar to the first half, New England was the more attacking team to start the second 45 minutes. Malcolm Fry made a run to the end line inside the first minute and his cross was blocked out by Freeman for a corner kick. The short corner ended up with McIntosh on the far side and the defender sent a cross into the box. It found the head of Klein, but the midfielder’s header was just wide.

OCB unexpectedly took the lead in the 49th minute with an excellent individual effort by Freeman. The right back was played forward down the right by Mohammed, catching up to the ball before it reached the end line. The defender used a quick change of pace to get past his defender and shot from a tight angle, somehow getting the ball past Weinstein to give the Young Lions the 1-0 lead.

Freeman has been on a tear in recent weeks. He’s now scored in four straight games and has five goals in those four games.

“It’s good that I’m able to go forward and I think I’m more clinical now. So I’m able to go score goals and I’m feeling really good,” Freeman said about his recent goal streak. “Makes my confidence go up and now it’s just building on it. And being able to continue scoring. Not only scoring, but helping my team.”

“The key for his success is the defensive part he’s doing,” OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg said about Freeman. “Although he’s contributing a lot in the offensive part, he’s doing a big, big, big, important part in the defensive part. So we’re happy for that for him.”

Mohammed sent Almaguer into the box in the 52nd minute and his layoff was knocked over the end line by Fry for a corner kick. Lynn got his head to the ensuing set piece, redirecting it on goal, but the header was right to Weinstein.

The Young Lions nearly had a second in the 56th minute when Lynn got behind the back line and Freeman played a good ball in for him. A simple tap-in by the striker would’ve doubled the advantage, but he sent the shot over the crossbar.

McIntosh was sent into the OCB box in the 60th minute and his shot was blocked into the outside of the net by Freeman. The ensuing set piece resulted in a ball forward that Mercado was able to cover.

The outlet pass by Mercado resulted in OCB’s second goal of the game. Quick passing by Kibunguchy, Freeman, and Mohammed enabled Kocevski to play a long ball for Lynn making a run behind the back line. After failing to convert on an easy finish minutes earlier, the striker didn’t miss his second attempt. He slipped the ball by Weinstein and into the corner to give his team a 2-0 lead.

The Young Lions continued to press forward, trying to extend their lead. In the 65th minute, Mohammed took a shot from the top of the box. The ball went through multiple defenders before rolling wide of the far post. It looked like it might’ve come off a defender, but referee Alejo Calume gave Revs II a goal kick.

Dias tried to get his team back into the game in the 69th minute when the forward used some nifty footwork to avoid a pair of defenders. However, rather than dribbling closer to goal, he took a shot from the top of the box, sending the attempt over the top.

The first two substitutions for OCB came in the 71st minute. Wilfredo Rivera and Yeiler Valencia came into the game for Lynn and Tsukada.

Rivera and Freeman worked well together to create a chance for the right back in the 74th minute. It started when Rivera sent the ball out wide for Freeman. He made a run towards the top of the box and Freeman found him before continuing behind the substitute. Rivera laid it off for Freeman and the defender shot from outside the box, sending the attempt over the goal.

OCB made two more changes in the 81st minute, replacing Mohammed and Petrasso with Favian Loyola and Tahir Reid-Brown.

New England had a great chance in the 84th minute to get back in the game when Olger Escobar sent a pass between Kibunguchy and Freeman to Bolma. The attacker was in on goal, but Mercado came off his line to cut down the angle and make the stop.

The final OCB change came in the 86th minute, as Manuel Cocca replaced Solis.

Cocca nearly made an immediate impact, sending Valencia down the left in the 88th minute. The substitute midfielder got around Sage Kinner and was free on goal. However, he shot right at Weinstein, enabling the goalkeeper to block the attempt.

Dias kept trying to find a way past Mercado, taking another long-distance shot in the 89th minute. It was a strong shot that forced the OCB goalkeeper to dive to his left, but the attempt was wide.

The fourth official showed five minutes of stoppage time and the visitors had a chance in the first of those minutes. Escobar made a run towards the box and shot before reaching the 18. The shot forced Mercado to tip the ball wide, a good save by the OCB shot stopper. The ensuing corner kick found a head, but went wide of the far post.

The visitors had one last chance to convert in the final minute of stoppage time. A long cross into the box was headed away by Cocca for a corner kick .The set piece was headed on goal, but Mercado made the catch. Calume called a foul on the play, awarding OCB a free kick. Immediately after the free kick, the final whistle blew and the Young Lions claimed a 2-0 win.

At full time, New England had more shots (17-15), corner kicks (12-4), and crosses (17-1), and better passing accuracy (90.6%-88%). However, OCB put more chances on target (8-6) and converted on two of those on their way to all three points.

“It was really tough the first half. We knew that this team was going to come really strong, even though in the circumstance they are in the standings. So we were prepared for that,” Goldberg said about the game. “It was, as we planned, very tough. But in the second half we were able to get a little bit of extra energy that we needed to step up.”

“I feel like, obviously the first half, I think it was a little slow for us. I don’t think we got the chance that we wanted and we were defending most of it. But I think the second half we came out strong,” Freeman added. “Got an early goal. We just kept pressing, kept pressing. Our press got better and we just cut the ball a little more. We were able to get two, and then after that we were comfortable. We were just able to keep the ball and control the game.”

The three points go a long way towards helping the Young Lions claim a playoff spot for the second consecutive year. Only two games remain in the season, with the final game coming away to FC Cincinnati 2, which sits in front of OCB.

The Young Lions will end their 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular-season home schedule on Sept. 23 as they welcome Chicago Fire II to Osceola County Stadium.