Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. New York Red Bulls II: Final Score 1-1 as OCB Draws Again and Falls in Penalties
OCB pulled out a last-minute draw at New York Red Bulls II but fell 8-7 in penalties.

Orlando City B (4-5-8, 24 points) played its first game away from home since June 2, taking on New York Red Bulls II (7-7-4, 28 points) at MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, NJ. The hosts took the lead in the 58th minute through Tanner Rosborough and, even when Copeland Berkley was sent off in the 76th minute, it looked like OCB would fall. However, Justin Ellis scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to claim a point for OCB. The Young Lions then fell 8-7 in penalties, as the Red Bulls picked up the extra shootout point.
OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made two changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Inter Miami II on July 14. Yutaro Tsukada and Wilfredo Rivera entered the lineup for Favian Loyola and Jack Lynn. While Loyola was on the bench for this game, Lynn was absent because he was on the bench for the first team last night.
The back four in front of goalkeeper Carlos Mercado was Tahir Reid-Brown, Thomas Williams, Nabi Kibunguchy, and Alex Freeman. Imanol Almaguer and Colin Guske were the defensive midfielders behind Jhon Solis, Shak Mohammed, and Tsukada with Rivera alone up top.
New York was the better team for most of the game, creating more chances. The Red Bulls nearly took a first-half lead after Guske made an ill-advised challenge, giving the hosts a penalty, but Mercado made a great save. After Red Bulls II took a deserved lead in the second half, a red card with 14 minutes left gave OCB some hope. Despite being up a man, the Young Lions were unable to break through the back line until Ellis’ superb individual effort in stoppage time evened the game.
The Young Lions struggled to play the ball out of the back, which provided Red Bulls II with the first chance of the game in the second minute. After receiving a square ball from Williams, Reid-Brown lost possession to Mohammed Sofo near the top of the OCB box. The New York attacker attempted to get to the end line and cross the ball, but Freeman forced him out of play, winning a goal kick.
The ensuing goal kick went wide to Reid-Brown and the left back knocked it off the defender, losing possession again. Julian Hall collected the ball and played it across the top of the box for Ibrahim Kasule. The midfielder’s low shot was aiming for the far post but rolled wide.
In the seventh minute, Rivera lost possession near the top of the Red Bulls II box to Steven Sswerwadda, who quickly sent a long ball for Rosborough behind the OCB back line. The artificial turf made the bouncing ball difficult to settle, so Rosborough was forced to attempt a half volley. However, he wasn’t able to get over the ball, sending it over the crossbar.
The Young Lions got their first shot of the game in the 16th minute when Williams intercepted a pass from Bento Estrela to Hall. Mohammed picked up the ball and dribbled towards the New York goal, finding Williams, who made a long run to his left. The center back shot from just inside the box, sending it wide.
Rivera played Freeman down the right in the 18th minute towards the end line. The right back reached the ball before it crossed out of play and attempted to send it into the six, but center back Aidan O’Connor knocked it out of play for an OCB corner kick.
The ensuing set piece by Tsukada was headed towards goal by Mohammed, but he popped it up. That enabled Juan Gutierrez to head it away from the goal. The clearance attempt went to Freeman inside the box, who found Rivera to his left. The forward’s volley went off Mohammed’s body and changed directions, igniting the break. Only Guske was back for the Young Lions and Hall touched the ball around him, creating a breakaway. He tried to guide the ball around Mercado, but the OCB goalkeeper got a touch to it, putting it wide and keeping the game scoreless.
In the 30th minute, Guske lost possession to Hall after receiving a pass back from Mohammed and getting trapped on the end line. It appeared that Guske fouled Hall in the box while trying to win back possession, but referee JC Griggs didn’t agree. Kasule collected the ball after a brief touch by Guske and was tripped by the OCB defensive midfielder. This time, Griggs immediately pointed to the spot the second time, awarding a penalty to the hosts.
Sofo stepped up to take the penalty, looking to extend his team’s perfect record this season from the spot. He was aiming for the low right corner and Mercado guessed right. The OCB goalkeeper got a touch to the ball, sending it off the post and out.
The ball traveled diagonally across the box and Rosoborough took possession before playing it to the top of the 18. It looked like Sswerwadda would shoot, but he left it for Estrela behind him. The midfielder took a first-touch shot that Kibunguchy got in front of, knocking away from the OCB box.
Hall looked to beat Mercado from a tight angle in the 41st minute after receiving a pass from Kasule. Reid-Brown was able to stay in front of the attacker, forcing him to the end line. Hall was initially looking to cross but shot instead, sending the ball into the outside of the net.
Red Bulls II had another great chance to open the scoring in the third minute of first-half stoppage time when Omar Valencia sent a strong cross in from the left. Rosborough was at the penalty spot with space and shot with his second touch. However, he couldn’t get over the ball, sending it over the goal.
New York was the better team in the first half, creating more and better chances than the Young Lions. The hosts had more shots (8-4), shots on target (2-0), and crosses (3-0) in the first 45 minutes. Meanwhile, OCB had more corner kicks (3-2) and better passing accuracy (91.3%-85.9%).
The Young Lions had the first chance of the second half when Rivera was knocked down from behind by Sswerwadda, giving OCB a free kick near the opposition box. Tsukada took the free kick, sending it off the wall. Rather than going back to the free kick taker, it went towards the goal, where it was caught by Red Bulls II goalkeeper Aidan Stokes on the goal line.
Sswerwadda took a long-distance shot in the 49th minute that was deflected out of play by Guske. The ensuing corner kick was knocked out by Freeman and the Young Lions took possession. Rivera played it back for Solis who sent the ball long for Freeman, sprinting down the field after the clearance. He took possession in the New York half of the field and carried the ball into the box. A defender was on Freeman’s heels, but the right back kept him behind, ensuring he had space for a shot. The attempt was past Stokes, who was slow to react, but bounced off the near post.
In the 55th minute, Freeman and Guske struggled to keep possession from a Mercado free kick, eventually giving the ball away to Kasule. Rosborough took over and found Sofo near the OCB box. Guske caught back up to the play and knocked the ball out for a New York corner kick.
The ensuing set piece was initially cleared by Solis, but the hosts retained possession. The ball was played square for Sswerwadda who sent the long-distance shot over the goal.
The hosts took the lead in the 58th minute, when Sofo sent the ball wide right to Berkley. The right back found Sofo continuing his run and the attacker’s first touch was a shot. Williams did well to get his foot to the attempt, sending the ball off the crossbar. Freeman was defending Rosborough at the far post but was caught flat-footed, enabling Rosborough to put the ball into the roof of the net to give Red Bulls II a 1-0 lead.
The Young Lions had a good chance to equalize in the 61st minute when Rivera was pushed over from behind by Sswerwadda, earning the New York midfielder a yellow card. It was nearly an identical play from the foul at the beginning of the half, and Tsukada stepped up again to take the free kick. After hitting the ball into the wall earlier, Tsuakda struck this one much better. He curled it over the wall and it was on target, but Stokes did well to push it over the goal.
In the 65th minute, it was the Berkley-Sofo connection again causing problems for OCB. After receiving the ball at the top of the box, Sofo sent the ball wide to Berkley. Both defenders moved to cover Berkley, leaving Sofo unmarked. Berkley gave it back to his teammate, who sent his shot over the goal.
It looked like OCB would have a possible breakaway in the 69th minute when Mercado jumped on a ball into the box and punted it long for Rivera making a run into the New York half. Unfortunately, Rivera had to wait for the ball, enabling the defenders to get back. Rivera didn’t hesitate to shoot once he got to the box, but Gutierrez was able to block it. The ensuing corner kick was sent all the way across the field twice as the Young Lions were unable to find space for a shot.
Goldberg made two substitutions in the 73rd minute, replacing Reid-Brown and Rivera with Favian Loyola and Jackson Platts.
Bringing Platts into the game proved to be beneficial in the 76th minute when he received the ball on the left and dribbled past two defenders into the New York half of the field. Already on a yellow card, Berkley made contact with Platts, resulting in the OCB attacker going down. Griggs immediately issued a yellow card and subsequent red card, giving OCB a man advantage as it searched for an equalizer.
While OCB was able to get the ball into the New York box, the back line did well to stay compact, making it hard for the Young Lions to break through. As a result, it was the hosts that created the next good chance in the 80th minute. Malick Dembele sent Hall behind a pair of defenders and the midfielder took a first-touch shot, but Williams did well to slide in and block the attempt.
OCB made two more attacking substitutions in the 83rd minute. Ellis and Bernardo Goncalves came into the game for Tsukada and Guske.
The Young Lions had a good chance to equalize in the 89th minute when a give-and-go from the top of the box between Freeman and Almaguer sent Freeman toward the end line. The right back’s shot was blocked by Stokes, but went straight to Kibunguchy. Unfortunately, the center back wasn’t able to reach the ball, falling over during the attempt.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Loyola was fouled on the right side of the field, giving OCB a free kick in a dangerous spot. Almaguer’s ball to the back of the six was headed across the face of goal by Kibunguchy. It was behind Mohammed, who tried a bicycle kick, but it went through without a shot being taken.
Two minutes later, the Young Lions found their equalizer. It started when Freeman played the ball forward for Ellis. The teenager dribbled between Gutierrez and Aiden Jarvis before shooting between O’Connor and Sswerwadda, placing the ball beyond the outreached arm of Stokes and into the corner of the goal to even the game at 1-1.
Despite being down a man, Red Bulls II had a chance for a last-second winner after Mohammed’s cross was headed away. Frank Ssebufu dribbled down the field surrounded by three OCB defenders and found Dembele to his left. Valencia was charging down the field and Dembele passed the ball to his teammate, who shot for the far post. It was beyond Mercado’s reach but traveled just wide.
That was the last chance for either team as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. New York finished the game with more shots (19-11), but both teams put three attempts on target. The hosts also had more crosses (5-4), while OCB had more corner kicks (6-5) and better passing accuracy (86.1%-84.9%).
In MLS NEXT Pro games, each team gets a point for a draw, but the game goes to a penalty shootout to determine who gets a second point.
Ssebufu took the first penalty for New York and Mercado guessed correctly, diving to his right and knocking it away. Solis took the first attempt for OCB, but he hit the crossbar, keeping the shootout scoreless after one round.
After Curtis Ofori and Freeman converted, Mercado saved Aiden Jarvis’ shot. However, Mercado was judged to have left his line early, so Jarvis got another chance. This time he put it in and, after Mohammed sent Stokes the wrong way, it was tied after three rounds.
The next six shooters did well to convert, keeping the shootout even after six rounds. New York’s seventh attempt was by Gutierrez and Mercado got a strong hand to the center back’s shot. The ball changed directions but still went in. Gutierrez responded by taunting Mercado, earning himself a yellow card.
The next four penalty takers converted their attempts, meaning Kibunguchy had to score to keep the Young Lions alive. The center back was going down the middle with Stokes diving to his left, but sent the shot over the goal and Red Bulls II took the extra point.
The winless streak for OCB now sits at seven games, dating back to May 26, when the Young Lions beat Huntsville City FC 5-0 at Osceola County Stadium. However, they’ve been picking up points, drawing five of their last six games.
The Young Lions had a chance tonight to jump Inter Miami II and draw even on points with Red Bulls II. Instead, they remain in 10th place, two spots and four points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference.
OCB will be back in action Saturday night when it plays the middle game of a three-game road trip, with a 7 p.m. kickoff against Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium.
Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. Carolina Core FC: Final Score 1-0 as Toothless Young Lions See Win Streak Snapped

Offense was difficult to come by for Orlando City B and Carolina Core FC at Truist Point Stadium in High Point, NC, tonight, as the hosts found the net late in the first half to supply all the scoring in a 1-0 OCB loss. Jathan Juarez scored an outstanding goal shortly before halftime, and the Young Lions (6-6-1, 20 points) offered almost nothing going forward as they saw their two-game winning streak snapped by Carolina (3-3-5, 16 points).
Once again, OCB found a way to lose to a team much lower in the table, although Carolina Core has played two fewer matches. But the Young Lions were never in this one offensively, attempting just three total shots in the game and not putting one on frame until the final 10 minutes of normal time.
Manuel Goldberg’s lineup included Carlos Mercado in goal behind a back line of Tahir Reid-Brown, Thomas Williams, Hayden Sargis, and Zakaria Taifi. Riyon Tori and Diego Pareja started in central midfield behind an attacking line of Dyson Clapier, Bernardo Rhein, and Favian Loyola, with Shak Mohammed up top. The surprise was Jhon Solis starting on the bench.
For the third consecutive game, OCB was outplayed badly, and this time there were no late heroics. Nor was there time for any, as match referee Marie Durr decided one single minute of added time was enough for a match that saw five second-half substitutions and some lengthy setups for a few late Carolina Core set pieces.
Carolina Core FC, coached by former Orlando City goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, created the first shot of the match as Tori conceded an unnecessary foul near the right sideline three minutes in. The service was good but Facundo Canete sent a free header wide of the left post.
OCB’s first decent attack fizzled out three minutes later when Rhein was flagged for offside in the buildup just as Taifi was teeing up his shot.
Canete got his head to a cross in the 11th minute near the penalty spot but it was right at Mercado. The goalkeeper had to be sharp moments later when Tori failed to deal with a ball over the top and instead teed it up for the opposition. Mercado got caught coming part way out but he was able to make a vital save on another Canete chance.
OCB lived dangerously over the next few minutes, struggling to clear the defensive penalty area. When the Young Lions did manage to get forward again, Loyola won a free kick in the 19th minute near the right corner of the box. Rhein sent in a good cross but Mohammed couldn’t make good contact with it and collided with goalkeeper Alex Sutton, who was able to collect but needed treatment after the collision.
The Young Lions had their best — and last — opportunity of the opening period in the 25th minute. Mohammed won the ball at midfield to ignite the break and Reid-Brown’s cross near the end line was blocked out for a corner. The ensuing set piece found Sargis in front, but the center back’s header went just over the bar and landed on the roof of the net.
From that point on, OCB was too sloppy with the ball on the awful-looking baseball pitch to create any danger. The Young Lions did a decent job of keeping their defensive shape, but there were some warning signs down both flanks, where defenders gave a lot of space and were still beaten off the dribble multiple times.
Mercado was quick of his line in the 36th minute to beat Glory Nzingo to an attempted through ball. The opposing forward made contact with the OCB goalkeeper, who briefly got treatment but continued.
Carolina Core finally broke the scoreless deadlock in the 44th minute. Ibrahim Covi sent Juarez down the left flank and the fullback roasted Taifi to get inside of him and then curled an excellent, unstoppable shot from a tight angle just inside Mercado’s far post to make it 1-0.
The Young Lions couldn’t do anything in the four minutes of stoppage time. There was one promising attack that could have led to something but it fizzled with a poor touch by Tori near the right corner of the box.
At the break, Carolina Core had the advantage in possession (52%-48%), shots (4-2), shots on target (3-0), corners (2-1), and passing accuracy (85.7%-82.7%). The difference in quality was noticeable and the Young Lions were fortunate to trail only by one goal after the first half.
Goldberg made no changes to his lineup and things didn’t change on the field to start the second period. Mercado made two enormous saves in the 47th minute on Juarez and Nzingo to keep the deficit at a single goal. That attack started because Tori smashed the ball out of play off Loyola and it was kept alive by a poor Sargis clearance attempt on a cross from the right.
The first 15 minutes of the half saw OCB create nothing and turn the ball over on both forced and unforced errors. Nzingo fired over the bar at the end of a long spell of possession that began with a poor touch by Tori that gave the ball away, and that allowed Goldberg to make his first substitutions. He sent Solis and Dylan Judelson on for Pareja and Rhein in the 61st minute.
However, it was Carolina nearly doubling the lead two minutes later. Another terrible giveaway in the defensive third by OCB gave the hosts a quick transition chance with numbers forward. Nzingo took the shot himself and beat Mercado, but his shot rang off the left post, skipped across the front of goal, and the Young Lions were able to escape. Moments later, Juarez again blasted past Taifi on the left, but he sent his shot over the bar.
Nzingo missed wide to the left again in the 70th minute on another long spell of possession that began with a giveaway by Williams near midfield.
The Young Lions finally got forward in the 71st minutes, but they again got nothing out of the attack as Taifi got to the end line and sent his cross from the right behind the net and well out of play.
Goldberg sent on Justin Hylton before the ensuing goal kick, replacing Clapier.
Msunguchi Alenga’s shot was blocked by Sargis moments later as Carolina kept coming.
The Young Lions finally kept the ball for a few spells after that block, winning a couple of free kicks in dangerous spots. Reid-Brown was taken down just outside the left corner of the box in the 80th minute. Solis went for goal on the set piece and nearly leveled the game. His fantastic free kick was headed toward the upper left corner but Sutton made a diving save to keep OCB off the board. It was the first shot on goal of the match for the Young Lions.
OCB could do nothing with the ensuing corner, ending the threat.
Taifi blocked a David Polanco shot that could have put things away in the 88th minute.
Moments later, the fourth official put up a board showing just one minute of stoppage time. Goldberg was incensed and earned a yellow card for his understandable reaction. The match had five second-half subs and some lengthy set piece setups, but somehow only one extra minute was given.
OCB managed to win a corner in the added time, with Mercado coming up to join the attack. The cross in was cleared to the top of the box, and no one seemed particularly concerned about getting to it. Carolina gladly gained possession and tried to seal things with the net empty but Mercado hurried back and got to a loose ball, but the whistle blew the match complete.
In the end, Carolina dominated the attacking stats, finishing with the advantage in shots (13-3) and shots on target (5-1). OCB edged the hosts in passing accuracy (88.7%-87.4%) thanks mostly to a good spell between the 80th and 90th minutes and Carolina simply trying to clear its lines to see out the match. Both teams earned three corners.
It was a rough-but-deserved result for OCB, which struggled with the basics of passing and dribbling, needlessly having to expend energy to win balls back that would normally not be given up in the first place. Still, it’s impossible to say what might have happened with a couple more minutes tacked on as they normally would be in virtually any modern soccer match.
OCB is now 1-2-1 in the all-time series with the Foxes and will host Carolina Core in the next meeting on July 13.
OCB is off until June 25, when the Young Lions will play another midweek match as they’ll host Toronto FC II at Osceola County Stadium.
Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. Huntsville City FC: Final Score 3-2 as Young Lions Complete Late Comeback
Despite being outplayed the whole game, two late goals saw OCB beat Huntsville City FC away from home.

Orlando City B (6-5-1, 20 points) came away with possibly the most unlikely win in team history, defeating Huntsville City FC (4-3-4, 19 points) 3-2 in Alabama. Hayden Sargis scored his first OCB goal before Christian Koffi and Gunnar Studenhofft made it 2-1 for the hosts. But the Young Lions roared at the end with an 84th-minute goal by Jhon Solis and a stoppage-time winner by Dyson Clapier to claim all three points.
OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made two changes to the team that beat Chattanooga FC 2-1 on Sunday. Carlos Mercado returned to the lineup for Javier Otero and Noah Levis got his first start, replacing Gustavo Caraballo.
The back line in front of Mercado in goal was Tahir Reid-Brown, Sargis, Thomas Williams, and Zakaria Taifi. Riyon Tori and Solis were in the defensive midfield behind Bernando Rhein, Favian Loyola, and Levis with Shak Mohammed up top.
This should’ve been a dominant win for Huntsville City FC. The hosts completely controlled the game from start to finish but struggled to hit the target. That was enough for the Young Lions to stay close and strike at the end, giving them an amazing three points.
Huntsville was the first team to get into the attack. Koffi received a pass at the top of the box and shot in the second minute, but the attacker got little on it and Williams cleared the ball away.
The Young Lions got their first chance in the seventh minute when Reid-Brown played a long ball across the field where Taifi did well to bring it down. The right back dribbled inside and nobody stepped up to him, so he took a shot from outside the box.
In the 10th minute, Koffi received a pass from Tyshawn Rose at the top of the box. He laid it off for Pep Casas, who shot for the top corner. Mercado got a hand to the ball, knocking it off the post. However, Isaiah Jones was there to tap it in from close range.
As Jones ran to the corner flag to celebrate, he noticed the assistant referee’s flag was up for offside, allowing OCB to escape with the game still scoreless.
Huntsville City’s pressure made it hard for OCB to get the ball out of its own end. The hosts won possession, setting Raul Miglietti up for a shot from the top of the box. The attempt sailed wide and Miglietti appealed for a corner kick, but the referee signaled for a goal kick.
Koffi tried to make something happen in the 22nd minute before laying the ball off for Moises Veliz. However, the midielder’s shot was blocked by Tori. The rebound went to Casas, who quickly took a shot of his own, but Taifi got in the way.
Two minutes later, Huntsville City created a similar opportunity. This time it was Koffi taking the first shot, with Sargis blocking it. The rebound went to Miglietti, and his shot was off Loyola.
In the 25th minute, a weak clearance from a Casas corner kick went right back to the attacker. He dribbled to the endline and tried to play it in front of the goal, but Mercado got down to trap it between his legs. The play resulted in Mercado going down and requiring attention. However, he was able to get up and continue.
Taifi played a long ball across the field in the 28th minute, finding Rhein on the far side. The teenager sent it forward for Loyola in the box before making a run. Loyola looked like he would send Rhein through but pulled it back, losing his defender. The first-team forward aimed a shot for the near post, but Lauta had it covered.
Koffi created more trouble for the OCB back line in the 39th minute. Weaving through defenders, he found Jones in the box. The attacker’s first touch ran into Reid-Brown, but he regained possession and shot again. This time Williams was in the way. The rebound went to Veliz, whose shot was blocked as well.
Mohammed stuck his foot out and got part of Veliz in the 44th minute near the top of the OCB box, giving the hosts a free kick. Veliz went for goal, but the shot was off the wall and out for a corner kick.
Casas sent the ensuing set piece high into the box, where Kevin Carmichael outjumped everyone to get his head to the ball. However, the cross was a bit too high and the center back’s header was over the top.
Huntsville continued to push forward as the game entered first-half stoppage time. In the third added minute, Koffi created one more shot, getting into the box and shooting. But Sargis got his foot in front, blocking the ball away.
It was a dominant half by the hosts. Huntsville City had the advantage in shots (12-2), crosses (3-2), corner kicks (5-0), and passing accuracy (89.2%-77.6%). But, while OCB put both shots on target, Huntsville only put one of its 12 shots on frame and it was scoreless after 45 minutes.
Goldberg made his first change during halftime. Diego Pareja came into the game for Levis.
Despite being completely outplayed, it was OCB that struck first. In the 48th minute, the Young Lions won a corner kick. Solis’ set piece into the box found the head of Sargis and the Orlando City Academy product redirected it into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Unfortunately, the lead didn’t last long. In the 50th minute, Bowen dribbled into the box, running into Reid-Brown. However, the defender kept possession and created a shot that was blocked by Williams. The rebound went to Koffi, who took a touch inside before placing the ball past Mercado to even the game at 1-1.
The hosts created another chance in the 55th minute when Rose found Veliz near the penalty spot. The midfielder’s first touch was a shot, but Williams was there to block it.
In the 62nd minute, Koffi received the ball on the left side of the box, dribbling inside and firing from distance. However, his attempt was well over the top. That was the last touch for the attacker as he was substituted immediately after the attempt.
Goldberg made his second substitution of the night in the 65th minute, replacing Mohammed with Dyson Clapier.
Shortly after coming on, Bryce Boneau had a great attempt on goal in the 67th minute. The attacker controlled a short clearance with his thigh and volleyed the ball on target. However, Mercado did well to tip it over the top.
The OCB goalkeeper was down briefly after the fall, but was able to continue. The ensuing corner kick by Alan Carleton found the head of Carmichael. It was a strong header that Mercado did well to block over the crossbar.
After the next corner was cleared away, Carleton took a set piece from the opposite side. This one found Studenhofft at the near side of the six-yard box. Studenhofft redirected his header inside the far post to give Huntsville a deserved 2-1 lead.
Damien Barker John dribbled into the box in the 75th minute before shooting at the near post. But Mercado was there again to make the stop, blocking it out of play. The ensuing set piece by Carleton bounced around before landing at the foot of Carmichael with space. Fortautnely, the center back was unable to keep his footing or get a shot off.
In the 76th minute, Tori went down. After brief treatment, the defensive midfielder limped off the field, replaced by Justin Hylton.
Barker John did well to shield Clapier in the 79th minute. Rather than going down with Clapier pulling on his jersey, the attacker fired. However, Clapier put enough pressure to put him off, sending his shot high and wide of the target.
Clapier played Rhein into the box in the 84th minute. The midfielder pulled the ball back to create space for a shot and Bowen caught up and knocked the ball out of play. The Young Lions weren’t able to create anything from the set piece, but Hylton drew a foul near the top of the Huntsville box.
Solis and Loyola stood over the ball with Solis taking the free kick. The midfielder curled his attempt around Lauta — who got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out — to even the game at 2-2.
Immediately after the goal, Solis went down, apparently with a cramp. His teammates initially helped stretch his leg, but he eventually needed more support. The midfielder ended up leaving and was replaced by Noahm Abdellaoui.
Just as it did after OCB scored the first goal, Huntsville looked to respond right away. Carleton took a shot from outside the OCB box, but it was right at Mercado who made the easy save.
The Young Lions nearly scored the winner on a long-range set piece in the 90th minute when Lauta took a poor angle to a long ball into the box, allowing Taifi to touch the ball past him. It was heading into the empty net, but Zach Barrett caught up and cleared the ball off the line.
But OCB wasn’t done yet.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Loyola took possession and sent Hylton forward. It looked like the young substitute was looking for his own shot, but he played it square for Clapier, who was catching up. It was an easy finish for the first-year OCB player to give the Young Lions the late 3-2 lead.
Huntsville pushed hard to try to find a winner, but they couldn’t create a solid chance until the ninth minute of stoppage time. Rose lifted the ball into the center of the box where Carmichael was running on. The center back put a strong header on target, but Mercado punched it away. The referee blew the whistle immediately after and OCB claimed all three points away from home.
At full time, Huntsville had the advantage in shots (30-6), shots on target (9-6), crosses (9-3), corner kicks (12-2), and passing accuracy (89.7%-75.5%). But Mercado made several huge saves to keep his team in the game and allow OCB to pull out a stunning win.
The three points moves OCB into third place in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind Chattanooga FC and New York Red Bulls II. The Young Lions are tied with NYCFC II but have two games in hand.
The Young Lions have a short week, hitting the road again on June 11 when they face Carolina Core FC in High Point, NC.
Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. Chattanooga FC: Final Score 2-1 as OCB’s Noah Levis Nets Late Winner
Noah Levis’ late goal sees OCB claim all three points against first-place Chattanooga FC.

Orlando City B (5-5-1, 17 points) appeared to be headed for a shootout against Chattanooga FC (8-2-2, 27 points) as the teams were tied 1-1 late in the match. But Noah Levis scored in second-half stoppage time to give OCB the win at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee.
Shak Mohammed gave the Young Lions the early lead before Steeve Louis Jean equalized just before halftime. Levis’ conversion lifted OCB to a much-needed win against the team at the top of the Eastern Conference.
OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg was forced into multiple changes for this game because Jackson Platts, Colin Guske, and Justin Ellis are away with the U-18 United States Men’s National Team. Goldberg replaced the trio of starters with Hardyen Sargis, Gustavo Caraballo, and Favian Loyola. Additionally, Javier Otero joined the second team for this game, replacing Carlos Mercado in goal.
The back line front of Otero was Tahir Reid-Brown, Sargis, Thomas Williams, and Zakaria Taifi. Riyon Tori and Jhon Solis were in the defensive midfield behind Bernardo Rhein, Loyola, and Caraballo with Mohammed up top.
Chattanooga got the first opportunity of the game in the sixth minute when Taifi blocked Milo Garvanian’s cross out for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece went off a visiting player and out for a goal kick, ending the threat.
On the other end, OCB took the first shot of the game in the eight minute. Loyola received a pass near the top of the box before playing it over to Reid-Brown, approaching on his left. Since no defenders stepped up to the left back, he fired from distance, sending his shot over the target.
The Young Lions nearly had a chance in the 11th minute when Taifi found Mohammed near the penalty spot. The forward tried to turn on the ball, but his first touch popped up too high. As a result, Farid Sar-Sar cleared the ball before Mohammed could shoot.
A minute later, OCB took advantage of a Chattanooga mistake to take the lead. Ethan Dudley played a seemingly innocuous pass into the center of the field for Nathan Koehler. But it was a poor pass and Loyola stepped up to intercept. The Young Lions were on a three-on-one break, so it was an easy pass to a wide-open Mohammed and the forward put it in to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead.
Tori and Darwin Ortiz came together in the 20th minute, resulting in both players going down. They required concussion tests and Ortiz was eventually booked for the challenge. While Tori was able to continue, Chattanooga was forced into a concussion substitution, replacing Ortiz with Daniel Mangarov.
In the 26th minute, Otero came off his line to punch a cross away. The clearance went to Louis Jean, who shot from just outside the box. However, the attempt was blocked before it reached the goal.
OCB quickly went the other way and Taifi found Mohammed in the box. The forward was looking to shoot, but he couldn’t find enough space. Instead, he played the ball across for Caraballo. The teenager took a shot at goal, but his attempt was also blocked.
Chattanooga tried to make something happen in the 34th minute from a free kick. Mangarov took the set piece, sending it towards the back post for Koehler. The center back tried to volley the ball and redirect it on goal, but he knocked it out of play instead.
Garvanian knocked Taifi down in the 39th minute, giving OCB a free kick in the Chattanooga third. Solis’ shot was blocked out for a corner kick, and Taifi’s ensuing set piece was back to Loyola. The first-team attacker dribbled forward before shooting from outside of the box, but it was right to Chattanooga goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic.
As Jakupovic attempted to punt the ball up the field, Mohammed stepped in front. The clearance was off Mohammed’s back and the OCB attacker was booked.
A flurry of activity by Chattanooga resulted in an equalizer in the 43rd minute. It started when Garvanian’s shot was blocked by Caraballo. The block went straight to Mangarov, approaching the end line. The substitute’s second touch was a shot from a tight angle that Otero blocked.
Chattanooga kept possession, resulting in a cross into the box. Otero came off his line and appeared to have an opportunity to catch it, but he punched it away with one hand. In a play similar to earlier in the game, it went to Louis Jean. Again, the Haitian fired from outside the box. However, this time he was directly in front of the goal, The hard shot went past Otero and in, evening the game at 1-1.
The visitors tried to take the lead in the 45th minute when Mangarov did well to shield Taifi from the ball. He played it back for Keegan Ancelin. The midfielder had space for a shot, but he couldn’t get around the ball, sending his attempt well wide.
The final chance of the first half came in the third minute of stoppage time. Taifi lost possession near the top of the Chattanooga box but got it right back. The right back turned to shoot, but he couldn’t get over the ball and sent his attempt way over the target.
After 45 minutes of play, Chattanooga had more shots (7-6) and crosses (6-2). OCB had better passing accuracy (85.2%-84.8%). Both teams ended the first half with two corner kicks, two shots on target, and a goal.
OCB tried to get the second half off to a quick start, nearly converting in the 47th minute. Mohammed did well to shield and turn his defender, getting a shot off towards the back post. The ball skipped past Jakupovic but wide of the far post.
In the 49th minute, Reid-Brown received the ball on the left, outside the box. The left back took a couple of steps forward before firing towards goal. His shot was on target but right into the arms of Jakupovic.
Mangarov tried to create something himself in the 50th minute, beating a couple of defenders to get into the box. He got a shot off, but Williams stuck his foot in and got a piece of it. As a result, the ball went straight to Otero.
Loyola nearly gave the Young Lions their second lead of the night with a long run in the 57th minute. He dribbled into the middle and shot from the top of the Chattanooga box but hit the left post. The rebound ended up with Rhein, but he was offside, ending the attack.
Caraballo took a chance at goal in the 60th minute when he received the ball on the right. The 16-year-old attacker had Taifi making an overlapping run, but he took the chance himself. The midfielder opened up and sent a shot towards the far top corner of the goal, sending his chance wide.
Chattanooga had a couple of opportunities in the 63rd minute, first when Callum Watson found Dudley at the top of the OCB box. Sargis got in front to block the attempt and the visitors maintained possession. Garvanian took the second attempt from the left, aiming for the back post. But he sent his attempt wide and OCB escaped the danger.
In the 67th minute, a long ball by Jakupovic was headed on by Tate Robertson for Peter Plougmand. Otero blocked the attempt that went to Mangarov at the top of the box. The attacker shot right at Otero, who made the stop.
Goldberg made his first change of the night in the 71st minute as Levis came on for Rhein.
Robertson played a dangerous ball to the back post in the 85th minute. He had multiple teammates in the box, but Sargis did well to head it away.
The Young Lions went the other way with Loyola carrying the ball to the top of the Chattanooga box before being taken down by Mangarov, who was booked for the challenge.
Solis was the only person standing over the ball, taking the free kick. However, he sent his shot straight into the wall. The rebound was sent forward for Tori, but the rookie was offside.
Goldberg made another change in the 88th minute, sending 17-year-old Justin Hylton on for his OCB debut, replacing Caraballo.
In the 90th minute, Mike Bleeker found Plougmand in the box. Chattanooga’s leading goal scorer laid it off for Mangarov at the top of the 18, but he couldn’t get anything on the ball, sending it harmlessly wide.
A minute later, OCB took its second lead of the night. Solis and Mohammed combined to send Loyola behind the Chattanooga back line. The attacker took a shot from the right side of the box, forcing Jukupovic into a one-handed save. It looked like the ball was going out of play, but Hylton saved it. He sent the ball towards the penalty spot, where Levis met it and converted to give the Young Lions a 2-1 lead.
“That talks very good about them because they are prepared,” Goldberg said about substitutes Hylton and Levis being involved in the goal. “They are ready. And sometimes it’s tough to play less, but here in the second team, you need to take every chance. We are happy that they took it.”
Goldberg made his final change in the second minute of stoppage time, replacing Loyola with Noham Abdellaoui.
Chattanooga won a corner kick in the third minute of stoppage time and everyone came up, including Jakupovic. OCB cleared with Reid-Brown carrying the ball down field. Without anyone in goal, the left back shot from his own half. Louis Jean sprinted towards his own goal, stopping the ball before it crossed the line, keeping it a one-goal game.
The visitors pushed forward once more, but they couldn’t create anything else, and the Young Lions came away with the win.
Both teams took 14 shots in this game, but OCB put one more on target (6-5). Chattanooga had the advantage in corner kicks (5-3), crosses (10-2), and passing accuracy (86.1%-84.5%), but it was OCB that scored the late goal to claim all three points.
“We are very happy for the win. But, most of all, that we were able to overcome a 3-0 loss (a week ago against Atlanta) beating the team that was top of the league,” Goldberg said. “So, that’s the stand out for us.”
“Obviously, it was a pretty difficult match versus the number one team in the league right now,” Loyola added. “So, it was a pretty hard match to go up front. I think our team played really well defensively and attacking. And, honestly, the mentality we had throughout the game was just amazing.”
OCB moves up to fifth in the Eastern Conference with the win, tied with NYCFC II, a point behind New England Revolution II, and two points behind Huntsville City FC after 11 games.
The Young Lions will take the field again Friday night when they travel to Alabama to face Huntsville City FC.
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