Orlando City B vs. Crown Legacy FC: Final Score 4-1 as OCB Wins Crucial Game Away from Home

Orlando City B (9-7-9, 40 points) took three points on the road with a 4-1 win over Crown Legacy FC (10-8-6, 40 points) this afternoon in Matthews, NC. Alex Freeman had a first half brace and Jack Lynn made it 3-0 shortly after halftime. A goal by Nikola Petkovic in the 75th minute made it 3-1 and the hosts had a penalty in the 80th minute, but Joao Pedro missed. Shak Mohammed put the game away in the 84th minute with a fourth goal for the Young Lions.

OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg was suspended for this game, though he was present in the stadium. Julian Vergara took over as coach and the staff made two changes from the team that beat Huntsville City FC 2-1 on Sept. 1. First-team regulars Jeorgio Kocevski and Lynn entered the lineup for Colin Guske and Wilfredo Rivera.

The back line in front of Carlos Mercado was Luca Petrasso, Thomas Williams, Nabi Kibunguchy, and Alex Freeman. Imanol Almaguer and Kocevski were the defensive midfielders behind Yutaro Tsukada, Jhon Solis, and Mohammed with Lynn up top.

OCB dominated the first half in every way, creating several chances and scoring twice while keeping Crown Legacy from keeping possession. The hosts were much better in the second half, creating chances early and often. However, the Young Lions defended well for most of the second 45 minutes. Crown Legacy did get a goal back and had a penalty that would’ve made it a one-goal game, but the misses ended their chance of a monumental comeback.

The first chance of the game came in the third minute when Solis laid the ball off for Tsukada at the top of the Crown Legacy box. The midfielder’s first touch was a shot on goal, but it was right at Crown Legacy goalkeeper George Marks.

The hosts nearly had their first chance in the sixth minute when Jaylin Lindsey played Nicholas Scardina down the right. The midfielder sent a dangerous ball into the box with a teammate making a run, but Kibunguchy got there first and cleared it away.

In the 12th minute, Tsukada received the ball in a seemingly innocuous position. The midfielder took a touch inside before unleashing a hard shot towards the near post. Marks dove to his right to ensure the ball didn’t sneak in, but it skipped wide.

The Young Lions continued to threaten in the 15th minute when Mohammed sent a low cross to the top of the six-yard box for Freeman. Marks did well to come out and tip the ball before the OCB right back could reach it. It looked for a moment like Tsukada would put the rebound in, but the defender got to it first.

Seconds later, Petrasso found Almaguer in the box and the OCB captain fired on goal. Marks could only tip the strong shot over the crossbar.

OCB took the lead in the 18th minute when Kocevski played a long ball for Freeman behind the back line and Marks came out in an attempt to challenge the right back. Freeman was able to tap the ball around the goalkeeper, leaving him with an empty net. Despite a somewhat tight angle, Freeman played the ball in nicely to give the Young Lions an early 1-0 lead.

Crown Legacy felt that Freeman was offside and interim Head Coach Kevin Sawchak let the fourth official know, earning a yellow card for dissent. However, MLS NEXT Pro doesn’t have VAR, so the decision stood.

Crown Legacy nearly had a chance in the 27th minute through an excellent individual effort by Jamie Paterson. The newly-signed Charlotte FC midfielder megged Kocevski before playing a give-and-go with Tyger Smalls. He got behind the OCB back line, but Mercado reached the ball before the attacker.

OCB had a chance to double their advantage in the 36th minute when Williams pushed forward from his center back position. The defender played the ball around Lindsey and the right back tripped him, earning the Young Lions a free kick.

The set piece by Tsukada was towards the far post where Marks pushed it away. Almaguer received the ball outside of the box and attempted an ambitious shot that went wide of the target.

The fourth official displayed four minutes of first-half stoppage time and that was enough for the Young Lions to double their advantage. In the second minute of added time, Solis sent Petrasso long down the left sideline. The left back played a beautiful ball beyond the reach of three defenders to Freeman, making a run to the far post. The right back did well with his first touch to guide the ball past Marks for his second goal of the game.

The Young Lions had one more first-half chance in the fifth minute of stoppage time. A poor clearance attempt by Crown Legacy enabled Mohammed to take possession. The attacker tried to beat Marks, but the goalkeeper made the stop and OCB took a 2-0 lead into the break.

At halftime, Crown Legacy had more corner kicks (4-2) and crosses (11-2) but were unable to create anything from them. Meanwhile, OCB had more shots (7-1), shots on target (5-0), and better passing accuracy (92.9%-90.5%).

Crown Legacy were the aggressors early in the second half. In the 48th minute, Scardina entered the box and went down after some contact. The Crown Legacy players, coaching staff, and crowd appealed for a penalty, but it wasn’t given.

A minute later, the hosts earned the first corner kick of the second half. The Young Lions got a pair of heads to the ball but were unable to clear. It eventually fell to Cam Duke who fired on goal. Mercado wasn’t in position to stop the shot, but it deflected off a defender and out of play. The second set piece was cleared and OCB maintained their two-goal lead.

The Young Lions extended their lead in the 51st minute from a set piece. Almaguer sent a long ball from his own half of the field behind the back line. Freeman couldn’t reach it, but the ball bounced to Lynn right next to him. The first-team forward took his time, placing his shot around Marks to give OCB a 3-0 lead.

Crown Legacy had a golden chance to get one back in the 56th minute when Smalls found Nimfasha Berchimas wide open in the box. Mercado came off his line to close down the striker’s angle and the forward shot right at the OCB goalkeeper.

The hosts won a corner kick from the attack and Smalls’ cross was blocked out by Kibunguchy. The second attempt fell in the six-yard box before Williams cleared it away. Crown Legacy’s third successive corner kick was headed over the crossbar, enabling the Young Lions to clear without conceding.

OCB nearly scored a fourth in the 69th minute when Petrasso played Lynn behind the Crown Legacy back line. This time Marks did well to get down and block Lynn’s shot wide of the near post.

Tsukada’s ensuing corner kick was played short for Petrasso, who sent a cross to the back post. Freeman was making a run, but Marks caught the attempt before it reached the OCB right back.

Crown Legacy quickly went the other way, playing second-half substitute Brian Romero behind the back line. The attacker tried to chip Mecado and got the ball over the goalkeeper, but it sailed high and wide of the goal.

Three minutes later, Aron John played a wonderful switch to Romero, setting up another attempt for the attacker. It was a strong shot but right at Mercado, who knocked it down and collected the rebound.

A goal was coming for Crown Legacy and they finally converted in the 75th minute. Petkovic touched the ball inside to create space from Kocevski and sent a shot that hit the near post. The rebound went right to Jonathan Nyandjo, who tapped it in to cut the OCB lead to 3-1.

Immediately after the goal, the Young Lions made their first two changes. Yeiler Valencia and Tahir Reid-Brown came into the game for Tsukada and Petrasso.

Crown Legacy almost scored a second in the 78th minute when Duke found Scardina in the box. The midfielder was aiming for the near post and beat Mercado but missed just wide.

Two minutes later, Crown Legacy had an even better opportunity when Mohammed gave the ball away in the OCB third of the field. Petkovic took possession and entered the box, drawing contact from Kibunguchy. The referee took some time to consider the situation before pointing to the spot and awarding a penalty.

Before the penalty was taken, OCB made a third change as Favian Loyola came in for Lynn.

Pedro stepped to the spot with a chance to make it a one-goal game. Mercado dove to his left and it should’ve been an easy finish, but Pedro sent the attempt over the crossbar.

The Young Lions made the hosts pay for the miss by netting a fourth in the 84th minute. Solis played a great ball forward, sending Mohammed behind the back line. With nobody near him, the attacker took his time to send the ball by Marks and in to give OCB a 4-1 lead.

OCB made their final two changes in the 89th minute as Gustavo Caraballo and Jackson Platts came on for Freeman and Solis.

Valencia got his first chance at goal in the first minute of stoppage time. He was looking to send his shot just inside the near post but hit the outside of the net.

Mohammed had one last chance in the fifth minute of stoppage time with a shot from the right. The midfielder was looking to beat Marks to his far post, but the ball skipped just wide. That was the last chance for either team as OCB won 4-1.

At full time, OCB had more shots (14-13) and shots on target (8-4). Crown Legacy had more corner kicks (8-3), crosses (17-4), and better passing accuracy (90%-89.3%). The better shooting efficiency by OCB was a major factor as the Young Lions won by three goals.

The three points moves OCB up to sixth in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference, even on points with Crown Legacy for fifth place with three games left. However, OCB has played more games than the teams around them.

After this brief road trip, the Young Lions will return home for a pair of games at Osceola County Stadium — their final two of the regular season —  before finishing the season in Cincinnati. The first of those home games is on Sept. 15 against New England Revolution II.