Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. Crown Legacy FC: Final Score 1-0 as the Young Lions Win It Late Again
OCB left it late again, scoring in the dying moments to defeat Crown Legacy FC at home.
Orlando City B (9-11-4, 33 points) left it late again, scoring the winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time to beat Crown Legacy FC (6-10-8, 29 points) 1-0 at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. The game looked to be headed for a scoreless draw before Thalles netted the winner in the dying moments.
The first team’s Leagues Cup third-place game in Los Angeles forced OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg into three changes to the starting lineup that came away with a late 2-1 win over Atlanta United 2 on Aug. 23. Tahir Reid-Brown, Thomas Williams, and Colin Guske were all with the first team, replaced by Titus Sandy, Jr., Noham Abdellaoui, and Noah Levis.
The back line in front of goalkeeper Carlos Mercado was Riyon Tori, Abdellaoui, Hayden Sargis, and Sandy. Justin Hylton and Levis were the defensive midfielders behind Shak Mohammed, Justin Ellis, and Favian Loyola with Thalles up top.
This game was a difficult one to watch for nearly 90 minutes. The teams put a combined one shot on target in the first half and the majority of the second half wasn’t much better. It looked destined for a scoreless draw until the game opened up in the final minutes. It was exhilarating end-to-end action as both teams threatened on several occasions. Excellent goalkeeping by Mercado and a late strike by Thalles saw the Young Lions claim all three points.
Crown Legacy was the more dangerous team early. In the second minute, Assane Ouedraogo attempted a cross into the box. But he couldn’t get the ball to bend, sending it over the crossbar. A low ball into the box in the sixth minute looked like it might create some trouble for the OCB back line, but Mercado did well to get down and collect it.
The game’s first real chance came in the 10th minute when Ellis was knocked over and Crown Legacy took possession. Nimfasha Berchimas carried the ball to the top of the box, cutting inside to beat Abdellaoui. He fired a shot, but his attempt went wide. The OCB players were unhappy a foul wasn’t called on the turnover, arguing despite the goal kick.
Thiago made a run towards the OCB box in the 16th minute and Levis pulled him back to stop the attack. After initially allowing advantage, the referee called the foul and booked Levis. Thiago was the only player standing over the free kick about 30 yards from goal and took a direct shot. Fortunately, it was a low attmempt that rolled harmlessly wide of the target.
The Young Lions thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute when Mikah Thomas fouled Loyola, giving OCB a free kick near the Crown Legacy box. The set piece to the far side was headed towards the opposite post by Mohammed where Abdellaoui put it in. But the flag went up as Mohammed was deemed to be offside on the initial ball in.
Crown Legacy had two more chances in the 24th minute when Emmanuel Uchegbu received the ball near the top of the box. His shot was blocked by Sargis, but it went straight to Baye Coulibaly just outside of the 18. The follow-up attempt sailed over the crossbar, ending the attack.
Simon Tonidandel megged Levis in the 26th minute. He was looking to continue his run on the other side of the defender, but Tyger Smalls took possession instead. The midfelder shot, but his attempt was deflected over the target for a corner kick.
The ensuing set piece was played short to Uchegbu, who sent the ball towards the back post. However, it was over everyone and out of play for a goal kick.
The first chance for OCB didn’t come until the 31st minute, when Ellis laid the ball off for Hylton at the top of the box. The attacker turned and fired on target, but Isaac Walker was there to block it away. That was the only shot on target by either team in the first half.
A minute later, Ellis took a shot, however, Morrison Agyemang was too close, making it an easy block for the defender.
OCB had a scary moment in the 36th minute when Smalls made a run to the end line. Abdellaoui stuck his foot in before Smalls could get a cross off and referee Muhammed Hassan enthusiastically pointed toward the spot and six-yard box. The way he pointed made it seem like he might be calling a penalty, but he was calling a goal kick.
Uchegbu attempted a shot from the top of the box in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, but Hylton was there to block it. The ball went to Berchimas, who attempted his own attempt from distance, sending the shot over the crossbar.
After 45 minutes, Crown Legacy had the advantage in shots (9-3), crosses (3-0), and corner kicks (1-0). OCB had the edge in possession (62%-38%) and passing accuracy (88.3%-82.5%), and put the only shot on target.
The visitors nearly took the lead in the 52nd minute. A long ball beyond the far post was brought down by Uchegbu, whose cross was tipped by Mercado. It went straight to Smalls, whose shot was off the outside of the post.
Uchegbu ended up with the ball again along the end line. This time he played it to Berchimas near the top of the six-yard box. The attacker’s shot was on target, but Abdellaoui was there to clear it off the goal line, allowing OCB to end the threat.
The Young Lions won a corner kick in the 56th minute, resulting in their first chance of the second half. A short set piece wound up with Loyola at the top of the box and the attacker fired from distance, but it was right at Walker, who made the stop.
Crown Legacy had another good attempt in the 58th minute when a turnover resulted in a three-on-two counterattack. Smalls had players on either side, ultimately deciding to play it left for Thomas. The attacker was behind the back line, but he shanked the shot, sending it wide of the near post.
The visitors had another chance in the 59th minute when Uchegbu put pressure on Tori and blocked his clearance. The ball went to Thiago, who was in on goal from a tight angle. Mercado did well to defend his near post, blocking the shot to keep the game scoreless.
Mercado went down in the box after the attack, requring medical attention. Goldberg used the stoppage as an opportunity to make his first chance of the game, replacing Sandy with Albright Chikamso. It was the Orlando City Development Academy product’s first professional appearance.
In the 70th minute, Uchegbu played the ball forward for Thiago, who carried it to the end line. After a touch towards goal, he sent a shot that hit the outside of the net.
Goldberg took this stoppage to make his second change and it was another OCB debut as Jacob Ramirez came on for Levis.
Hylton sent Thalles forward in the 72nd minute with Ouedraogo putting pressure on the striker. After briefly looking to take the defender one-on-one, Thalles fired from the top of the box, sending the low shot wide.
Tonidandel had a chance to give the visitors the lead in the 74th minute when he was sent behind the OCB back line. Instead of shooting, he tried to dribble around Mercado. But the OCB goalkeeper did well to take the ball off of his foot. Tonidandel went down, but it was a clean challenge.
Ouedraogo took Thalles’ legs out from under him on the edge of the 18-yard box in the 80th minute. It was close to a penalty, but Hassan gave the Young Lions a free kick, deeming the foul just outside the area. The set piece was tapped by Hylton to Ellis, who fired on goal, but it was blocked. The deflection went off of Hylton’s arm for a handball, allowing Crown Legacy to clear.
In the 82nd minute, Ellis sent Thalles behind the Crown Legacy back line for the second time in the half. This time it was Thomas catching up with the OCB striker. Thalles got a shot off from the top of the box, but Thomas did well to slide in and block the attempt.
Loyola shielded his defender in the 85th minute before finding Hylton near the top of the box. Ouedraogo took the attacker down, giving the Young Lions another great opportunity from a set piece. This time, Hylton went for goal himself, sending his shot wide of the near post.
Ellis took a shot from outside the box in the 88th minute that took a deflection off Adrian Mendoza and went out of play for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece ended up on the head of Abdelllaoui at the far post, but his header was blocked by Jack Neeley.
Crown Legacy nearly won it in the 90th minute when Andrej Subotic made a run down the left and found a wide-open Dylan Sing right in front of the goal. But Mercado came up huge with the save to keep the game scoreless.
A minute later, Mercado was called into action again. Subotic had an open shot from close distance that Mercado blocked into the air. Sing followed it up with a header, but Mercado made a second consecutive save.
The Young Lions sprinted the other way with the ball, creating a chance of their own. Mohammed found Thalles wide open at the far post and the striker put it in to seemingly give his team the late lead. But he started his run a bit early and the flag went up for offside.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Mendoza fouled Hylton at the top of the Crown Legacy box, giving OCB a great chance for a winner. Before they could take the set piece, Goldberg made his final change, replacing Hylton with Zinedine Rodriguez.
Ellis stood over the ball, curling it towards the far post. But a defender got a head to the ball first, knocking it out for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece was punched away by Walker, ending the threat.
A week after beating Atlanta United 2 in the fifth minute of stoppage time, the Young Lions played Cardiac Cats again. But this time it was in the seventh extra minute. Mohammed dribbled across the top of the box before sending a pass to Tori. It was a poor pass that Thomas got to first, but Tori stepped in front to block the clearance. The ball popped way up into the air as Thalles shielded his defender. The striker took the ball very well, turning and putting it into the corner to give OCB the late lead.
It looked like the game might be over, but the visitors had one last attack in them just seconds after restarting play. Pushing forward, the cross into the box found Sing wide open right in front of the goal. It looked like it would be a devastating equalizer at the death, but Mercado made another huge save.
That was the final touch and the Young Lions took all three points in an exhilarating final 10 minutes.
At full time, Crown Legacy had the advantage in shots (25-11), shots on target (6-3), and crosses (9-3). OCB had the edge in corner kicks (3-2) and passing accuracy (86.3%-85%). Most importantly, the Young Lions scored the lone goal to claim all three points.
The win moves OCB above the playoff line and into eighth place, jumping Atlanta United 2 and NYCFC II. However, while they’ve played the same number of games as NYCFC II, Atlanta sits just two points back with a game in hand. It will be a tight end to the season with just four games remaining.
The Young Lions are off next weekend, before returning to action on Sept. 14 when they face Inter Miami II in Fort Lauderdale.