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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Charleston Battery: Final Score 2-1 on Lewis Neal’s Winner

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7 years ago

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It looked like yet another blown lead for Orlando City B when Heviel Cordoves tied the game with nine minutes to play, but not this time. Lewis Neal’s 87th-minute goal sent the 1,011 fans home happy as OCB topped the Charleston Battery, 2-1, at Orlando City Stadium.

The young Lions, who got a first-half goal from Pierre Da Silva on a wonderstrike, stopped a two-game skid in which they had been outscored, 4-0. Head Coach Anthony Pulis called it a “very hard-fought victory.”

With three games left, the young Lions (9-8-12, 39 points) moved to seventh in the USL Eastern Conference standings with their win over third-place Charleston (13-8-8, 47 points). The young Lions are one point ahead of eight-place New York Red Bulls II and four points clear of ninth-place Bethlehem Steel, but BHFC has three games in hand.

“The character that the guys showed to come back and nick the winner late was fantastic to see and the guys are obviously delighted in there because it’s a huge three points for us,” Pulis said.

Pulis started three-fourths of the same back line that began the game at Saint Louis FC, with Rafael Ramos slotting in at right back and Zach Ellis-Hayden moving to left back on either side of Conor Donovan and Zach Carroll, and in front of goalkeeper Jake Fenlason. Lewis Neal and Paul Clowes played central midfield behind an attacking midfield line of Pierre Da Silva, Jordan Schweitzer, and Danny Deakin, and Hadji Barry up top.

The entirety of the first half was played from box to box and chances were scarce. The two teams combined for only two shot attempts (both by OCB) and one shot on target in a rather plodding 45 minutes. Perhaps the most exciting moment of the opening 15 minutes was a back pass from O’Brian Woodbine that was hit much too heavy and forced Charleston goalkeeper Odisnel to scramble out of his net to try to keep it in, but to no avail.

Both teams turned the ball over regularly with heavy touches or off line passes, resulting in a sloppy and dull contest. But there was one moment of magic in the opening period.

Da Silva woke things up with a fantastic goal out of nowhere in the 31st minute. He took a pass from Neal, dribbled forward a few yards, and unleashed an absolute laser from 30 yards out that hit the right post and caromed into the net behind Cooper to make it 1-0.

“When I got the ball from Lew, that was the only option I had,” Da Silva said. “So, I just took a touch forward and I saw the goal right in front of me. I just took a chance and it went in.”

Da Silva said he thought his goal against Bethlehem was better but it’s hard to conceive of a better strike for OCB this season.

Shortly after the goal, Pulis had to make his first substitution. Ellis-Hayden got in the way of a cross attempt that hit him square in the face from less than 10 yards away. The ball was moving quickly and Ellis-Hayden was down for several minutes before coming off. OCB played with 10 men for a few minutes before Fernando Timbo came on for Ellis-Hayden in the 41st minute.

Pulis said Ellis-Hayden sustained a mild concussion and will be further evaluated this week.

One last moment of action took place in first-half stoppage when Fenlason made a diving stop of a cross to keep Romario Williams from tapping it in and equalizing. That ignited a break that ended up with Deakin blasting a shot that took a slight deflection and brushed the outside of the right post.

The whistle blew just after that and OCB took its 1-0 lead into the locker room. The young Lions held a 2-1 shots advantage (1-0 on goal), and led in possession (52.4%-47.6%) and passing accuracy (87.1%- 85.6%).

Charleston came out of the break like a house on fire, and the Battery spent the opening minutes of the second half all over OCB’s end of the field. Williams, who had his three-game suspension cut to just one at midweek, was at the heart of the Charleston attack, slipping in behind the back line in the early moments of the second period. Fenlason made a huge sprawling save in the 47th minute to keep it level. A minute later, Williams shook free on the right and fizzed a cross in front of goal but Nicholas Rittmeyer couldn’t get a touch on it to put it in.

“I felt like we had a good shape about us and we defended pretty well, but we were winning it back and we were turning it over on those first two passes, so we were never able to then get out and get into a rhythm,” Pulis said. “That’s the first kind of five or ten minutes. After that, I thought we did that better. We connected those first two passes, which enabled us to get into our attacking shape.”

The next few minutes saw Charleston earn a couple of corners and Clowes and Timbo were forced to make emergency clearances in the box. Williams got in tight in the 52nd minute and Fenlason made another big kick save with his right foot to force a corner.

Shortly thereafter, OCB settled into the game a bit more. Da Silva tried a scissor kick off a Schweitzer cross in the 54th minute from point-blank range but Cooper made a big save. Five minutes later, Ramos curled a free kick headed into the top corner but Cooper got over at the last second to tap it just wide.

Williams kept coming, though. Fenlason came off his line to force the Battery striker wide in the 61st minute and he lost the ball over the end line as the game began to open up. Deakin missed a sitter at the other end a minute later off a Da Silva cross that just needed a touch to go in, but he squibbed it over the net. A minute later, Cordoves subbed on for the Battery for Ataulla Guerra.

The game settled down for a while, but around the 75th minute, OCB began to have trouble connecting, and the Lions kicked the ball anywhere to alleviate the pressure, unable to string passes together and keep possession. That paid off for Charleston in the 81st minute. Cordoves got the ball in the box, spun and put a shot past Fenlason to level the score late.

The Lions had a chance to answer nearly immediately. Second-half sub Michael Cox made a great run through multiple defenders to set himself up with a scoring chance but he rolled his shot attempt from the right side of the box just wide of the far post in the 83rd minute. But a few minutes later, Austin Martz — who came on for Da Silva at 81’ — earned a corner that swung the game back in OCB’s favor.

The service into the area fell at Timbo’s feet and the big defender smashed a shot toward the goal that was blocked by the defense. It fell perfectly to Neal, who swiped at it and hit it right at Cooper. The Charleston keeper made a mess of the shot and it deflected off of him and into the net for the eventual game-winner.

“I was delighted, just being in the right place at the right time,” Neal said. “I managed to get something on it and to be quite honest I thought the keeper had saved it. It was pretty comfortable for him and somehow he managed to make a little bit of a mess of it and put it in the goal for us. But in the end I thought it was what we deserved, to be honest. I thought we worked really hard as a team. We didn’t make it easy for ourselves at times, but I thought we created enough chances and had enough bouts of possession to win the game in my opinion.”

Following Neal’s goal, OCB looked like a completely different team, confidently passing the ball around the pitch and making it difficult for Charleston to regain possession. The Battery didn’t see another scoring chance the rest of the game and OCB held on for all three points.

After the game, Pulis said he was pleased with the first half performance and the response to the Charleston goal but the second half was not up to the standard he expects from his team.

“In the second half we started slowly,” Pulis said. “Jake Fenlason made some really good saves to keep us in it and I don’t think we played with the same intensity and the same tempo as what we did first half for whatever reason.”

After the match, Pulis lauded the play of his center backs, who kept Williams — who entered the game with 15 goals in just 19 games this seeson — off the score sheet.

“We knew on Wednesday (the suspension had) been rescinded, so we were able to prepare,” Pulis said. “I don’t want to get into my thoughts on the decision but for the most part I thought Zach Carroll and Conor Donovan handled him really well. But he’s a very dangerous player and one of the better forwards in the USL. So, we knew we were going to have to defend well tonight to keep him at bay, and we did for the most part.”

“We kept grinding, we kept going, we didn’t let our heads get down too much, and we just kept probing to try to get that winning goal and thankfully it came,” Neal said. “That was a huge three points for us in terms of our chance of making the playoffs.”

OCB is back in action on Sunday, Oct. 1, with a trip to the Richmond Kickers. Game time is 5 p.m. ET.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Toronto FC II: Final Score 2-1 as OCB Drops First True Home Game of 2024

Toronto FC II scored two goals off rebounds as OCB drops its first game at Osceola County Stadium this season.

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4 days ago

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April 28, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Orlando City B (2-2-2, 9 points) fell 2-1 to Toronto FC II (2-2-1, 7 points) in the Young Lions’ first game at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee this season. While Wilfredo Rivera netted OCB’s lone goal of the game, Toronto scored twice when Charlie Sharp and Jesus Batiz reacted quicker than the Young Lions defense, putting in rebounds.

OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made one change to the team that beat Crown Legacy FC 2-0 away on April 19, as Nabi Kibunguchy returned to the starting lineup in place of Abdi Salim. The back four in front of Javier Otero were Manuel Cocca, Thomas Williams, Kibunguchy, and Alex Freeman. Imanol Alamguer and Colin Guske made up the defensive midfield behind Yutaro Tsukada, Jhon Solis, and Rivera with Shak Mohammed up top.

The home side was the better team throughout much of the game, but its inability to get shots on frame had a major impact on the result. The Young Lions missed the target on all five first-half chances and only put two on target in the second half. The other significant impact on the game was the team’s late reactions to rebounds after Otero saves. Both Toronto goals came from blocked shots where defensive players were caught flat-footed, enabling the visitors to score.

The first chance of the game for the Young Lions came in the sixth minute when Almaguer chipped the ball over the Toronto defense for Tsukada running behind. The rookie got his foot to the ball with a soft shot towards goal, but Antony Curic got in front and blocked the attempt.

The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute. Sharp cut inside to enter the box before dropping the ball back to Markus Cimermancic, who shot on goal. Otero did well to get down and block the attempt, but Sharp reacted quicker than Guske, getting to it first. The forward touched the rebound into the far corner to give Toronto a 1-0 lead.

In the 15th minute, Cocca sent a cross into the Toronto box from the left. It got through multiple players before Freeman and Batiz slid in trying to win the ball. They collided at the top of the six, enabling Toronto goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario to jump on it.

Rivera took OCB’s second shot in the 17th minute after receiving the ball from Freeman. The attacker attempted an ambitious and ill-advised shot from long distance with Batiz right in front of him. The Toronto midfielder blocked the attempt with ease and ended the threat.

Toronto had another opportunity in the 28th minute when Guske went down from a challenge by Sharp while receiving a pass from Kibunguchy. The ball rolled to Charlie Stanland, who sent it forward for Sharp. Looking for his second goal of the game, Sharp took a long-distance shot past Williams that forced Otero to make a diving block.

The Young Lions were given a good opportunity in the 31st minute when Stanland went up and over Tsukada for a high bouncing ball. Referee Brad Jensen blew for a foul, giving OCB a free kick about 30 yards out and directly in front of goal. Tsukada and Rivera stood over the ball, with Tsukada taking the set piece. It was a dipping shot, but it went just over the crossbar.

In the 37th minute, Solis found Almaguer near the penalty spot. Facing the sideline, Almaguer turned in an attempt to get over the ball and send it on goal. Unfortunately, he was unable to put it on target, sending the shot well over the target.

Cocca’s cross in the 41st minute was blocked out of play by Curic, giving OCB the first corner kick of the game. The ensuing set piece by Cocca was to the near post, where Freeman beat Ythallo and got a soft touch towards goal. It was behind De Rosario, but Adam Pearlman was there to clear it away.

At halftime, OCB had the advantage in shots (5-4), corners (1-0), crosses (5-1), and passing accuracy (87.3%-79.4%). But while Toronto was able to put three attempts on target, OCB didn’t have any on frame, and the visitors scored the lone goal in the first 45 minutes.

OCB came out of halftime flying, in search of an equalizer. In the 48th minute, Tsukada found Rivera to his right. The attacker shot on goal, but it was deflected into the arms of De Rosario. Seconds later, Cocca sent a dangerous cross into the box, looking for Tsukada. It was a little behind the midfielder and he couldn’t control it, enabling Toronto to clear.

In the 49th minute, Tsukada was the one to send a hard cross across the face of goal. However, nobody in purple was making a run into the six-yard box and it was cleared away.

The Young Lions finally converted in the 50th minute, a goal that was well deserved. Cocca’s ball into the box was headed away by Batiz, but only to Rivera nearby. The former first-team Homegrown Player controlled the ball with his thigh before volleying it past De Rosario to even the game at 1-1.

“I don’t know. I just saw it coming out, took a touch with my thigh, and tried to put it in the back of the net,” Rivera said about his goal. “And it worked.”

“I think he’s having a really great personality,” Goldberg said about the goal scorer. “He’s becoming really strong for us and we are happy for him.”

Toronto had its first sustained attack of the half in the 58th minute, when Ythallo’s shot headed towards the far post. Otero did well to dive to his left, tipping the ball out of play for a corner kick.

While the first two set pieces were headed out by Mohammed and Cocca, the third one stayed in play. The ball was headed in and out of the box before Mark Fisher volleyed it towards goal. However, the shot was wide, enabling the Young Lions to end the threat.

Goldberg made his first substitution of the game in the 63rd minute and it was a like-for-like change as Tahir Reid-Brown came into the game for Cocca at left back.

OCB should’ve taken the lead in the 69th minute when Rivera took the ball away from Ythallo, Toronto’s last defender. Rivera dribbled in on De Rosario and shot towards the near post with his left foot, sending the attempt wide. The Toronto goalkeeper had his near post covered, so Rivera probably should’ve opened up and gone for the far post. Regardless, the game remained tied at 1-1.

Toronto went straight down field from the goal kick and created a chance. Batiz lifted the ball across the box to Fisher on the far side. The attacker headed the ball back across goal, but nobody in white could get on the end of it. He had time to control the ball and shoot, but OCB was able to clear instead.

OCB made two more changes in the 77th minute and, again, they were like-for-like changes. Forwards Rivera and Mohammed were replaced by Justin Ellis and Favian Loyola.

One of the two most recent substitutes got involved quickly as Ellis found Tsukada just outside of the box. The midfielder turned and shot on goal, but De Rosario was there to collect it.

In the 83rd minute, Williams fouled Fisher outside of the box, giving Toronto a free kick. Julian Altobelli and Batiz stood over the free kick as OCB set up a two-man wall. Batiz’s shot was blocked by Solis but went right back to him. His second shot was towards the near post, but rolled just wide.

Goldberg made another change in the 87th minute. Tsukada, who was dangerous for much of the game on the left side, was replaced by Yeiler Valencia, who made his OCB debut.

While OCB had been the better team throughout the second half, it was Toronto that found the late goal. In the 89th minute, Andrei Dumtru found Altobelli inside the box. The midfielder cut inside to beat Williams and attempted a curling shot towards the far post. Otero made a diving save, knocking it wide. However, in a play eerily similar to Toronto’s first goal, Batiz beat Freeman to the loose ball and put it into the roof of the net, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Immediately after the goal, Goldberg made his final substitution of the game, replacing Guske with Diego Pareja.

Five minutes into stoppage time, Toronto had a good chance to put the game away through Altobelli on the left. Otero did well to get down and block the first shot, but the ball circulated around and ended up back with Altobelli. He shot a second time towards the far post, but Otero made another good stop to keep it a one-goal game.

OCB quickly sent the ball the other away, looking to create a final chance as the clock ticked past six minutes of stoppage time. But a late foul was the final action and the final whistle secured the Young Lions’ 2-1 loss.

At full time, Toronto had more shots (15-9), shots on target (7-2), and corner kicks (5-1). OCB had the edge in crosses (8-6) and passing accuracy (87.1%-82.2%), but the team’s struggles finishing and poor reaction time to Otero saves cost the Young Lions dearly.

“Unfortunately, we got surprised with an early goal, which is something that we are trying to avoid. So that’s really something to work on, to act more than what we react,” Goldberg said about the game. “But after that, the group reacted really well. That makes us very happy. Of course, we are not comfortable with the result, but there’s still a long way to go for us.”

“I thought we came out pretty slow. Obviously, they got the goal in the first couple minutes, but I think we bounced back pretty well,” Rivera added. “Obviously it was a tough result. Obviously our first game at home as well, so it was a bad one for us.”

OCB remains on a four-game unbeaten run away from home, but is now 0-2-0 in the state of Florida. While the first of those two games was at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, it was considered the team’s first home game of the season.

The Young Lions will head back out on the road, which has been a friendlier environment for them, as they face Chattanooga FC Saturday evening.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City Signs Academy Midfielder Colin Guske to MLS NEXT Pro Contract

The 17-year-old OCSC academy midfielder signs a one-year MLS NEXT Pro deal.

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1 week ago

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April 24, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced this afternoon that the club has signed academy product Colin Guske to an MLS NEXT Pro contract with its reserve side, Orlando City B. The deal is for one year, running through the 2024 season.

“Colin is another talented young player coming from our development pathway in the way that we envisioned at the beginning of this project,” Orlando City Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “Colin is also another player who benefited from the full integration between our academy, OCB, and first teams inside our training facilities, and took advantage of the time he had in preseason training camp with the first team to sharpen his tools and show us that he’s ready for that next step along the development pathway. Despite his age, Colin shows a lot of personality on and off the field and we truly believe his future with us will be bright.”

The 17-year-old St. Johns, FL native joined the club’s academy in 2020 and made his debut for OCB in the season opener against Atlanta United. He made an immediate impact for the club’s second team, scoring in the 49th minute, which ended up being the game-winning goal.

So far this season, Guske has made four appearances (all starts), playing 360 minutes, and scoring a goal. He’s played each game in the defensive midfield alongside team captain Imanol Almaguer.

Guske joins his two older brothers in going through the Orlando City academy and playing with OCB. However, Colin is the only Guske brother to sign a professional contract with the club as the others were on academy deals, enabling them to play in college. Owen, the oldest of the three, played with OCB during the 2020 USL League One season and is currently playing at Jacksonville University. Liam played with OCB during the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season and is currently playing at Seton Hall University.

The young midfielder is the second academy product the club has signed to an MLS NEXT Pro contract this year after 18-year-old defender Zakaria Taifi was inked to a second-team contract on March 12. The move is a logical step for both players in their progression through the club’s development system, which they hope results in a Homegrown Player contract with the first team.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Crown Legacy FC: Final Score 2-0 as Young Lions Claim Road Victory

The Young Lions will bring all three points back from North Carolina after a complete win over Crown Legacy.

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2 weeks ago

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April 19, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Alex Freeman and Shak Mohammed scored and Javier Otero made six saves as Orlando City B defeated Crown Legacy FC, 2-0 at the Sportsplex at Matthews in Matthews, NC. OCB (2-1-2, 9 points) completed its two-game road trip by claiming four out of six possible points and is now unbeaten on the road in four matches (2-0-2), with a shootout win after one of its two draws. Crown Legacy remains winless on the young season (0-2-3, 5 points).

Manuel Goldberg’s lineup included just one change from the squad that started the last game at Philadelphia Union II. Manuel Cocca replaced Zakaria Taifi at fullback. The starting back line in front of goalkeeper Otero consisted of Cocca, Thomas Williams, Abdi Salim, and Freeman. Colin Guske and Imanol Almaguer played in the central midfield behind an attacking midfield line of Yutaro Tsukada, Jhon Solis, and Wilfredo Rivera, with Mohammed up top.

OCB was the better side in the first half, but squandered too many good attacks with a misplaced pass or by simply making a poor decision.

The first look at goal fell for OCB in the third minute. Tsukada intercepted the ball in the attacking half and drove forward into the box against two defenders. After entering the penalty area, the first-year pro unleashed a shot that deflected out for a corner. The Young Lions couldn’t get to Tsukada’s service, which bounced in the box before being cleared.

The hosts had a great chance in the fifth minute, shortly after the skies opened up and a heavy rain began to fall. Nimfasha Berchimas cut in from the right side, beat Williams, and sent a shot skipping toward goal. Otero did well to make the save and not give up a rebound on the hard shot in the wet conditions. The rain eventually subsided and became less of a factor.

Solis went down in the box in the 14th minute with contact but the ref played on and OCB didn’t seem too bothered by it. Seconds later, OCB stole the ball in the attacking half — a common theme in the opening 20 minutes — and Rivera had a go from distance with his left foot, but he didn’t get all of his shot. Not only did the shot lack power, but it was also wide of goal.

OCB should have scored in the 19th minute when a good buildup ended up with Tsukada on the left. The winger gave the ball to Mohammed, who cut back, but even with the goalkeeper down, the forward was reluctant to shoot. It eventually was sent toward goal by Rivera but was deflected out for a corner. The ensuing set piece was played short to Almaguer, who made a good cross into the area. Freeman got his head to it and it was on target, but goalkeeper Chituru Odunze was able to scramble over and knock it out for another corner in the 20th minute.

The Young Lions were less precise with the next corner, misplaying it short and turning it over, requiring Tsukada to break up the transition with a professional foul, earning him a yellow card.

The hosts started to settle into the match over the next 10 minutes, keeping more possession. When OCB broke up Crown Legacy’s play, the Young Lions repeatedly gave it right back in their own half.

Jonathan Nyandjo blazed past Williams and fired a shot that Otero saved in the 23rd minute on a ball over the top. Moments later, a corner kick cross was sent straight at Otero, who caught it.

Three Young Lions took unnecessary bookings before the first half was finished. Almaguer was the first of those in the 27th minute after he appeared to knock the ball out of play off a Crown Legacy player. The throw-in was awarded to the home side, and Almaguer held onto the ball while arguing the call, drawing the yellow.

Three minutes later, Otero made a stop on a shot from outside the box by Tyger Smalls.

OCB finally broke through in the 35th minute, but the play almost broke down in the Crown Legacy box again. Rivera was played into the area but opted to cut back to his right rather than fire from an angle. He just about lost the ball, but it was knocked over to the right side of the box. Freeman got to it first and powered it into the net to give OCB a 1-0 lead.

An excellent chance to double the lead broke down in the 39th minute. A good ball sent Tsukada down the left. He tried to fake out a defender, but took a heavy touch, losing it over the end line before he could get his cross in.

Otero was booked for time wasting and Rivera for something away from the ball in the final minutes of the opening period. Neither team created anything over the final minutes and OCB took its slim lead into the locker room.

OCB finished the first half with more shots (6-3), but Crown Legacy put all three of its attempts on target, compared to just two by the Young Lions. OCB also passed slightly more accurately (87.9%-87.5%) and won more corners (5-1), but did precious little with those set piece opportunities.

Crown Legacy served up a warning sign in the first minute after the restart, sending a shot from distance well over the bar.

OCB came right back and created something in the 48th minute, with a dangerous ball from Solis from the left blocked away from Tsukada. Solis then got into the box on the right in the 51st minute, but this time his cross missed his target and went all the way through the box.

Freeman nearly picked out Mohammed in the 55th minute but the cross was inches too far in front of the forward and he was ruled to be offside anyway.

Otero was called into action at the hour to make two huge saves. OCB expected a whistle for what appeared to be a clear handball and stopped playing. Crown Legacy did not and the ball ended up in the box. Otero made two big stops from close range to preserve the OCB advantage.

Tsukada’s back post delivery of a corner in the 62nd minute might have been an Olimpico attempt and it nearly worked. Cocca was breaking to the back post, but Odunze caught the ball just in front of the goal line. Cocca then nearly picked out Freeman in front in the 67th minute but the cross was inches over the fullback’s head. Orlando regrouped and Tsukada went down at the top of the area but the referee ruled it was a clean play. Two minutes later, Mohammed was sent in behind but the flag came up yet again on another close play.

OCB doubled its lead in the 76th minute. Solis won a free kick near the touchline on the left side and Willian Sangoquiza was booked for the foul. Tsukada took the set piece and sent in a good ball. Mohammed met it in the air and flicked it past Odunze to make it 2-0 with his first goal of the season.

Crown Legacy nearly pulled the goal back in the 83rd minute off a corner kick. The hosts played it short before sending it into the box, but OCB cleared it. The recycled ball came in and found Philip Mayaka in front, but the midfielder sent his shot high over the bar, wasting the opportunity.

Second-half sub Favian Loyola had a chance to put the game away moments later. He blocked a clearance attempt and the ball rolled sideways from left to right near the top of the area. However, the midfielder wasn’t fast enough to beat his defender to the ball and Crown Legacy survived what might have been a third goal.

Crown Legacy had several set pieces down the stretch to try to get back into the game. A corner was headed over in the 85th minute and then a pair of terrible bookend fouls by substitutes Tahir Reid-Brown and Loyola — on the defensive left and right, respectively — gave the hosts unnecessary chances. The Young Lions did well to survive a pair of bicycle kick attempts, blocking the second one, off the Reid-Brown foul. A third shot was blocked in front by the defense and OCB finally cleared.

The best chance in stoppage time went OCB’s way, when the ball found Freeman all alone at the top of the area. The fullback tried to pick out the right corner but missed the net just wide in the 92nd minute.

Chandler Young got the last look of the match off a cross from the right. Salim tried to get under it but misplayed it and it landed on Young’s foot, but the shot went wide to the right of Otero’s goal. Moments later, the game was over.

Crown Legacy fired more shots (15-9), and put more on target (6-4), although only a few of the hosts’ attempts were dangerous. Crown also nipped OCB in passing accuracy (87.8%-86.4%), while the Young Lions won more corners (9-5).

It was a good performance overall by the Young Lions, despite squandering a number of good attacking opportunities in the early part of the match. The defense wasn’t tested often, which is a testament to the press and defensive play from the midfielders and attacking players. The few times Crown Legacy created something, Otero was there.

The Young Lions will finally play a home game, hosting Toronto FC II at Osceola County Stadium on Sunday, April 28.

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