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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Chicago Fire II: Final Score 4-3 as OCB Erase Two-Goal Deficit to Win Seven-Goal Thriller

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2 years ago

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Orlando City B (4-8-3, 17 points) came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Chicago Fire II (4-8-4, 17 points) in a 4-3 thriller at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, IL. The hosts took a 3-1 lead early in the second half through a Victor Bezerra hat trick, but a Favian Loyola brace brought the Young Lions back and Neicer Acosta’s 90th-minute goal was the difference in the game. OCB leading scorer Jack Lynn also scored for the Young Lions.

OCB Head Coach Martin Perelman made three changes to the lineup that lost 3-1 to Inter Miami II last weekend. Goalkeeper Javier Otero started the game as Adam Grinwis, who started the previous three OCB games, was with the first team in Atlanta. Ignacio Galvan also re-entered the starting lineup for Nick Taylor, who started on the bench. Moises Tablante, who had started every game until tonight, was suspended for this one due to yellow card accumulation. He was replaced by Wilfredo Rivera, who got his first start since May 29 against FC Cincinnati 2.

The Young Lions got off to the better start, creating a corner kick in the third minute. After a couple of headers kept the ball near Chicago’s 18-yard box, it fell to Victor Yan just outside the penalty area. The midfielder took a shot on goal but it was right at Mihajlo Miskovic, who made the save.

In the sixth minute, Ryan Quintos pulled back Yan and was booked for the professional foul. The free kick was taken by Acosta, who sent the ball in for Lynn, making a run to the near post. The striker got his head to the ball, but sent it just wide.

Five minutes later, Galvan sent a pass from the left to Lynn inside the box. The forward turned, looking for enough space to get a shot off, but was unable to, and Chicago cleared it away.

Chicago didn’t get its first shot of the night until the 15th minute, when Josh Penn fired from just outside of the box. However, the shot was right at Otero, who had no trouble gathering it.

OCB finally broke through in the 19th minute through its leading scorer. Charlie Ostrem fouled Joey DeZart just outside the box, creating a free kick from about 18 yards away. Lynn stepped up and sent a dart into the far corner for the opening goal.

It was Lynn’s 12th goal of the year. In addition to pulling him to within one of the league lead, the goal also saw the striker set a new OCB single-season record, passing Michael Cox, who scored 11 goals during the 2016 USL season.

The hosts got their own chance from a similar spot, just a little bit further out, when Andrew Forth fouled Penn off the kickoff. However, Penn’s free kick was right into the OCB wall.

Chicago had another opportunity in the 22nd minute, when Forth was called for a controversial foul. He went up for a header while Penn didn’t jump. Rather than calling Penn for undercutting Forth, referee Rebecca Pagan called the foul on Forth. The free kick was sent into the box for Ostrem, but he couldn’t turn it on goal and it went out for a goal kick.

The Young Lions lost their veteran presence in the midfield in the 31st minute when DeZart went down. The OCB players surrounded the midfielder as he received attention. Eventually, he limped off the field and was replaced by Alejandro Granados.

Just after the sub, Chicago found the equalizer. Quintos sent a great ball to the far side of the box for Ostrem. It looked like the pass might’ve been too far, but Ostrem caught up to it and sent it back in front of goal. Bezerra was left alone and got on the end of the pass, putting it past Otero to make it 1-1. 

Chicago continued to attack following the goal and had a chance to take the lead in the 37th minute. Penn did well to sidestep two OCB defenders and create enough space for a shot. But Otero did well to get down and make the stop, keeping the score at 1-1.

Just two minutes later, Chicago took the lead in a bizarre and controversial situation. After making a stop, Otero punted the ball down field. However, assistant referee Eric Wood raised his flag and told Pagan that Otero held onto the ball for more than six seconds. It’s a violation rarely called, despite nearly every goalkeeper holding onto the ball for that long multiple times per game.

As a result, Chicago had an indirect free kick just inside the box. Penn tapped the ball to Bezerra, allowing the latter to shoot. The low, strong shot went past Otero and into the far corner, giving Chicago the 2-1 lead and Bezerra his second goal of the night.

At the half, Chicago had more possession (55.1%-44.9%) and crosses (10-6). While OCB had one more shot in the first 45 minutes (10-9), Chicago put more shots on goal (4-3) and took a 2-1 lead into the break.

It didn’t take long for Chicago to extend its lead. Just four minutes after the start of the second half, Bezerra finished off his hat trick. Sergio Oregel sent a ball into the box where Bezerra was surrounded by defenders. Bezerra brought the ball down with his thigh, turned Thomas Williams with his second touch, and put it into the far corner to give his team a 3-1 lead.

In the 51st minute, OCB nearly got one back through Yan. The midfielder carried the ball to the top of the box and took aim on goal. The ball was headed for the bottom right corner, but Miskovic did well to get down and make the save.

In the 59th minute, Perelman made a substitution that changed the game, replacing Rivera with Loyola. The 17-year-old midfielder put a charge into the Young Lions to start their comeback.

Chicago continued its attack after the substitution, when a Matteo Kidd backheel set up Oregel, but the shot was off target. A minute later, Chicago had a breakaway in which Diego Alvarado found Penn in the box. Penn took the ball around Otero and shot but hit the outside of the post.

In the 63rd minute, Otero stepped up to keep his team in the game. Alvarado found enough space to take a shot, but Otero blocked it away. Unfortunately, he blocked it right in front of goal and Alvarado was there to take another shot. Otero did well to get back to his feet and made another save, but this time he caught it.

Those two saves proved crucial as OCB found a goal seven minutes later. A nice one-two by Yan and Lynn set up Yan with space in front of goal. But Miskovic came out and blocked the shot. The rebound went right to Loyola, who put it in to cut the deficit to one.

It was the first goal for the 17-year-old in his third professional game out of the Orlando City academy.

Chicago went on the attack following the goal, looking to regain its two-goal advantage. Taylor, who had come on for Williams in the 50th minute, fouled Andre Reynolds, resulting in a free kick. Missael Rodriguez, who had come on for Bezerra right after the goal, shot from the set piece but Otero was there to make the stop.

A minute later, Penn found space to the left of the goal. After being played in by Kidd, Penn shot, but Otero was there again to make the save.

Granados nearly scored the equalizer in the 77th minute when he sent a shot towards the far side of the goal. It appeared to be on target, but Miskovic did well to dive and get his fingertips to the ball, curling it around the post.

Most of OCB’s corner kicks are short and that nearly cost the team in the 80th minute. The short corner was won by Chicago and the hosts went the other way on a counter attack. Just after entering the OCB half of the field, an excellent defensive effort knocked the ball out of play. It was brought back as Erick Gunera was booked for tugging on the jersey, but the slide saved a potential breakaway.

In the 83rd minute, the Young Lions found the equalizer. Loyola took a shot from outside the box that was saved by Miskovic. But OCB won the clearance and went back into the Chicago third. Lynn, who set up Loyola’s previous chance, sent the teenager forward. Loyola took the ball to the top of the box and cut inside to lose his defender. He quickly shot with his left foot, beating Miskovic this time and evening that game at 3-3.

Despite coming back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game, the Young Lions were energized to find a winner. They nearly did in the 86th minute when Granados took a shot from the left side of the box. It was headed into the corner, but Miskovic laid out to make the stop.

Chicago went the other way and Penn found substitute Miguel Flores in the box. Flores took a shot but Forth was able to get in front of him and make a big block.

The hosts thought they might’ve had the lead in the 89th minute, when a cross into the box was dropped by Otero, who reached over three attackers. However, a foul was called on Rodriguez and OCB was able to clear the danger.

The Young Lions quickly broke the other way, creating a three-on-three situation. Acosta found Loyola to his right with nobody between him and the goalkeeper. The shot was right at Miskovic, who used his leg to block the ball away. However, it went right to Acosta, whose second touch was a chip over Miskovic and into the goal, giving OCB a late 4-3 lead.

It was a remarkable comeback by OCB but there were still seven minutes of injury time to be played — plenty of time for Chicago to find another equalizer. Two minutes into added time, Kidd’s cross found the head of Quintos in front of goal but it was right at Otero.

Two minutes later, Penn sent a cross into the box that wasn’t controlled. However, it fell to the foot of Flores, who sent the shot over the crossbar.

Six minutes into added time, it looked like Chicago had a breakaway in the box, but Gunera made a last-ditch slide and got enough of the ball to knock it away. The Chicago players appealed for a penalty, but Pagan said no.

In the eighth minute of injury time, A cross to the back post was headed back in front of goal, but Otero was right there to catch it. That was the last touch of the game as Pagan’s whistle blew and the Young Lions came away with the 4-3 win.

In the end, Chicago had more possession (53-7%-46.3%), shots (25-21), and crosses (23-10). But the teams had the same number of shots on goal (12-12) and corners (6-6). Most importantly, Otero was able to make nine saves while Miskovic only made eight.

The win ends a two-game losing streak that dates back to OCB’s 3-1 win over FC Cincinnati 2 on June 25 in Northern Kentucky. It’s only the fourth win for the Young Lions this year and their second away from Osceola County Stadium.

OCB will look to build on this comeback performance next Sunday night when they return home to face Philadelphia Union 2 at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee.

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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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6 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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