Orlando City B Plays Columbus Crew 2 to a 2-2 Draw

August 20, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Orlando City B News Release

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Orlando City B (6-10-4, 24 points) played to a 2-2 draw against the Columbus Crew 2 (13-3-4, 44 points), but fell in the penalty shootout on Saturday night at Osceola Heritage Park. This was the fourth penalty-kick shootout for the Club.

The Lions were able to find the back of the net twice in the first half courtesy of Moises Tablante and a Neicer Acosta penalty kick. Tablante got onto the scoresheet first after he was able to get on the end of a cross that came from Acosta. The goal served as his fifth of the year which is second-most for the Lions so far this season.

Acosta scored his third goal of the year after stepping up to the penalty spot and firing it into the net. The PK was given after Tablante was dragged down in front of the net and unable to finish off a chance. With his helper on the Tablante finish, Acosta recorded a goal and an assist in the same match for the first time this season.

The match saw the Lions go down to 10 men for the final five minutes of the game after forward Ethan Subuchan was given a red card in the 85th minute. Orlando then had to finish off stoppage time with nine men after Moises Tablante was given his second yellow card of the match in the 90th minute.

Orlando City B Head Coach Martín Perelman:

“We had a great effort, a big one. We were close to a win, but unfortunately we couldn’t. We missed some goals. I don’t want to speak about the referee. Second half, everyone saw what happened on the field and then they scored and penalties are penalties. We are happy because we are playing with really, really young players and they are growing. They are growing and competing with senior players. We are proud of our players.

Scoring Recap:

7′ Isaiah Parente (Penalty Kick) – CLB 1, OCB 0

The visitors took the early lead after Mohamed Farsi was brought down in the box and the referee allowed a penalty. Isaiah Parente stepped up to the spot and sent the Lions goalkeeper the wrong way to take the early advantage.

19′ Moises Tablante (Neicer Acosta) – OCB 1, CLB 1

The Lions leveled the match when Neicer Acosta was given the ball out wide on the right flank and sent a pin-point pass into the box to find a sprinting Moises Tablante who snuck it past the oncoming Crew goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

25′ Neicer Acosta (Penalty Kick) – OCB 2, CLB 1

City scored again a few minutes later when Alex Freeman sent the ball into Tablante who…