August 29, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Orlando City SC News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC (11-10-6, 39 points) took a 2-1 victory over 2015 expansion rivals New York City FC (13-8-6, 45 points) on Sunday night thanks to a 96th minute game-winner off the head of Tesho Akindele, his second deciding finish in as many matches. Akindele also netted the late game-winner a week ago in Charlotte, scoring in the 89th minute to decide that match by the very same scoreline.
Júnior Urso accounted for the Lions’ other finish in the fixture, rifling a shot on the half volley to net his fifth goal of the campaign. Facundo Torres earned the assist on the finish, now with nine as a Lion, trailing only teammate Mauricio Pereyra in all competitions in 2022.
The victory served as the Lions’ third in a row, marking the first three-game win streak for the side since a nine-point week from June 19-25 a year ago. It also marked their first regulation victory at Exploria Stadium over their 2015 expansion rivals since March 2, 2017, the inaugural match at the side’s privately-funded downtown fortress.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“I thought it was a great victory, well deserved by our players. I think the effort they had during the whole game today showed the character that they have brought in these last three games, so we are very proud. The first half showed a lot of courage with the rain, the fans that supported us through that rain, too. It was difficult to play, but I think we showed a lot of personality, too. We came out winning the half and in the second half New York came out with some ideas that complicated us and they took the middle of the field, but after their goal our reaction, especially with the players that came in, was phenomenal. They lifted us, they took the team on their shoulders and gave us that energy that we needed and more than the energy, the ideas, and we ended up being the best team. That feeling that you’re going to score here at Exploria [Stadium] again in front of our fans is a great feeling, so we’re very happy.”
Scoring Recap:
7′ Júnior Urso (Facundo Torres) – ORL 1, NYC 0
The Lions took the lead with Júnior Urso finding Facundo Torres at the edge of the area, who took a touch before giving the ball right back to “The Bear”. Urso took one touch of his own before hitting a right-footed shot on the half volley straight into the top-left corner of the net.
53′ Maxi Moralez (Thiago) – ORL 1, NYC 1
The visitors leveled shortly after the…
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