Orlando City started this game with Felipe instead of Wilder Cartagena and Ramiro Enrique instead of Duncan McGuire. Orlando came out discreetly to impose their game on Columbus but the Crew was the better team in the dawn of the game, with important plays created through the feet of Cucho Hernandez and Diego Rossi. Orlando City had an attempt through the feet of Ivan Angulo off the counter, but the Colombian did not find Dagur Dan well positioned up front and ended up passing the ball back. In the 11th minute, Rafael Santos with an amazing strike from distance almost surprised Schulte. In the 16th minute, after a wonderful play by Diego Rossi, Cucho Hernandez caught Orlando’s backline distracted and assisted Julian Gressel to score the 1-0 result against the Lions. In the 25th minute after a wonderful cross by Ivan Angulo, that had a monster first half, Ramiro Enrique almost levels the score for the lions and Schulte came up big for the Crew with a monster save. Orlando City had more chances throughout the first half but unfortunately was to able to level the score. Orlando in the first half, over touched the ball in the attacking third and was not effective with the chances they created. Columbus punished the lions by effectively pushing past their defenders with much better finishing.
Orlando City came out on the onslaught and on the 48th minute, Martin Ojeda scored a golazo after being assisted by Ivan Angulo (Monster game tonight). In the 56th minute, Diego Rossi stunned Exploria Stadium after again catching Orlando’s defense off guard, and scored a Golazo off the counter. In the 67th minute, Diego Rossi assisted Cucho Hernandez again put things 3-1 for the crew. The Lions’ defense crumbled and had a subpar game tonight. Orlando’s defense crumbled. Cucho Hernandez and Rossi dominated and that’s why the score was 3-1 Crew. The Lions created chances but were not effective enough to put it away. It seemed they made one unnecessary extra pass and that gave Columbus’ backline enough time to neutralize easily. In the 73rd minute, Facundo Torres scored a golazo assisted by Martin Ojeda. Lions were 2-3 and started to push offensively to turn it around. In the 86th minute, Ramiro Enrique leveled the score 3-3 with an outstanding goal. It was all Orlando City after Ramiro’s goal. At the death, yes at the death, Orlando City never gave up and Ramiro after a, wonderful assist by Facundo Torres, scored the 4-3 and it was the cherry on the cake of a wonderful display of resilience by the Lions. With the win and with New England’s partial result, the Lions are second in the east.
Next game is against NYCFC at Yankee Candle Stadium. Vamos Orlando!
