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Orlando City B “Flip” the Script in the Second Half, beating Chattanooga FC 5-2

David G.

Courtesy of Orlando City B Communications

Orlando City B (19 pts, 4-4-3) hosted Chattanooga FC (19 pts, 6-1-4) at Osceola Heritage Park, the second of three consecutive home matches. While the skies opened up earlier in the day, it was a lovely evening to see the kids play. The young Lions were buzzing after their win over rivals Inter Miami II the week before.

Lineup

Orlando City B lined up with one of their younger lineups this season. The only two first team players were Harvey Sarajian and Colin Guske.

Tristan Himes started in net, after a quality performance against Inter Miami II. In front of him, he had Titus Sandy Jr. and Albright Chikamso in the middle of the defense, with Bernardo Rhein at left back and Parker Amoo-Mensah at right back.

In the midfield, Ignacio “Nacho” Gómez lined up next to Colin Guske, who came off his best match of the season between both teams. Justin Hylton occupied the attacking midfield role.

On the wings, Harvey Sarajian lined up on the left wing while Issah Haruna was on the right wing. Pedro Leão started up top for the young Lions.

Starting XI for OCB

Squad Notes: a few players were missing due to international duty. Dylan Judelson and Clovis Archange were representing Canada’s youth team while Gustavo Caraballo was representing Venezuela’s youth squad. MLS players technically have this period off but can choose to play with OCB.

First Half

Orlando City B came out firing to start the game against Chattanooga FC. They pushed early by creating a chance in the 3rd minute when Sarajian pressed the Chattanooga defender who turned the ball over. Then Leão controlled the ball and shot the over the bar. A few minutes later, OCB would strike first, with a sensational one-two between Gómez and Hylton that ended with Gómez slotting the ball home. This put the young Lions up 1-0 early in the match.


The momentum shifted a bit in favor of Chattanooga as they passed the ball around and were able to get a shot off on the left side of the box but Himes was up to the task and saved it. After Chattanooga controlled the game for a few minutes, the momentum shifted back to OCB in the 17th minute after Hylton earned a free kick 26 yards from goal. Rhein put the ball up but unfortunately, nobody was on the end of the ball for OCB. Amoo-Mensah and Haruna would combine in the 21st minute, with Amoo-Mensah getting on the end of the ball but before it could be put in, the ball was cleared. OCB would get a corner right after and sent the ball to Haruna’s foot who had a shot that would hit the underside of the crossbar but bounce out. The pair combined again a minute later, combining on the right side of the pitch. Amoo-Mensah would have a rip again but it was saved and put out for a corner.

After that sequence, the tide turned for OCB and things went downhill rather quickly. It all began after Gómez arrived a little late on a 50/50 challenge and picked up a yellow card. A few minutes later, in the 28th minute, Himes was distributing the ball after a pass back but it was cut off by Chattanooga who took a wild shot. Sandy Jr. cleared the ball up field but it only fell to the top of the 18 where Chattanooga got on it again and this time put it in the net tying the game 1-1.

After the water break in the first half, Chattanooga came out hot, putting back-to-back shots on goal but both went wide but were a bit close for comfort for OCB. Both shots came from the central area of the box. OCB was able to earn a corner a few moments later but the header that they put on net was way over the bar. Chattanooga would then storm back, earning a throw-in two minutes later. Off the throw in, Orlando tried to clear the ball but failed to do so which let Chattanooga’s attacker hit a side volley and buried it in the net. This put Chattanooga up 2-1 putting OCB under pressure.

OCB fought back to end the half, with a few chances in the dying minutes. In the 41st minute, they earned another corner but the ball was put over the bar again. In the 42nd minute, Orlando countered quickly all while being fouled three times in the buildup. Leão did eventually get on the end of it but he put it just wide. Leão got one more chance in first-half stoppage time, this time having the ball squared to him by Sarajian but his shot was blocked, rolling out wide. Orlando City B went into halftime down 2-1.

Second Half

The second half started out strong for OCB, very much like the first half. With a few half-chances to start the half there was a moment where the young Lions broke through. The team quickly got the ball upfield and used the partnership between Rhein and Leão to tie the team up with their opponent at 2-2.

After the goal, OCB continued to control the ball and push the ball up field through a variety of different attacking options. The added pressure by the front line allowed OCB to create chances, with one of those chances finally coming off. Haruna pressed the Chattanooga backline, forcing a turnover then slid the ball to Leão, who have a shot that was parried out to the side of the box where Sarajian got on the end of it and then he slammed it home putting the young Lions up 3-2.

Orlando would get one more half chance in this sequence, with Haruna receiving the ball off a switch, firing a shot just inside the 18 but it would be saved easily. Chattanooga would then have their best chance of the second half. They were able to combine in the center of the pitch and then put the ball to the top of the 18 where they had a shot that would be pushed away, then their follow up shot would be put wide. OCB stormed back, with Guske crossing the ball to the right side where Hylton took a powerful shot putting it past the keeper, making the score 4-2.

OCB would make their first subs of the game after that goal with Haruna, Guske, and Sandy Jr. coming off with Torres, Ramirez, and Okonski coming on. It took the squad a bit to settle in after all the subs, something we’ve seen often for OCB, but they only faced one difficult chance in that period. Chattanooga had a shot on the right side of the box after some quick passing but Himes was able to save it comfortably. Hylton wasn’t done causing havoc to the Chattanooga backline, as he went on a zig-zagging run in the box before he finally had a shot that was pushed wide by the keeper. The young Lions had a tough defensive stretch right after Hylton’s chance which resulted in Amoo-Mensah giving up a free kick right outside the 18 on the left side of the pitch. Chattanooga put in a great shot on goal but Himes was up to the task and saved the strike.

OCB would get one more chance late in the game, after Matthew Belgodere came onto the pitch. He glided past the defender and got into the box where he was tripped up on the end line and taken down resulting in a penalty. Leão stepped up and put the ball in the back of the net putting OCB up 5-2.

Chattanooga would have one more chance in the dying minutes of the match that required Himes to make a double save on the left side of the box. He saved both well and really came for the ball aggressively to keep the ball out. He got assistance from his defenders on the follow up corner and OCB was able to see the game out 5-2.

Players to Highlight

  • Pedro Leão-It’s hard to ignore what Leão did for OCB in this one. Though he had some moments where it didn’t work out for him, his quality of play was fully on display. He ended on a brace with a 65% passing rate, created 2 chances, 5 shots, 2 successful dribbles, 1 tackle, 1 block, and 4 recoveries, and ended with a yellow card as well. He was very active in the offensive end and made it difficult for Chattanooga to contain him. He continues to get better each game and show his class. There may be another call up to the first team in his future.
  • Justin Hylton-Justin deserves a ton of credit in this one as he was everywhere in the attacking end for OCB. This was his first chance to really show his stuff and man, did he do just that. The 18-year-old attacker ended the game with a goal and an assist while also ending with a 91% passing rate, created 1 chance, 3 shots, 2 successful dribbles, 2 long balls, 1 tackle, 2 recoveries, and won 4 ground duels. To me, Hylton has earned himself more time starting for OCB and while he started the year injured, he is clearly back to his great form. There’s a reason Orlando signed him to an OCB deal and he’s starting to show that.
  • Harvey Sarajian-Alright, I have to give my guy credit again since he continued his goal contribution streak to 9 games with OCB. Sarajian now has 10 total goal contributions on the season and displayed his class in this one. It wasn’t the most productive game but he did have one goal, a 77% passing rate, 1 chance created, 3 shots, 2 successful dribbles, 2 tackles, 4 recoveries, and won 4 ground duels. His pressing continues to be suffocating and he’s able to transition from defense to offense so quickly that it gives his teammates extra chances. I would say you should continue to watch him eventually make the jump up to the first team for meaningful minutes but I’d sound like a broken record.
  • Ignacio “Nacho” Gómez-Nacho had another great game and that should come as no surprise to anyone that has seen him play for the first team or OCB. He was active throughout the offensive end but also defended well when he was asked. He had a tough yellow card in this one but he didn’t let it get to him. He had one goal, a 79% passing rate, 1 chance created, 1 shot, 2 successful dribbles, 3 long balls, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 interception, 5 recoveries, and won 4 ground duels. I would love to see him win more aerial duels but that’s really the only thing I can ding him for in this one. I’d keep watching Nacho because he’ll likely make the jump during one of these transfer windows.

Other players to note:

  • Bernardo Rhein-Rhein had another good game and deserves some credit. He was lively on the left side and picked up an assist and continued his strong run of form. He ended with an 82% passing rate, created 2 chances, 2 successful dribbles, 2 long balls, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 recoveries, and won 5 ground duels.
  • Colin Guske-Colin had a quality 60 minutes in this one before he heads out on his international duty with the youth national team. He not only grabbed 1 assist, he also had an 85% passing rate, 4 chances created, 1 shot, 5 long balls, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 interceptions, 1 recovery, and won 5 ground duels.

What’s Next?

Orlando City B (22 pts., 5-4-3) are home one more time to take on Carolina Core FC (9 pts., 1-5-6) in the third match of a back-to-back-to-back homestand. A fair amount of the regular OCB guys and young first team players are with youth national teams during this period so it may be unlikely that you see a ton of regulars in the next one.

Highlights

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