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Orlando City B Run Out of Connecticut in 4-2 Defeat

David G.

Orlando City B (35 pts., 8-7-5) went back on the road to face Connecticut United (31 pts., 9-2-8) .These teams have never met before, so this was an interesting match to watch.

Lineup

Some changes for Orlando City B in this one, with a few quality changes to the lineup. Tristan Himes comes back in to start at goalkeeper. The recent first-team signee was covering with the first team and recovering from an injury.

In front of Himes was the pairing of Titus Sandy Jr. and Landon Okonski. Parker Amoo-Mensah started at right back, while Tahir Reid-Brown started at left back while also captaining the squad.

In midfield, Ignacio “Nacho” Gómez anchored the double pivot with Nicolas Lasheras next to him. Justin Hylton got another start at the attacking midfield spot.

Up top, Pedro Leão led the line with Mathew Belgodere on the left wing and Issah Haruna on the right wing.

Players on the bench: Luan Silva (GK), Albright Chikamso (DF), Caleb Trombino (MF), Brady Kendall (MF), Nicolas Bobea Torres (MF), and Hector Aguirre (MF)

First Half

Orlando City B kicked off the first half and really pressed Connecticut from the first whistle. CTU maintained possession through the first part of the match but Orlando was a bit more physical to knock their opponent off the ball. Himes got involved in the 4th minute by cutting out a cross and trying to help OCB get going the other way. Connecticut had their best chance in the 6th minute with a great through ball put into Orlando’s box but Okonski came across the box and cleared the ball away from the defender. He was able to also keep it in and pass it upfield. OCB could not get on the ball very much as Connecticut kept sending wave after wave towards their goal. When the ball would get to OCB’s box, they would tighten up defensively and push the ball out of danger.

Connecticut was forced to make a sub at center back with one of their starting defenders going down with an injury within the first ten minutes. Orlando was able to play a few minutes with a man up but couldn’t do much with it. The best opportunity came right after the new center back came on, as the ball was cycled up the left side and Belgodere got on the end of one ripping a shot that went just wide of the post. After the shot from Belgodere, the game became a bit more even between both sides with OCB being able to string together a few more chances. In the 16th minute, Haruna and Hylton were able to play the ball up right with Hylton crossing it to the far side of the post with Leão getting on the end of it but scuffing the shot. OCB was able to control the ball for a bit after that chance but couldn’t create another quality chance.

Orlando’s play up the right side was proving to be very dangerous for OCB, as Haruna and Hylton continued to combine up that side while also having moments where Amoo-Mensah was contributing as well. They continued to try to use that to their advantage with Connecticut struggling on that side. Connecticut did have a very good chance in the 21st minute where they went through the center of the field and passed the ball into the box where their attacker was bumped hard by Lasheras, going down but the referee didn’t see anything in it. Connecticut did possess the ball a bit more over the next few minutes, earning two corners and possessing around the box. They still couldn’t find a way to break through.

In the 30th minute, CTU earned their first yellow card after a cynical tackle on Lasheras. Then right after the free kick, OCB were able to put together a nice set piece play where Belgodere crossed it to the far post and Okonski got on the end to head it home, putting OCB up 1-0.

OCB kept the attack going, this time the squad was able to break quickly again with the ball bouncing past the CTU backline with Belgodere getting it to Hylton, who got blocked and then Gómez was able to shoot as well but it floated to the keeper. Gómez did commit a bad foul right outside the box in the 36th minute which led to a great free kick from Connecticut who were able to level the score 1-1.

It didn’t take long for Connecticut to get on the board again as they were able to get on the ball again and this time moved the ball around the outside of the box until their attacker cut across toward the left side and the ball took a deflection that trickled into the net. It put the opponent up 2-1.

CTU didn’t stop either, they kept pushing for another goal before the half getting two more half-chances but OCB wouldn’t be denied either. Belgodere was able to get the ball out left and played the ball to Hylton, who was able to get a shot off but couldn’t get it on frame. They were able to keep the ball in the Connecticut half as they approached stoppage time but there wasn’t a great opportunity to break through. The game went into the half with Connecticut leading 2-1.

Second Half

Connecticut United got the second half underway, looking to possess the ball from the jump. The game was a bit of a back-and-forth affair until OCB was able to string a few possessions together that carried them into their opponent’s box. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to get any quality chances out of it. CTU was able to counter in the 53rd minute, where they stole the ball on a poor ball by Okonski and put Connecticut up 3-1.

CTU didn’t stop, they kept pushing the ball forward again and again in waves. They were able to create two half-chances but neither one could be finished off. They really did a quality job possessing and not allowing OCB to find a way back in the middle part of the half. However, CTU wouldn’t be denied and they were able to get on the board again. This time, with a quality ball from the right side to the far post, Connecticut was able to get on the end of it. That made the score 4-1.

In the 64th minute, Okonski was subbed off as Albright Chikamso came on for him with the hopes of steadying the backline. CTU would make a sub a bit after to help shore up their midfield. This allowed them to possess the ball even more, and OCB wasn’t sure how to get on the ball. Around the 70th minute, OCB did find a few ways to get on the ball and try to possess for a time but they weren’t making the most out of their chances. They had an attacking sequence in the 71st minute that was called back because of a silly foul on the left side. Belgodere did have a chance to try to put one on frame in the 74th minute but his shot went a bit wide.

OCB were able to string together a few decent chances, with the biggest one being a ball from Haruna to Gómez who was able to get a shot off but it was soft enough for the keeper to handle it. Belgodere also continued his individual effort as he went on a long run that ended in him taking a shot but it was deflected away. OCB would make a few subs in the 82nd minute, with Trombino and Torres coming on for Lasheras and Hylton. CTU would also make a sub a minute later to help shore up their defense. After those subs, OCB did have a string of set pieces but they weren’t able to put any of them in.

OCB made their last sub in the 87th minute with Brady Kendall coming on for Pedro Leão. Orlando threw the kitchen sink at Connecticut but they weren’t able to really break through on any of their chances. While CTU were breaking, Trombino hacked down the attacking player and picked up a yellow card for his challenge. Belgodere kept pushing for another goal to try to bring it closer and this time he was rewarded in stoppage time as he drifted towards the right and put in a strike that found the bottom right of the net. This brought the score to 4-2 in favor of Connecticut and that’s where the final whistle would blow.

Players to Highlight

  • Mathew Belgodere-He was the liveliest attacker on the pitch for OCB in this one. While he got his late goal, he was streaking up and down the left side. He ended the night with a 76% accurate passing rate, 5 chances created, 2 shots, 2 successful dribbles, 1 interception, 4 recoveries, and won 2 ground duels. He was a breath of fresh air for an attack that was absent.
  • Pedro Leão-The striker had a decent game in this one and deserves some credit. He created a chance on the night, ended with a 70% passing rate, 4 shots, 100% on his dribbles, 2 accurate long balls, 3 recoveries, 67% ground duels won, and 50% of his aerial duels won. He had some bright spots, but wasn’t able to have a goal contribution.

Other players to note:

  • Landon Okonski-It wasn’t the cleanest game for Okonski in defense, but he deserves credit for the goal he was able to score in this one. Besides the goal, he ended with a 90% accurate passing rate, 1 shot, 71% on his long balls, 2 tackles, 1 block, 2 clearances, 1 interception, 3 recoveries, and 100% on all his duels. He had some great stats in there but had a glaring error that led to a goal for Connecticut.

What’s Next?

Orlando City B (35 pts., 8-7-6) continue on the road on Tuesday, August 11, at 7:00 p.m. to take on NYCFC II (31 pts., 9-3-7). This is the first and only midweek game for OCB this season.

Highlights

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