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Orlando City SC

Controversial Ending Leads to 2-2 Draw Between City and New England

April 17, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Orlando City SC News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - Fueled by 36,048 supporters at the Orlando Citrus Bowl, Orlando City SC (2-1-3, 9 points) surprised the New England Revolution (1-1-5, 7 points) with a penalty-kick call 36 seconds after the opening whistle, marking the quickest penalty kick scored in Major League Soccer (MLS) history, and went on to draw 2-2 after a controversial stoppage-time decision that awarded the visiting team with a game-tying opportunity.

"I think we've left a few points on the table at home and, hopefully, that won't come back to hurt us later in the year," said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. "As I've said before, this is an intimidating place to come and play. I thought our fans were absolutely magnificent again today. That's what football is about."

First-time starter and attacking forward, Julio Baptista, debuted in his first match at the Orlando Citrus Bowl, making strong contributions right out of the gate. The Brazilian helped open the scoring sheet by drawing the early penalty kick that was ultimately converted by Kaká.

Heath made two key substitutions early in the second half to increase City's offensive pressure, introducing birthday boy, Cyle Larin, and Kevin Molino, who featured in his 100th match as a Lion.

After a first half that ended 1-1 on Kaká's penalty and a 37th minute goal by Teal Bunbury, Molino secured his second goal of the season with a low, driven shot past Revs' goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth in stoppage time. The score looked like it would be the game-winner, but a contentious call in the 94+ minute granted the Revolution a penalty kick that was converted by Lee Nguyen.

Nguyen's goal was setup after second-half substitute Servando Carrasco was whistled for a debatable handball, with the ball originally placed just outside the penalty area. However, after a few minutes of discussion, head referee Baldomero Toledo changed his decision and awarded the uncontested shot from 12 yards out, leading to the 2-2 final.

"When you score that late, obviously you think you've won the game. I can't fault the players for their effort in the second half, they played with a lot of passion," Heath added. "I thought when we had possession on their end of the field, we looked dangerous, we just didn't keep it in [New England's] half often."

Next, Orlando City heads out for a two-game road swing, first traveling to face the New York Red Bulls on April 24 before facing the Revolution again, this time on April 30 at Gillette Stadium.

The Club returns to the Citrus Bowl on May 6, when it hosts the Red Bulls at 7 p.m. ET.

Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY. Follow the latest Orlando City news and updates via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

First Half

1' - Orlando takes the lead early on, when Julio Baptista secures a penalty, giving Kaká a golden free kick opportunity. The team captain generates the free kick from 12 yards' out.

12' - The Revolution are the first to go into the books after Gershon Koffie is shown a yellow for a hard challenge on Carlos Rivas in the midfield.

18' - Captain Kaká makes a run behind the Revolution defense, receiving a perfectly-paced ball from Kevin Alston, who is making his starting debut for City against his former team, but the forward is whistled for on an offside.

21' - After City puts the pressure on New England's backline, Carlo Rivas won a 50/50 ball at the top of the 18 and tried a distance shot, but the attempt sailed high of the goal.

27' - Baptista makes another great play, deflecting a rolling ball off a Revs player on the byline to win City's first corner kick, which was taken by Kaká. The brazilian's service is headed high by New England but Darwin Cerén is able to collect and fires a hard volley but he gets under the ball a bit too much and it goes high.

37' - The Revolution level the game in the 38th minute, started by quick-combination play between Lee Nguyen and Chris Tierney on the left side. With Tierney running an overlap, the midfielder lofted a ball into the middle that found Teal Bunbury alone in the box. The forward did not hesitate, and skied a shot under the top netting and past Joe Bendik to make the game 1-1.

45 (+1) - An extra minute of stoppage time was added at the end of the first half. Score is leveled, 1-1.

Second Half:

56' - A yellow shown to Orlando's Antonio Nocerino for stepping on Nguyen when trailing the play.

61' - Orlando City makes a pair of changes, with Cyle Larin and Kevin Molino coming into the match for Carlos Rivas and Adrian Winter.

62' - New England uses its first substitute, bringing in Charlie Davies to replace Diego Fagundez.

65' - City captain Kaká used his skill to dance through the Revolution defense, creating a lane on the left side to send the ball to Cyle Larin. With Larin open in the middle in front of an empty goal, New England defender Je-Vaughan Watson made a last second play to deflect the ball away from Larin and into the secure arms of Bobby Shuttleworth.

76' - The Revolution elects to make its second change as Daigo Kobayashi enters the match for Scott Caldwell.

82' - Kevin Alston nearly became the hero against his former team, running onto a flipped ball from Cyle Larin just feet away from Shuttleworth. Larin, working against the defense on the right side, chipped the ball high and over the head of his defender, which allowed Alston to run in stride onto the ball. The defender connect with a hard shot, but he could not put the close-range effort on target.

84' - Shortly after Alston's attempt, second-half substitute Charlie Davies had a near-breakaway on Joe Bendik. Bendik, however, was able to come up with a big save - stopping Davies on the one-on-one effort.

87' - The Lions force Bobby Shuttleworth into consecutive saves, first on Antonio Nocerino's long-distance laser from outside the box. Shuttleworth made an acrobatic effort, punching the ball over the crossbar. Just after, City had a similar effort with Shuttleworth making a similar save, tipping Kevin Molino's chance over the goal as well.

92+ - In his 100th appearance, Kevin Molino scored his second goal of the season with a low, driven shot past Shuttleworth in stoppage time. On a failed clear attempt by the Revs, Molino won the ball in the box and sent a low, bouncing shot into the left side of the net.

94+ - The match ended on a controversial call, with the referee ultimately awarding a penalty kick to New England after a handball call on Servando Carrasco. Initially given a free kick outside the penalty area, the officiating crew changed their decision and Lee Nguyen converted the ensuing penalty kick to make it a 2-2 final.

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