Orlando Takes Dramatic Victory
Published on May 7, 2012 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando City won a wild contest that saw four goals in the final 11 minutes to return to the top of the USL PRO standings. Ian Fuller's goal with two minutes to go proved the game-winner in a 3-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
After a scoreless first half, the game sparked to life midway through the second as halftime substitute Dennis Chin opened the scoring for Orlando. Pittsburgh didn't seem overawed by the defending champions, though, and got an equalizer in the 79th minute as a ball into the penalty area deflected off Orlando defender Wes Allen an into his own net.
Within a minute Orlando led again, with substitute Charlie Campbell shooting low into the left corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area, but the Riverhounds again answered, as Matt Kassel scored his first goal for the club in the 85th minute to tie the game 2-2. Fuller provided the decisive finish, though, finishing off a chance created by Kevin Molino to give his side victory.
WEDNESDAY
WILMINGTON 3, ANTIGUA 0: A pair of goals by Andriy Budnyy, one in either half, and a solid performance by goalkeeper Alex Horwath gave the Hammerheads their second consecutive win as they took victory against the Barracudas at Legion Stadium.
Antigua forced the first big save of the night when a long-distance drive by Quinton Griffith forced a good save by Hammerheads goalkeeper Alex Horwath. The Hammerheads took the lead three minutes later, though, as Budnyy played a clever lob into the left corner of the net from just inside the penalty area after a poor piece of defending.
The Hammerheads doubled their lead in the 13th minute when Dylan Riley picked up the ball on the left after a corner was half-cleared by the Barracudas. Riley's low cross found Bryce Taylor, and while Molvin James was able to get a hand on Taylor's low shot, he wasn't able to keep it out of the net. Wilmington then found a third goal seven minutes later as Budnyy added his second of the night. Daniel Roberts set up the goal, sliding a good pass into the right side of the penalty area, and the Ukrainian rifled home his shot into the left corner of the net.
FRIDAY
CHARLOTTE 2, HARRISBURG 1: The Eagles won their second consecutive match as they came back to defeat the City Islanders in their home opener at Skyline Sports Complex. Daryl Roberts and Jorge Herrera's goals proved decisive in a game that was delayed for more than an hour by lightning.
Harrisburg pressured early, and Morgan Langley had a chance well saved by Eric Reed to keep the game scoreless. Then in the 32nd minute the bad weather rolled in, forcing the players off the field for 1 hour, 22 minutes.
After the players returned, they reached halftime scoreless, but the City Islanders then took the lead two minutes after an abbreviated halftime break as Antoine Hoppenot finished sharply off a good through-ball by Sainey Touray. The Eagles were able to hit back, however, with Roberts latching onto a pass by Joseph Kabwe to tie the game in the 66th minute. Kabwe was again the creator on what proved to be the game-winner, sliding a low cross that found Herrera for the finish.
CHARLESTON 4, ANTIGUA 0: The Battery took their third consecutive victory as they pulled away from the Barracudas at Blackbaud Stadium. Sallieu Bundu had a goal and assist as the Battery handed the Barracudas their third consecutive defeat.
The Battery had chances in the first half, Ryan Richter getting the best only to shoot wide. Cuevas grabbed his side the lead in stoppage time with a deft left-footed chip over the advancing goalkeeper from the left side of the penalty area.
In a physical contest, the Battery then added to their lead late in the game. Bundu set up Paterson in the 74th minute to double the lead, and six minutes later Bundu found the back of the net himself. Kelly then capped the victory in the final minute, his first goal of the season.
LOS ANGELES 2, WILMINGTON 1: The Los Angeles Blues rallied to take their first win of the season as Matt Fondy and Allan Russell scored second-half goals to earn victory against the Hammerheads at Fullerton College.
The Blues had the better of the first half, but the Hammerheads created opportunities of their own from set pieces. Wilmington took advantage of one of those chances in the 40th minute to take the lead as former Blue Chukwudi Chijindu fired a low cross into the penalty area that allowed Bryce Taylor to score his third goal of the season.
The Blues came back quickly after the break, though, with Fondy getting his side even in the 49th minute and ending the Hammerheads' three-game shutout streak. The Blues were then awarded a penalty in the 57th minute after a handball in the penalty area, which Russell dispatched. While the Hammerheads pressed late for an equalizer, the Blues were able to hold on and take victory.
SATURDAY
ROCHESTER 1, CHARLOTTE 0: The Rhinos continued their perfect start to the USL PRO season, and maintained their shutout streak to start the season, with a victory against the Eagles at Sahlen's Stadium.
The only goal of the game came in the first 10 minutes, as Rhinos midfielder Drew Cost sent a pin-point long pass that found JC Banks on the right side. Banks fired in a low cross through the six-yard box, and it deflected into the Eagles' net off defender Mark Bloom.
Both teams had chances to find the back of the net beyond the goal, with Eric Reed doing well to deny Rochester's Tam McManus as he linked well with Andrew Hoxie. Charlotte also had a chance from a free kick as Mauricio Salles' shot was saved by Kristian Nicht, but the Eagles were unable to find a rally for a second consecutive night, ending their two-game winning streak.
DAYTON 1, RICHMOND 1: A penalty kick by David Bulow in second-half stoppage time earned the Kickers a point, and left the Dutch Lions still looking for their first victory of the season after the two teams played to a draw at Miami Valley South Stadium.
Gibson Barsley got the Dutch Lions off to a perfect start in the second minute, taking advantage of a fine pass by Joel DeLass to score Dayton's first goal of the season. While Richmond had more possession, and the better of the second half, it appeared Dayton would hold on to take all three points. However, in the 92nd minute a foul was called in the penalty area, and Bulow shot low into the right corner of the net to tie the game.
SUNDAY
LOS ANGELES 2, WILMINGTON 2: The Wilmington Hammerheads twice took the lead through Jack Avesyan, but the Los Angeles Blues answered on both occasions as the two teams played to a 2-2 draw on Sunday evening at Titan Stadium.
After a scoreless first half, the game came to life midway through the second after Avesyan was brought on as a substitute. The former Ventura County Fusion standout, who had vocal support in the crowd, capitalized as Chukwudi Chijindu's shot was only parried, tapping home the rebound to open the scoring in the 66th minute.
The Blues hit back quickly, with Irving Garcia finding space on the right side and rifling a low shot into the left corner of the net three minutes later, but Avesyan was able to restore the Hammerheads' lead as he finished a Hagop Chirishian corner kick from the left in the 75th minute.
Los Angeles was able to earn a point, and take four points from the weekend after its win on Friday night, with five minutes to go as a quickly taken free kick found Bryan Burke on the right side of the penalty area. He centered to Cheunyong Park, and the Korean's shot found the back of the net, earning his side the draw.
The Blues will next head on the road as they travel to face the Dayton Dutch Lions on Friday night at Miami Valley South Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Hammerheads have next weekend off as they prepare to host the Charlotte Eagles on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Legion Stadium.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 7, 2012
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- Orlando Takes Dramatic Victory - USL
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