Orlando Takes Victory against Richmond

August 25, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

RICHMOND, Va. - Kevin Molino set a new single-season USL PRO record with his 16th goal of the season as Orlando City SC took a thrilling 3-2 victory against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday night at City Stadium. The win moved the Lions six points clear at the top of the USL PRO standings and within two victories of their third regular season championship.

Orlando opened the game on the front foot and was rewarded for its early pressure with a goal within the opening 10 minutes. A free kick from the right from Adama Mbengue allowed Rob Valentino to put an effort on goal, only for Luke Vercollone to clear off the line. However, new addition Estrela followed up with a shot from just outside the penalty area that found the right corner.

Richmond twice came close to an equalizer before the break, as Shay Spitz hit the post a few minutes after Orlando had taken the lead. The Kickers were also denied by Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo, who made a spectacular save to prevent Jason Yeisley from scoring from close range after a fine cross by Samuel Asante.

Orlando doubled its advantage seven minutes into the second half as a good piece of interplay at the top of the penalty area opened up a chance for Molino, who hit a curling shot into the top-right corner of the net for his record-setting goal. A minute later, however, Richmond pulled a goal back as George Davis IV broke into the left side of the penalty area and drove home a finish to quickly make it 2-1.

The Lions were able to withstand Richmond's efforts for an equalizer, and regained their two-goal lead with 20 minutes to go as a fine individual run by Rafael Ramos into the penalty area from the left touchline was capped by a low finish to the near post. The Kickers again responded as Nate Robinson fired home a first-time shot from Davis' cross from the left with 12 minutes to go, but the Lions held off Richmond's late pressure to earn a crucial three points.

WEDNESDAY

SACRAMENTO 2, WILMINGTON 0: Sacramento Republic FC maintained its push for a top-two finish, and remained undefeated at Bonney Field, as it took victory against Wilmington Hammerheads FC.

Republic FC took the lead in the 15th minute as Tommy Stewart raced onto a flicked header by Justin Braun and put his finish past an advancing Brad Stuver for his 11th goal of the season. Wilmington tried to hit back, and Sammy Ochoa forced a good save from Dominik Jakubek just past the hour mark with a shot from the left side of the penalty area, but Sacramento put the game away with 14 minutes to go as Emrah Klimenta stole possession in the Hammerheads' end and drove a finish into the bottom-right corner of the net.

CHARLOTTE 2, ORLANDO 0: Wells Thompson had both goals as the Charlotte Eagles gave their playoff hopes a massive boost as they took victory against Orlando City SC at Queens Sports Complex.

After a scoreless first half that saw chances for both sides, the Eagles took the lead in the 72nd minute when Zak Boggs held up play well deep in the Orlando penalty area and laid a pass back for Thompson that the former Chicago Fire player drove into the left corner. Thompson struck again in stoppage time to put the game away for the Eagles as he stole possession, drove into the penalty area and roofed a shot into the top-right corner.

FRIDAY

ARIZONA 1, OKLAHOMA CITY 0: Arizona United SC earned its third consecutive victory as it defeated OKC Energy FC at the Peoria Sports Complex to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Energy FC had to play the entire second half with 10 men as Mark Howard was sent off for his second yellow card late in the first half. Despite its man-advantage, Arizona wasn't able to take advantage until just less than 15 minutes to go when Scott Morrison picked up the rebound of a shot by Kadeem Dacres on the left side and fired home from an acute angle to put his side ahead.

United had the chance to put the game away from the penalty spot in stoppage time when Tarek Morad was sent off for bringing down Jon Okafor in the penalty area, but Dacres' effort was saved by Samir Badr. Dacres himself was then sent off, reducing United to 10 men, but Arizona held on for a vital three points in its pursuit of a playoff berth.

SATURDAY

ROCHESTER 2, HARRISBURG 2: The 10-man Harrisburg City Islanders earned a 2-2 draw against the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen's Stadium as Clesio Bauque's pair of goals claimed a point on the road for the City Islanders.

The Rhinos opened the game brightly and had a goal by JC Banks ruled out for offside in only the third minute. They took the lead five minutes later, however, as Tony Walls curled a free kick into the left corner of the net to make it 1-0.

Harrisburg was then reduced to 10 men just before the half-hour mark as Nick Noble was sent off for bringing down Alex Dixon just outside the penalty area as he broke in on goal. Despite being a man down, however, the City Islanders took the lead before the halftime break as Bauque first capitalized on a miscommunication between Rochester's John McCarthy and Kyle Hoffer to steal in and finish, and then put away a chance created by Yann Ekra for a 2-1 lead.

Rochester hit back eight minutes into the second half as the Rhinos were awarded a penalty kick after a handball in the area. Banks stepped up and converted for his eighth goal of the season, but Rochester couldn't find a winner as it remained locked in a battle for the final two playoff places.

COLORADO RESERVES 2, DAYTON 1: An own goal in stoppage time snapped Dayton Dutch Lions FC's three-game undefeated streak as it fell against the Colorado Rapids Reserves at DOC Stadium. The loss eliminated the Dutch Lions from playoff contention.

Dayton had chances to take the lead early, but Colorado broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Carlos Alvarez broke in from the left side and buried a finish into the far corner. A minute later the Dutch Lions were reduced to 10 men as Brock Granger was sent off for a tackle from behind, but Dayton got back on level terms after the halftime break when Karamba Janneh scored on the rebound of his own missed penalty. The game appeared set to finish level, but a miscommunication between defender Ben Sweat and Matt Williams saw a pass intended for the goalkeeper trickle past him and into the net, keeping Dayton winless at home this season.

WILMINGTON 2, ORANGE COUNTY 1: Ashani Fairclough's goal late in stoppage time earned Wilmington Hammerheads FC a vital victory in its pursuit of the playoffs against Orange County Blues FC at Anteater Stadium.

The Hammerheads took the lead with 20 minutes to go as a good pass from Cody Arnoux found Sunny Jane, who slotted his finish into the right corner of the net. Orange County hit back through Chris Santana with eight minutes to go to set up a dramatic stoppage time which saw three red cards - to Orange County's Eli Garner and Alex Martinez and Wilmington's Andrae Campbell - and a dramatic winner by Fairclough as he headed home a free kick into the right corner with almost the final kick of the match to earn his side all three points.

SUNDAY

PITTSBURGH 3, FC DALLAS RESERVES 1: The Pittsburgh Riverhounds moved within a point of the playoff positions with three games to play as they defeated the FC Dallas Reserves at Highmark Stadium.

The Riverhounds opened the game well and took the lead in the 20th minute when Rob Vincent ripped home a shot from 20 yards into the top-right corner. Pittsburgh doubled its advantage 13 minutes later as Dallas goalkeeper Richard Sanchez was unable to handle a cross from the right, and Kevin Kerr was on hand to put away a simple finish.

Dallas pulled a goal back just before the halftime break as Brian "˜Cobi' Span tucked home a fumbled cross by Pittsburgh's Michael Lisch, but the Riverhounds regained their two-goal lead early in the second half as Michael Green headed in a free kick to wrap up the points.

CHARLESTON 2, OKLAHOMA CITY 0: Late goals by Amadou Sanyang and Haviel Cordoves earned the Charleston Battery victory against OKC Energy FC at Pribil Stadium, moving the Battery into fifth place in the league standings.

The game remained scoreless well into the second half with neither side able to create many chances, but the Battery took the lead with 13 minutes to go as Sanyang got on the end of Jose Cuevas' corner kick to put his side ahead. Charleston then claimed its third consecutive victory in the final minute as Cordoves finished off a good counter-attack with his third goal of the season to extend the Battery's undefeated streak to eight games.

LA GALAXY II 3, WILMINGTON 3: A stoppage-time free kick by Rafael Garcia earned the LA Galaxy II a point after Wilmington Hammerheads FC had manufactured a dramatic late comeback at StubHub Center.

The Galaxy II appeared to be on their way to clinching a home quarterfinal in the USL PRO Playoffs as goals at either side of halftime by Chandler Hoffman had his side up 2-0. The Hammerheads surged back in the final 15 minutes, however, as the duo of Sunny Jane and Mark-Anthony Kaye broke the game open.

Jane scored a pair of fine goals, the second set up by Kaye, and Toronto FC loanee Kaye then added his first professional goal with four minutes to go off Jane's assist to make it 3-2. Los Dos grabbed a point in stoppage time, however, as Garcia found the top-right corner of the net with an excellent free kick to leave honors even.

STANDINGS

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

p-Orlando City 24 17 3 4 47 21 55

p-Richmond Kickers 25 13 2 10 51 25 49

p-Sacramento Republic FC 24 15 6 3 44 25 48

p-LA Galaxy II 25 13 7 5 50 36 44

Charleston Battery 25 9 8 8 29 27 35

Harrisburg City Islanders 25 9 9 7 39 38 34

Rochester Rhinos 26 8 10 8 23 24 32

Arizona United SC 26 9 12 5 29 41 30

Charlotte Eagles 25 9 13 3 30 34 30

Wilmington Hammerheads FC 23 7 7 9 28 30 30

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 25 8 12 5 33 43 29

OKC Energy FC 26 8 13 5 31 36 29

Orange County Blues FC 26 9 17 0 30 52 27

x-Dayton Dutch Lions FC 26 6 16 4 28 52 22

p- Clinched Playoff Berth

x- Eliminated from playoff contention

RESULTS

Wednesday, August 20

Charlotte 2, Orlando 0

Sacramento 2, Wilmington 0

Friday, August 22

Arizona 1, Oklahoma City 0

Saturday, August 23

Orlando 3, Richmond 2

Colorado Reserves 2, Dayton 1

Rochester 2, Harrisburg 2

Wilmington 2, Orange County 1

Sunday, August 24

Pittsburgh 3, FC Dallas Reserves 1

LA Galaxy II 3, Wilmington 3

Charleston 2, Oklahoma City 0

SCHEDULE

Monday, August 25

Seattle Reserves vs. Arizona, 4 p.m. ET

Wednesday, August 27

LA Galaxy II vs. Real Salt Lake Reserves, 7 p.m. ET

Sacramento vs. Charleston, 10:30 p.m. ET

Thursday, August 28

Wilmington vs. Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET

Friday, August 29

Charlotte vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 30

Harrisburg vs. Rochester, 7 p.m. ET

Charleston vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. ET

Wilmington vs. Sacramento, 7:30 p.m. ET

Orange County vs. Richmond, 10 p.m. ET

Sunday, August 31

Orlando vs. Dayton, 7:30 p.m. ET

United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 25, 2014

• Dayton Dutch Lions Sebastien Thuriere Selected to Camp and Play for Hatian National Team - Dayton Dutch Lions
• Orlando Takes Victory against Richmond - USL

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