USL United Soccer League Championship

USL PRO Review: Lions Rally Past Wolves

April 8, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


TEMPE, Ariz. - Orlando City rallied from an early deficit to open the season with a 3-1 victory against Phoenix FC at Sun Devil Stadium on Sunday night. Dom Dwyer, Long Tan and Kevin Molino scored for the Lions, who fell behind to an early goal by Diego Faria for the Wolves.

Phoenix opened aggressively, but Orlando had the best chance of the early going after Dwyer was brought down just outside the Wolves' penalty area by Andrew Weber, earning the goalkeeper a yellow card. Jamie Watson's free kick was blocked away for a corner, from which Rob Valentino's header went just over the crossbar.

Moments later it was Phoenix going close, as Anthony Obodai was well denied by Orlando goalkeeper Jon Kempin, with Yann Songo'o clearing the rebound to safety. The Wolves took the lead in the 16th minute, however, as Aaron King forced a turnover before squaring a pass to Faria, who broke in alone and finished.

Orlando got back on level terms 10 minutes before the break as Watson was able to find enough space on the right to center, and Dwyer was on hand to head home. Obodai went close to restoring the Wolves' lead just before the break, only for his shot to go just over the crossbar, leaving the game tied.

Phoenix almost re-took the lead early in the second half when Scott Morrison's shot after a corner was half-cleared, hitting the crossbar from 25 yards. Orlando also had a good chance just before the hour-mark, only for Adama Mbengue to blaze his shot over the bar after a good knock-down by Dwyer.

The Lions took the lead with 22 minutes to play, with second-half substitute Tan splitting the Phoenix defense before slotting a low finish into the left corner of the net. Orlando could have added to its lead in the 80th minute after Watson was brought down in the penalty area, Dwyer's penalty kick being well saved by Weber to his right. Molino added a third with three minutes remaining with a fierce shot from the right side of the penalty area.

Orlando moves on to face the LA Blues on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. ET at Titan Stadium. Phoenix also faces the Blues in its next outing, with LA visiting Sun Devil Stadium Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.

TUESDAY

TAMPA BAY 1, LOS ANGELES 0: Antonio Neto scored the first goal in VSI Tampa Bay FC's history to lead his side to a 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Blues at Sherbeck Field. After coming on as a second-half substitute, Neto finished off a chance created by Douglas Dos Santos to hand the Blues their first loss of the season.

Tampa Bay had some good early possession, but the Blues created the first opportunity, Chris Cortez heading over the crossbar from a corner kick in the 12th minute. Los Angeles went close again 10 minutes later, Allan Russell curling a shot over the crossbar after a back-pass was picked up just inside the VSI penalty area by Alex Horwath.

VSI's first good opportunity arrived in the 26th minute when Alex Freitas was played in down the right, only to miss the target with his finish. A minute later, Mehrshad Momeni had a similar chance for the Blues, only to drag his finish wide of the left post. Andriy Budnyy also missed a good opportunity for Tampa Bay when a blocked clearance came to him in the penalty area, only for his shot to go wide.

Tampa Bay had another opportunity early in the second half, only for Dos Santos to send his effort wide. With 20 minutes remaining, however, Dos Santos played provider as he latched onto a pass by Mauricio Salles and beat his man on the right before cutting back to Neto 15 yards out for a low finish.

Los Angeles tried to get back on level terms, but Tampa Bay remained solid defensively with Kyle Hoffer in particular having a good performance. Neto again went close in the final minute, shooting high, but VSI wouldn't need a second goal as it sealed its first victory in club history.

SATURDAY

RICHMOND 0, PITTSBURGH 0: Honors ended even between the Richmond Kickers and Pittsburgh Riverhounds at City Stadium on Saturday night as they played to a 0-0 draw. Pittsburgh's Ryan Kinne came closest to breaking the deadlock in the second half when he hit the crossbar.

The Riverhounds opened well, and both Kinne and Jhonny Arteaga had long-range efforts in the opening 15 minutes, Kinne firing just wide twice. Richmond began to come into the game as the half went on, and could have taken the lead in the 29th minute as Conor Shanosky's header from a corner from the right flashed just wide of the left post.

The Riverhounds also went close from a corner, only for Taylor Kemp to clear an effort off the line for the Kickers, but Richmond almost stole a goal just before the halftime break, Andrew Marshall clearing to safety after he, a Kickers attacker and Pittsburgh goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap collided in the penalty area, leaving the ball free eight yards from goal.

Pittsburgh continued to play well in the second half, with Sterling Flunder coming up from right back to force a low save from Andrew Dykstra five minutes after the break. The Riverhounds then came close to taking the lead in the 64th minute as a fierce effort by Kinne from 30 yards came back off the crossbar and was cleared to safety. Kinne also forced a fine save from a free kick by Dykstra with just more than 10 minutes to play, but neither side was able to find the back of the net in the closing stages.

The Kickers remain at home Saturday as they host the Charleston Battery at 7 p.m. at City Stadium. The Riverhounds return to Pittsburgh as they open Highmark Stadium against the Harrisburg City Islanders at 8 p.m.

SUNDAY

PORTLAND RESERVES 2, TAMPA BAY 1: The Portland Timbers Reserves got a late goal by Jose Valencia to earn a 2-1 victory against VSI Tampa Bay FC on Sunday afternoon at JELD-Wen Field in the first interleague game between teams from the MLS Reserve League and USL PRO. Mauricio Salles scored for Tampa Bay, tying the game after Michael Nanchoff had given Portland the lead from the penalty spot.

The Timbers Reserves had the better of possession early, forcing a handful of corners. The third of those resulted in a chance for Sebastian Rincon, who had his header from 10 yards saved by VSI's Alex Horwath. Tampa Bay's early chances were more sporadic, with Karamba Janneh twice misfiring on efforts from just outside the penalty area.

Portland came close to taking the lead in the 23rd minute when Steven Evans stole possession in midfield, held off a defender and then slipped a pass to Ben Zemanski, but Horwath saved well from his shot 15 yards out. Tampa Bay's Tony Donatelli then almost capitalized on a giveaway in the Timbers Reserves' end, only for his shot to go just over the crossbar.

The Timbers Reserves took the lead eight minutes into the second half as Rincon made a good run into the penalty area and was brought down, resulting in a penalty. Nanchoff converted from the spot, shooting powerfully into the right corner of the net, and then almost added a second three minutes later after being played into the left channel, only for his shot to go straight at Horwath.

Tampa Bay made Portland pay for the missed opportunity as it equalized in the 59th minute, a floated cross by Bitielo Jean Jacques from the left finding Salles for a close-range header into the right corner.

Portland came close to retaking the lead with just more than 10 minutes to play, Zemanski's shot from the top of the penalty area going just over the crossbar after Horwath had punched clear a corner. With nine minutes remaining the Timbers Reserves earned the victory, Valencia scoring from close range after a good ball by Nanchoff had released Rincon into the right side of the penalty area, allowing him to deliver a low cross that the 21-year-old finished cleanly.

Tampa Bay returns to Florida for its home opener Saturday night against the Rochester Rhinos at Plant City Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET.

RESULTS

Tuesday, April 2

Tampa Bay 1, Los Angeles 0

Saturday, April 6

Richmond 0, Pittsburgh 0

Sunday, April 7

Portland Reserves 2, Tampa Bay 1

Orlando 3, Phoenix 1

SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 10

Orlando at Los Angeles, 8 p.m. ET

Saturday, April 13

Antigua at Charlotte, 7 p.m. ET

Charleston at Richmond, 7 p.m. ET

Rochester at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. ET

Harrisburg at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. ET

Sunday, April 14

Rochester at Orlando, 6 p.m. ET

Los Angeles at Phoenix, 9 p.m. ET

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