At the beginning of this MLS season, nobody believed it. But Orlando City SC players have the team solidly in the top 10 of the conference with their 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew.
The Lions of Orlando City SC held off the Columbus Crew for a 3-2 win. That earns them seventh place in the MLS Eastern Conference. That’s well over the playoff line with 37 hard-earned points.
The team’s points total looks meager compared to Nashville SC. That club has 63 points and claims first place in the conference, plus has clinched a playoff spot. But nothing is easy this season in this conference.
Even without their slow start helmed by interim Head Coach Martin Perelman since March, every team in the East has been playing opponents hard.
To rise above 10th place, Perelman said everyone is pushing out their best efforts every match and many of them are scoring.
Striker Harvey Sarajian emphasized that the match strategy has been to start scoring early. He opened with a first-minute goal against Columbus on assists by Antoine Griezmann and Ivan Angulo. The lead stood for only six minutes until Taha Habroune got assists from Santiago Rodriguez and Mohamed Farsi for an equalizer.
Then, in the sixteenth minute, Griezmann got the lead back. In the second half, Habroune combined assists with Santiago Rodriguez so that Brais Mendez could equalize once again in the 53rd minute.
But Ivan Angulo got an assist from Martin Ojeda in the 89th minute that put the Lions ahead for good.
When Sarajian said the players emphasized opening up early, he didn’t mean relaxing in the second half. After Angulo’s goal, Orlando had to face Columbus during generous stoppage time.
However, the team adopted a fierce defense. Andres Gomez of the Crew got off one more shot. It was on target and saved by Lions goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
Orlando City SC players will keep collecting points. They’ve solved their second-half hex. They’re heading to the MLS postseason.
Add us as a preferred source on Google