Orlando City SC relentless after slow start vs. Toronto FC

On the eve of Independence Day, Orlando City SC traveled to Toronto FC and rained on their parade.

Early on to supporters, it looked like another frustrating performance from Orlando City SC. Toronto FC scored just five minutes into the contest.

But what Orlando City supporters and Toronto FC players didn’t know is that the visitors hadn’t just been practicing. They’ve been drilling on what opponents have been doing to them late in matches.

First, opponents expect Orlando players to start the match a little slow. So Toronto mounted an early attack.

Toronto midfielder Derrick Etienne caught up with a ball from Raoul Petretta and Federico Bernardeschi, kicking it into the net from the center of the box. It was just the 5th minute.

The players already knew their opponents second effective game plan to ensure a win against them.

The opponents have been picking up speed and mounting persistent attacks on the Orlando side. They’ve been waiting until after the 70th minute to step on the accelerator.

Several other things Toronto FC players didn’t know. Orlando had gotten some key players from international duty. One of them was goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. He didn’t intend to get fooled again like he did on that first goal.

By only the 27th minute, Orlando midfielder Martin Ojeda equalized. Then the Lions turned up the pressure early, as had often been done against them late.

The strategy worked.

With a persistent attack from Orlando, Toronto players only got off three shots – a block, a miss, and a save by a now highly focused Gallese.

But the pressure continued to the 45th minute, when Toronto suffered an Own Goal charged to defender Nicksoen Gomis.

Then, Orlando spent the halftime how to make the 2-1 score stick.

The decision was to spend the entire second half enjoying some hair of the dog that bit them. Getting fresh legs as necessary, Orlando kept the accelerator full and the attack relentless. Toronto didn’t get any shots on goal and very few good looks on their misses.

The Toronto FC match is one Orlando City SC had to win. That’s because Toronto and Nashville are the only teams above the playoff line in the MLS East Conference with negative goal diffeentials.

Orlando had to knock them off – and will need to do the same to Nashville – and take their place to start making something of this season.

Head Coach Oscar Pareja said the Lions showed the defense they needed in the second half. However, their defensive intensity knocked their offense out of balance. It could have been 3-1 rather than 2-1.

Pareja also noted that the squad couldn’t afford disarray at the start of the match, which Toronto FC manipulated.

So supporters and players should enjoy the win. The drills to fix disarray and balance start immediately.