Molino claims treble in statistical race

(Courtesy of Orlando City)

By Mike Gramajo 

There’s no doubt Kevin Molino is lighting the way for Orlando City in their final USL PRO season. 

The Trinidad and Tobago international, who scored a single-season record 20 goals this season, was announced winner of three USL statistical awards, claiming the Golden Boot, Scoring Champion and Assist Champion on Tuesday. 

Orlando City’s first-ever MLS signing recorded nine assists for the Lions, while finishing the season with 49 points. Molino, who won the 2012 USL PRO Most Valuable Player, is no doubt in the running to claim league MVP for a second time in his career after guiding OCSC to a third regular season championship. 

Molino has 22 goals in all competitions, placing him as stop scorer in the American soccer pyramid (MLS, NASL, USL PRO). 

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True or FALSE: Kevin Molino is the greatest Orlando City (USL) player of all time. 

Kevin Molino caps scoring record at 20 goals, as Orlando City defeat Richmond Kickers

By Mike Gramajo

LAKE BUENA VISTA — Same guy, different game. 

Kevin Molino scored his 20th goal of the season, as Orlando City Soccer Club defeated the Richmond Kickers 1-0 on Saturday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, in front of 4,400 fans in attendance. 

“I honestly think he’s [Molino] one of the most talented footballers in America,” said Heath. “He’s demonstrated that he’s more than capable of moving to the next level. It’s been a great year at home. Winning becomes a habit, it’s not easy to do.”

The Trinidad and Tobago international scored in the 23rd minute after defender Luke Boden’s cross found the midfielder, who headed the ball past Richmond goalkeeper Ryan Taylor. 

OCSC outshot the Kickers 15-5, with the first half being the busiest halve for the Lions as they outshot Richmond 9-2 with Carl Woszczynski as the starting goalkeeper for Orlando for the second consecutive time at home. 

With the USL PRO regular season now over with, Orlando finishes in first place with 62 points (19-4-5), while also being Invictus at home. 

Orlando City now secures home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, starting their postseason run on Saturday, September 13 where they will either play the Rochester Rhinos or Harrisburg City Islanders. 

Kevin Molino hails ‘brother’ Yordany Alvarez

(Molino (center left) and Yordany Alvarez (right) earlier in the season)

By Mike Gramajo 

LAKE BUENA VISTA — Sunday night might have been another day at the office for Orlando City. A 7-0 victory behind a hat-trick from MLS signing Kevin Molino. 

But it was more than just a day at work. It was the start of one of many celebrations to come for Yordany Alvarez, who announced his retirement from soccer after citing medical reasons. 

“First and foremost, coming to the game with sad news of Yordany retiring, so my three goals was for him,” Molino told reporters after the game. “I’ve been playing with him for a couple years, great guy, great player. We have to win the league for Gio (Alvarez) who won’t be playing with us no more.

“He’s someone we love, one of my good friends. To see the way he has to retire is heart breaking. We want to continue to show him support. He’s not a teammate, he’s my brother. Yordany, we hang out together, we party together. It’s very emotional as I speak now to see Yordany not here with us. Seeing that No. 10 shirt, that desire and that passion and commitment he had for the club.” 

Despite only few games together this season, the friendship between both Molino and Alvarez dates back to Orlando City’s inaugural season in 2011. Although Alvarez finished that season as USL PRO Most Valuable Player, it was a relationship, mostly started by Heath, that began to form on and off the field. 

One Cuban and one Trinidadian formed a friendship that soon went different ways. Molino earned league MVP the following season and Alvarez went on to sign with MLS side Real Salt Lake. 

It seemed like it was destiny when it was announced that Alvarez would be returning not only to Orlando but to reunite with a ‘brother’ they shared one championship season together. 

“He’s been one of my favorite players since I’ve been in the (United) States,” said Heath on Alvarez. “For me to see him move on from here to go on to the MLS I was delighted, but I was even more delighted to get him back.” 

Although both Molino and Alvarez share one USL PRO championship together, no matter the outcome of Orlando City’s 2014 season, their friendship off the field will overweigh any trophy on the field. League glory, however, is in the hands of destiny. 

And if there’s one thing both players have in common, destiny has already appeared on and off the field. 

Molino scores hat-trick, Orlando City thrash Dayton Dutch Lions

(Courtesy of OCSC)

By Mike Gramajo

LAKE BUENA VISTA — There’s no stopping Kevin Molino - Not even the Dutch Lions. 

Molino recorded his second hat-trick of the season, as Orlando City SC defeated the Dayton Dutch Lions 7-0 on Sunday evening at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. 

“All the goals were important tonight,”said Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath. “The kid (Molino) is putting goals to his game now. The only thing lacking in his game is not scoring enough goals. He’s changed so much since he’s been with us, now he’s scoring goals.”

The Trinidad and Tobago international wasted no time in putting OCSC in front, scoring six minutes into the game after forward Giuseppe Gentile found the midfielder to strike the ball past Matt Williams. Gentile would get on the scoresheet to double the lead in the 37th minute before Molino scored his second moments later after a defensive error lead to Molino striking the ball from close range into the net. 

Heath opted to have a different lineup compared to his previous one last Thursday, which saw the Lions fall on the road. That wouldn’t matter, as a combo-play between Gentile and Molino found Austin da Luz to make it 4-0 in the 47th minute. Molino capped his hat-trick in the 57th minute after Gentile’s shot deflected off Dayton’s goalkeeper, finding Molino to strike past Williams. 

“We want to win the regular season,” added Heath. “We put ourselves in a good opportunity to win the regular season, which to me is really important.” 

Molino leads USL PRO in the Golden Boot with 19 goals (record), while Orlando City extending their unbeaten run at home to 16 games. OCSC will travel to Legion Stadium on Wednesday to rematch the Wilmington Hammerheads. 

Orlando City could clinch the regular season on Wednesday with a win over the Hammerheads before returning for their last match of the season when they host the Richmond Kickers on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Orlando City cruise past LA Galaxy II

By Mike Gramajo

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Hertzog scores twice and Orlando City witness a Sweet 16 unbeaten streak come alive.  

Corey Hertzog bagged a brace while Kevin Molino sealed the deal, as Orlando City SC clinched a 3-0 victory over visiting LA Galaxy II on Saturday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in front of 5,029 fans. 

“We’ve been a working progress, and it’s getting better,” OCSC head coach Adrian Heath said. “We try to impose our style of play to our opposition. Overall, we were a good value to the scoreline and it should of been more.”

Luke Boden helped set up the opening goal in the 17th minute, finding Hertzog who slotted in a cross past Los Dos goalkeeper Cody Laurendi. The former NY Red Bull forward secured his brace before halftime after Kevin Molino found him unmarked from close range to double the lead. 

“The first goal was all Bodz (Luke Boden), so all credit to him,” said Hertzog. “Goals bring confidence and you’re a different player when you have a lot of confidence.” 

Molino, who went on to score his league-leading 11th goal, capped the match in the 60th minute after Brian Span’s shot deflected off the post, finding the Trinidad and Tobago international who buried the dead ball into the net. 

Orlando City go back on the road, visiting the Wilmington Hammerheads on Thursday. OCSC will then travel to St. Petersburg to play the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second leg of the I-4 Derby on Sunday. 

Orlando City notes: Road trip recap; Ceren’s absence; unstoppable Molino; and more

Photo: Valencia Voice

By Mike Gramajo

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — After starting their 2014 USL PRO season on the road, which saw Orlando City SC leave with only one point, the Lions are riding high on confidence after their latest road stretch which saw them exit with a perfect six points. 

The last time OCSC went perfect on a road stretch? August of 2012, which was the last time Orlando exited a two-game road trip with six points after victories at Harrisburg City Islanders and Rochester Rhinos. 

“Six points on the road is never easy,” Orlando head coach Adrian Heath told the OSJ on Saturday. “I thought we had good play on the counter-attack in Dallas, and tonight it was just a case in playing the conditions. We have to play the opponent and sometimes you also have to play the conditions.” 

Heath, who is rarely or never keen the performance of the team, had high praise for his men despite the 25 MPH wind gusts that played a heavy factor during their 2-1 win at Oklahoma City. 

Here’s more on what Heath told the OSJ on their previous and upcoming matches: 

Darwin Ceren’s absence and return to Orlando City 

There was one notable player missing on Saturday and though the Lions cracked up a win, his alive energy that moves the midfield brought questions on whether the scoreline would of had more than two numbers. 

Orlando’s third Major League Soccer signee Darwin Ceren missed out on Saturday’s match at Oklahoma, and Heath told the OSJ that it was because of a family illness. 

“He’s had a family illness and he had to take care of that,” said Heath. “Everything is okay, and should be in practice on Monday morning and back in the lineup.” 

Unstoppable Molino getting paves the way in road games

It’s no secret that midfielder Kevin Molino is Heath’s favorite player. After all, he’s Orlando’s first-ever MLS signing, and his performance in the last two road games displayed why has potential to be the club’s first-ever captain once the Lions jump into MLS. 

Three goals in two games may seem like just a statistic, an emphatic one, but it was the timing in which they came played a serious factor on the result. The 2012 USL PRO Most Valuable Player made his presence known on Saturday at OKC, pulling the strings after feeding the ball forward Dennis Chin and wingers Brian Span and Adama Mbengue.

Molino also played a role into orchestrating the opening goal. Perhaps the match at FC Dallas last week gave him the momentum going into Saturday’s match, but his form, which is rapidly moving forward, is something that could transform into a threat league-wide.