Lions beat Rowdies in first-leg of I-4 Derby

(Photo: Bryce Brimhall / Valencia Voice)

By Mike Gramajo 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — There’s no stopping Orlando City, and you can add derbies to that list of accomplishments. 

Goals from Adama Mbengue, Dennis Chin and Brian Span lifted Orlando City SC to a 3-0 victory over rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies on Wednesday night during the first leg of the I-4 Derby at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in front of 4,027 fans. 

"I thought we were awful from minute 1 to minute 90,” Orlando head coach Adrian Heath told reporters. “As a group, I think it's probably the worst we played in a long time. Nobody wanted to do the dirty work, nobody wanted to roll the sleeves up. I can still play like that, I’m 53, I can still play running forward. 

“I don’t care about the result, I wanted to win. Anything that’s important to our supporters is important enough for me and it should be for our players, but I’m not watching that every week.” 

The Lions opened up the scoreboard in the 27th minute after Brian Span found Mbengue in the left flank, who then rifled in a shot toward the bottom right corner. OCSC doubled the lead right before halftime when Span’s shot deflected of Rowdies goalkeeper Ryan Thompson, finding Chin to bury the rebound. 

Span capped the victory late into stoppage-time after he was able to breakaway from the Rowdies back line, putting the ball behind second-half substitute goalkeeper Cody Mizell. 

Despite the two-goal lead in the first half, the Lions outshot the Rowdies 7-4. Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo was credited for three saves for the entire match, as the Lions finished outshooting the Rowdies 12-7 for the total. 

Heath decided to play most of his current starters in the first half, opting to play a less-experience side during the second half. 

OCSC are riding a four-game winning streak and look to remain atop the USL PRO standings on Sunday when they host the Oklahoma City Energy. 

Inside the I-4 Derby (NASL vs. USL PRO)

By Mike Gramajo

The I-4 Derby returns for its second installment, and promises to bring an even-more intense rivalry as the Tampa Bay Rowdies visit Orlando City SC in the first leg of the regional cup.

It's a showdown between the North American Soccer League (NASL) and USL PRO and despite one side not having a fresher start than the other, expect both sides giving it their all during these two games.

In the latest news regarding the derby, check out my NASL.com piece 'Inside the I-4 Derby,' which has the latest updates regarding the match on Wednesday. Give it a read, and don't forget to leave your comments below.

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. 

Orlando City spoil OKC Energy home opener

Photo: Energy FC / Steven Christy

By Mike Gramajo

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — There’s no stopping Orlando City’s first-ever Major League Soccer signee. 

Kevin Molino’s third goal in two games sealed the deal after Dennis Chin’s 25th minute opener, as Orlando City SC defeated the Oklahoma City Energy FC 2-1, on Saturday night at Pribil Stadium. 

“I think it was just a case in playing the conditions,” OCSC head coach Adrian Heath told the OSJ. “I know next week when we play them it will be a difficult game. I can’t complain, I think we made a couple mistakes all evening, but were able to fight the conditions.” 

Dennis Chin put Orlando City on the scoreboard in the 26th minute after a header from midfielder Adama Mbengue deflected off OKC Energy goalkeeper Jon Kempin, leaving the Oviedo, Florida native in position to execute on the rebound. 

OCSC doubled the lead in the 57th minute when Energy defender Mark Howard played a ball back to Kempin, it wasn’t enough as the weak pass resulted in Molino applying pressure on Kempin. The Trinidad and Tobago international was able to beat the goalkeeper for the ball, as he slotted the ball into the net. 

“I can guarantee that we’ll compete better next time,” Energy FC head coach Jimmy Nielsen told reporters. “We have to at least try. Tonight was not tactical, it was mental.” 

With the game looking like a shutout victory for Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo, second-half substitute Steven Perry scored late into stoppage-time after he was able to breakthrough the defense, slotting the ball behind Gallardo.

The Lions entered Saturday’s match after defeating FC Dallas Reserves earlier in the week, 3-2. Defender Rob Valentino, who picked up an ankle injury during the match at Dallas, sat out against the Energy after being ruled out for two weeks. 

The Lions and Energy will face off again next week, when OKC visits Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex during USL PRO play. Orlando will have a mid-week battle when they also welcome the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the first leg of the I-4 Derby. 

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FC Dallas loanee Cobi Span getting in rhythm

Photo: OCSC 

By Mike Gramajo

SANFORD, Fla. — One week. That’s all it took. 

One week in which Orlando City’s Cobi Span took to get into rhythm, and his focus is now on breaking into Adrian Heath’s starting XI. 

“That’s a goal,” Span told the OSJ during Saturday’s practice at the Seminole Soccer Complex. “Whenever I get my starting chance I’ll to give it my all and whenever I get into the game, I just want to work hard.” 

The FC Dallas loanee scored the game winner last week during Orlando City’s 1-0 victory over Charleston Battery. That followed by getting recalled to his parent MLS club where he joined their reserve side during inter-league play, which saw Span assist the 1-0 game winner over Oklahoma City Energy FC earlier in the week. 

Span told the OSJ that he should be set to go when Orlando City embarks in a two-game road trip with Toyota Stadium up first when the Lions face off against his home-Dallas side on Tuesday. The Déjà vu for the midfielder will continue when he will meet once again the Energy FC next week, a game he said he feels comfortable going into. 

“All the traveling and all the playing with different teams is mentally draining. I’m trying to get back, and be ready to go on Tuesday,” he said. “I know both teams, so it gives me an advantage and to know what I’m facing. Oklahoma City, I just played against and had an assist, so I know how both teams are.” 

While it isn’t clear if Span’s performance in the past week has influenced Heath’s starting XI, consistency, which is happening now, may play a factor in the starting lineup. 

OCSC head coach Heath wasn’t present during Saturday’s practice since he was in Uruguay scouting talent and watching games via team source.