Lions drain Battery, Hertzog bags first goal

By Mike Gramajo

LAKE BUENA VISTA — There’s a first time for everything and for Corey Hertzog, that’s his first league goal for the Purple Kits to continue their winning ways. 

Orlando City SC defeated Charleston Battery 2-0 on Saturday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, in front of 4,987 fans to remain unbeaten in USL PRO play. 

Hertzog converted his first goal in league play in the 42nd minute after Odisnel Cooper’s clearance found Kevin Molino who headed the ball back into the box, finding Hertzog to head the ball from close range for 1-0 lead. 

Molino capped the match in the 75th minute when Ausin da Luz executed on a Battery mistake, finding the Trinidad & Tobago international to tuck the ball behind the keeper. 

OCSC remain in first place in the league standings and finish with a 7-1-1 record in the month of May, with their only loss occurring against AS Roma during an international friendly. 

Heath confirmed with reporters that Kevin Molino (Trinidad & Tobago), Darwin Ceren (El Salvador) and Tommy Redding (United States U18) will ship out on Sunday for international duty. They will miss out on Orlando’s next league match on June 7 vs. Montreal Impact Reserves. 

Report: Shea to join Orlando City in 10-day training stint

(Getty Images North America) 

By Mike Gramajo

While most Americans that are playing abroad are heading to Brazil this summer for the World Cup, midfielder Brek Shea will begin training with Orlando City SC. 

According to a report from the Orlando Sentinel, the winger, who’s under contract with Stoke City of the Barclays Premier League, will join the Lions on a 10-day training stint. 

The report states that Paul McDonough, OCSC general manager and former agent of Shea, confirmed that the stint is for training purposes only, however, there is also interest in the player for the upcoming inaugural MLS season for Orlando in 2015. 

Shea is coming off a somewhat productive season in the Championship, where he played for Barnsley FC on loan from Stoke City. The former FC Dallas man mad eight appearances for the Tykes after only making five appearances for the Potters since joining last year. 

With the latest report of Shea training with Orlando is rather new, the report is not the first of many players that have been rumored in joining Orlando in 2015. Transfer rumors of AC Milan and Brazilian stars Ricardo Kaka and Robinho have hit the wire as of recent, along with former Liverpool and Englishman Joe Cole has hit Orlando City transfer rumors. 

The Report also comes out on the same day after Spanish newspaper Marca reported that Atletico Madrid and Spanish National Team forward David Villa is set to join New York City FC in 2015, who are also expected to join MLS the same year with Orlando. 

What do you think of the report? Do you think Orlando City are looking to be contenders in the first season in MLS in 2015?

Orlando City Soccer advances in Open Cup

(Photo: OCSC)

By Mike Gramajo

Wednesday night was a historic night for the Orlando City Soccer organization. 

Both Orlando City SC (USL PRO) and Orlando City U23s (PDL) advanced to the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) and Charleston Battery (USL PRO) respectively. 

OCSC topped Tampa 4-1 at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, behind a brace from Kevin Molino and goals from Adama Mbengue and Austin da Luz. It was the fifth meeting between the Lions and Rowdies, which also resulted into a fifth consecutive victory for the Orlando side. 

Meanwhile, the Orlando City U23s stunned USL PRO side Charleston Battery after the match was decided in a penalty shootout after their match ended in regular time 2-2. While the penalty shootout went 14 rounds, it was the resiliency the Young Lions pulled at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Orlando City will face Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on June 17, with kick off set for 9:00 p.m. ET. Both sides met last year at the Citrus Bowl during Open Cup play, which saw the Lions crank a 3-1 victory. 

While the PRO side travels to Colorado, the Young Lions visit MLS side Portland Timbers also on June 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET. 

OCSC announce World Cup watch parties

By Mike Gramajo

With the FIFA World Cup being played in Brazil in a matter of weeks, soccer fans in Central Florida will have the luxury of having a World Cup ambiance thanks to Orlando City SC. 

OCSC announced on Thursday that they will host a series of World Cup watch parties at Wall Street Plaza in Downtown Orlando, with much of the focus on the United States Men’s National Team. 

Matches will be seen in the selected bars: Wall St. Cantina, Hen House, Hooch, Monkey Bar, Shine and Waitiki. 

The OSJ is currently scooping other locations, not affiliated with OCSC, around Central Florida that will be broadcasting the biggest soccer tournament, so please stay tuned. 

Below is Orlando City’s schedule of matches for the watch parties: 

Totti roams Roma into win over Orlando City

By Mike Gramajo

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Orlando City SC and AS Roma looked equally matched, but the legend of Fransesco Totti proved a different case otherwise. 

Roma defeated Orlando City 1-0, on Friday night in a international friendly played in front of 5,029 fans at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. 

“It was a monumental effort from our players,” said OCSC head coach Adrian Heath. “We expected to make a better showing. We showed everyone we can play football.” 

Totti gave the Serie A side the lead in the 20th minute after Orlando City defender Brad Rusin clearance of the ball found the legendary striker, who smashed home a volley from long-range past the goalkeeper. 

Despite conceding early, the Lions continued with their wave of attacks, but most of their efforts resulted into offside angles. Trialist forward Kane Hemmings could of equalized the match in the 32nd minute after Luke Boden found the striker, who rifled in a low shot past the keeper, but the sideline referee denied the goal after he signaled offside. 

Roma looked to increase the lead in the 54th minute after Totti dribbled past the Orlando City defense, chipping the ball past the trialist Orlando goalkeeper, leaving Rusin to make the goal-line clearance to keep the 1-0 in favor of Roma. 

OCSC last chance of scoring came in the 77th minute when Kevin Molino found Corey Hertzog unmarked in the center box, leaving Hertzog to drill the ball through the net, only for it to be whistled offside. 

Orlando City look to regroup ahead of Wednesday’s crucial third round U.S. Open Cup match against I-4 rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies at the Seminole Soccer Complex. 

Highlights: Orlando City SC (3-1) C. Eagles

Hat-trick Molino leads Orlando City to victory, remain undefeated in USL PRO

By Mike Gramajo

Kevin Molino’s hat-trick was all Orlando City SC needed, as they defeated the Charlotte Eagles 3-1, on Wednesday night in front of 4,219 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. 

“There was a lot of pleasing stuff,” OCSC head coach Adrian Heath told reporters. “I thought we were very good in periods. We haven’t put a full 90 minutes yet.” 

The Trinidad and Tobago international opened the scoring when Bryan Burkes shot was deflected by Eagles goalkeeper Brock Duckworth, leaving Molino to execute on the rebound in the 10th minute. Molino would score his second goal in the 29th minute. 

“I as a footballer set goals, and my goals was before I go international I want to set 20 points,” said hat-trick hero Molino. “We just want to keep going. We work together as a team. It’s been a hectic month, but we have to keep going.” 

Orlando City’s MLS signee would cap the match and solidify his hat trick in the 76th minute after midfielder Mikey Lopez’s cross found Molino to strike the ball behind the keeper. The Eagles would go on to score a consolation goal three minutes later after Giuseppe Gentile scored after a defensive eror resulted into the Eagles player to put one back behind Miguel Gallardo. 

With the victory, the Lions extend their unbeaten start in USL PRO to 11-games while also sitting in first place, provisionally nine points clear from second place LA Galaxy II.