Orlando City SC (3-5-4, 13 points) earned a crucial away point at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday night, drawing the San Jose Earthquakes (5-4-3, 18 points) 1-1 despite playing a man down for nearly 40 minutes. (Orlando City Image)
ORLANDO – Orlando City SC (3-5-4, 13 points) earned a crucial away point at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday night, drawing the San Jose Earthquakes (5-4-3, 18 points) 1-1 despite playing a man down for nearly 40 minutes.
With the draw, Orlando City remains unbeaten on the road in three games against Western Conference Teams this season, previously defeating the Houston Dynamo 1-0 and the Portland Timbers 2-0.
After a highly defensive first half, the second 45 proved to be much more eventful as both goals took place midway through.
The match took a turn when Orlando City and U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Brek Shea was sent off for a dangerous challenge in the Lions’ half in the 51st minute.
Nevertheless, the Lions continued to venture forward in search of a goal and would be rewarded for their efforts when rookie Cyle Larin was awarded a penalty after being brought down by goalkeeper David Bingham in the box.
Kaká stepped up to take the ensuing penalty, blasting it in the top left corner for his fifth goal of the season.
However, City’s goal would not be the only penalty decision made by the referee. Four minutes after Kaká’s finish, Darwin Cerén brought down Jordan Stewart inside the box.
Lethal finisher Chris Wondolowski calmly scored the penalty for the home-side, becoming the ninth player in Major League Soccer (MLS) history to score 100 goals.
Adrian Heath
“I just thought we had a little bit more to give and we could’ve taken the initiative and taken the lead,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath.
“To play most of the second half with 10 men, you have to be pleased with a point. But at halftime, I was disappointed that we didn’t take the initiative a little bit more, and I thought if we had stayed with 11 men we would’ve gotten something more than a point.”
