Orlando City SC season-long loaned striker Bryan Róchez opened his Orlando City B goalscoring account on the road against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Monday night, as the Honduran international finished from the penalty spot in the 20th minute of the match. Orlando City B (1-4-1, 4 points) fell 2-1 against the Islanders (2-3-0, 6 points) at FNB Field despite the young Designated Player’s goal. (OCB Image)
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Orlando City SC season-long loaned striker Bryan Róchez opened his Orlando City B goalscoring account on the road against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Monday night, as the Honduran international finished from the penalty spot in the 20th minute of the match. Orlando City B (1-4-1, 4 points) fell 2-1 against the Islanders (2-3-0, 6 points) at FNB Field despite the young Designated Player’s goal.
Anthony Pulis
“In the first half we played them too slow off the tempo, defensively we looked all over the place, but at halftime I asked for a reaction and in the second half I thought we were outstanding,” said OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis.
“I got the reaction I wanted. There was more energy, there was enthusiasm, there was more intensity in our play, and I thought we were good in the second half.
But as I said to the players, we cannot just perform for 45 minutes, we have to perform the 90 minutes, and I don’t care what level you play at, you can’t give teams a head start. Unfortunately we paid the price for that tonight.”
After Harrisburg opened the score in an unlucky play that resulted in a Kyle McFadden own-goal in the 15th minute of play, Róchez got his opportunity to get on the scoring sheet five minutes later.
Following a foul on Tony Rocha, who dribbled his way into the box before being brought down, the Honduran international leveled the match from the penalty spot with a clinical finish, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to find the back of the net during his sixth appearance of the season.
The Islanders retook the lead in the 33th minute, when Shane Johnson headed in a delivery from Paul Wilson, past goalkeeper Mark Ridgers on a set-piece.
After the break, OCB aimed for the equalizer with mounted forward pressure, as Pulis introduced attackers Marius Obekop and Keegan Smith, and midfielder Lewis Neal. The changes resulted in numerous offensive chances, including a strike from Obekop that went inches off the crossbar in the 64th minute.
10-minutes prior to the end of the fixture, Harrisburg went down a man after midfielder Bobby Warshaw was sent off for kicking Smith in the face as he tried to execute a bicycle kick inside the box.
However, the Islanders managed to keep the result and earn the victory.
The Lions return home to play FC Montreal on May 1 at the Titan Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
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