Home » Home » Orlando City Falls Short In Road Match Against Toronto FC 2-1, Take On Houston May 6

Orlando City Falls Short In Road Match Against Toronto FC 2-1, Take On Houston May 6

By  //  May 4, 2017

ABOVE VIDEO: In its third road match of the season, Orlando City SC (6-2-0, 18 points) fell, 2-1, to reigning Eastern Conference champion Toronto FC (4-1-4, 16 points) Wednesday at BMO Field.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – In its third road match of the season, Orlando City SC (6-2-0, 18 points) fell, 2-1, to reigning Eastern Conference champion Toronto FC (4-1-4, 16 points) Wednesday at BMO Field.

Kaká scored his second goal of 2017, Cyle Larin earned his first assist of the season and Carlos Rivas got on the scoresheet for the third time in as many games.

“The second half for me was much better, we looked like ourselves. The second half showed that we can compete with these guys and dictate a lot of what’s happening out here,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said.

“The energy level has to be better. We cannot afford to give it anything less than our best. We continue to say, ‘When we do our best we’re good. If we don’t we’re not good enough.’ Hopefully the response will be extremely positive.”

“The second half for me was much better, we looked like ourselves. The second half showed that we can compete with these guys and dictate a lot of what’s happening out here,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. (OC Image)

Despite two first-half goals from Sebastian Giovinco – the first on an exceptional strike, the second following a scramble in the box – Orlando City fought through the match and largely dictated the play to Toronto.

Orlando City quickly responded to Giovinco’s goal in the ninth minute and methodically worked the ball up the pitch into threatening areas.

After City fell down 2-0 in the 38th minute, Kaká played a short corner to Luis Gil, who made his first start as a Lion. Rivas then lofted the ball to the far post for Larin to head back across the goal.

Kaká sprinted from the corner flag to blast a shot into the roof of the net on the last touch of the first half.

In its third road match of the season, Orlando City SC (6-2-0, 18 points) fell, 2-1, to reigning Eastern Conference champion Toronto FC (4-1-4, 16 points) Wednesday at BMO Field. (Orlando City Image)

It was the highlight of a productive evening for Kaká, who scored his second goal of the season. The captain looked comfortable at the point of the diamond midfield playing combinations with Gil and Cristian Higuita and Rivas and Larin up top. Kaká finished with a goal and three shots and exited the match in the 65th minute for Matías Pérez García.

The Lions would’ve taken something from Toronto were it not for some excellent goalkeeping from Alex Bono. On two occasions, Larin got on the end of dangerous crosses in the box and tapped them behind Bono, but both times he scrambled back to grab it off the line.

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Orlando City controlled over 60 percent of possession in the second half and finished with nearly 57 percent. City also completed 84 percent of its passes and outshot Toronto 9-6, including 7-3 in the second half. Midfielder Tony Rocha made his season debut. The loss snaps Orlando City’s four-game winning streak.

City faces another quick turnaround as it heads to Houston to take on the Dynamo on Saturday, May 6, at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, May 13, to host Sporting Kansas City at 7 p.m. ET.

Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.