HIGHLIGHTS: Orlando City Completes Three-Game Road Trip With Victory Over Real Salt Lake 1-0
By Orlando City SC // July 1, 2017
Lions Host Toronto FC Wednesday, July 5
HIGHLIGHTS: Real Salt Lake vs Orlando City 0-1
ORLANDO, FLORIDA (ORLANDO CITY) – In the last match of a three-game road trip, Orlando City SC (8-6-5, 29 points) rode Will Johnson’s second goal of the season and a solid overall defensive performance to a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake (5-12-2, 17 points) Friday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The Lions picked up their sixth clean sheet of the season.
“Obviously the most important thing for us tonight was the three points. To walk away from a three-game road trip with four points, we have to feel very good about that,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said.
“The soccer wasn’t great but at the moment the result was much more important than the soccer.”
The Lions opened the scoring in the 17th minute with their seventh set-piece goal of the season. Kaká curled a free kick from the near touch line to the far post for José Aja, whose header rang off the bar and straight down. Jonathan Spector dove to try and tap it in but Johnson was there to slam home the eventual game-winner against his former team of five seasons.
Orlando City held on from there despite conceding over 60 percent possession. Bendik made just two saves, both on shots from distance, but came up huge when Luis Silva got in alone behind the back line. Bendik’s sixth clean sheet earned him his first career win over RSL. He was the beneficiary of some timely blocks and interventions from his back line, including several from Aja, who made his first start since June 17.
“Obviously the most important thing for us tonight was the three points.” -Jason Kreis pic.twitter.com/TLnX9glKSZ
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 1, 2017
“I thought [Aja] was excellent. Really well-played game by him,” Kreis said. “He was in the right spot all the time for us to make critical defensive plays. Never got caught on the ball. He was superb.”
In addition to Johnson, the match saw Kreis return to his former club. Kreis played parts of three seasons at RSL before coaching the club to its first MLS Cup title in 2009. Kreis’ No. 9 was the first number retired in MLS. Donny Toia and Luis Gil also returned to face their former team, Toia playing the entire match and Gil entering as a substitute.
Richie Laryea made his second consecutive appearance and the second of his MLS career when he came on in the 88th minute for Cristian Higuita. Servando Carrasco made his first appearance since June 4, as did Cyle Larin, who started the match and finished with two shots.
Orlando City improves to 5-2-4 all-time on Friday night, including 4-1-0 on the road. Bendik’s six clean sheets are the most by an individual Lions goalkeeper in MLS.
The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Wednesday, July 5 to host Toronto FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.
