Written by Rafael Morazzani
Orlando City SC lost by one goal during LA Galaxy’s visit. Dos Santos’ scored with a beautiful shot from outside the box that left Rowe with nothing to do. Coach James O’Connor expressed the frustration that the team felt during the match after many missed chances.
Orlando City SC create the first chance of the match at the second minute of the match. forward and captain Nani passed the ball to lone Chris Mueller. The 22-year-old shot from the right-side of the box but visiting goalkeeper David Bingham responded for LA Galaxy with a wonderful save on his left.
Just two minutes later, midfielder Will Johnson received the ball outside the box and took the shot. However, it went over the top bar.
In the 15th minute, Orlando City SC goalkeeper, Brian Rowe, collected the ball from a corner kick and sent a long pass to Nani. The captain dribbled his mark and conducted the ball into the right-flank. However, the home player attempted cross ended up in a corner kick.
During minute 18, midfielder Emil Cuello occasioned a foul on defender Ruan that earned him a yellow and a dangerous opportunity for Orlando. Defender Robin Jansson took the free-kick but the ball went over the top bar.
The turning point happened two minutes later after the ball was left in front of the box. LA Galaxy midfielder and captain, Jonathan Dos Santos, took the shot with the inside of the boot and net the ball in Rowe’s left-side. The Mexico National Team player opened the scoring despite the keeper’s efforts and scored his second goal of the season.
Orlando almost see the light at the end of the tunnel thirteen minutes later. Referee Allen Chapman awarded a penalty for the Lions due to a slide tackle from Dos Santos’ on midfielder Sebastián Méndez. But Bingham denied the goal to Nani who had shot to the keeper’s left-side. The fans at the Orlando City Stadium could not believe that their star had missed the penalty to tie the game.
On the 45th, Nani had the chance to redeem himself from the free-kick after a tackle on midfielder Will Johnson. Once again, the Portuguese’s shot went slightly wide.
Three minutes into the second half, Nani had another opportunity when forward Tesho Akindele passed the ball back to him after dribbling past Bingham. Nani’s shot went over the top bar. The frustration from the fans was noticeable at this point.
Orlando City head coach, James O’Connor, shifted things by subbing in defender Kyle Smith and midfielder Sacha Kljestan for midfielder Cristian Higuita and Akindele. The substitutions allowed Orlando to overcharge the right side with Ruan and Smith making runs and throwing cross. Also, Kljestan took the role of an offensive midfielder with Johnson and Mendez covering his back.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the visiting head coach, responded subbing out Cuello (who had a yellow card) for midfielder Perry Kitchen. This allowed Galaxy to play a 4-3-3 formation; a more conservative approach.
On the 66th minute, Smith headed a cross from Kljestan but, as the ball was going into the net, Kitchen deflected the ball saving his team.
During the 73rd minute, Bingham made a monumental save after a header from Mueller. The visiting keeper cleared the ball as he flew to the top right corner.
The match ended with a total of nineteen shots, seven on target, and 57% of ball possession for Orlando City SC. Whereas, LA Galaxy registered four total shots, one on target, and 47% of ball possession.
The match had an official announced attendance of 24,712.
Orlando City SC lined up a 4-3-3 formation with: [G] Brian Rowe; [D] Ruan, Lamine Sané, Robin Jansson, João Moutinho; [M] Will Johnson, Sebastián Méndez, Cristian Higuita; [F] Chris Mueller, Tesho Akindele, Nani (c).
LA Galaxy went for a 4-2-3-1 with: [G] Bingham; [D] Rolf Feltscher, Daniel Steres, Giancarlo González, Jørgen Skjelvik; [M] Jonathan Dos Santos, Joe Corona; Sebastian Lletget, Favio Álvarez, Emil Cuello; [F] Uriel Antuna. For the next fixture, Orlando City SC will hit the road to face Montreal Impact at the Saputo Stadium on June 1st, 2019 at 4:00pm. Whereas, LA Galaxy will visit the Children’s Mercy Park to confront Sporting Kansas City on May 29, 2019 at 8:30 pm
