Lions find scoring punch in a dominant win over FC Cincinnati
It only took 32 seconds for Orlando City to assert itself in a 3-0 win over FC Cincinnati on Saturday night.
That was all the time it took for the Lions to kick off the ball and find designated player Mauricio Pereyra, who skipped the ball into the box for Tesho Akindele. The striker took two touches — one to tap the ball past his defender, then the shot — to bury the ball in the back of the net for the fastest goal scored in the club’s MLS history.
The speedy start set the tone in Orlando City’s first victory of the year. After struggling to score in their first two matches, the Lions jump-started their offense at home in front of a sold-out 50% capacity crowd of 11,503 fans.
Akindele’s goal sparked the scoring, but captain Nani netted a stunner that served as a highlight of the match. In the 19th minute, the winger twisted back and forth to send his defender sprawling to the ground before arcing a shot into the top left corner of the net.
The move mirrored a signature style that Nani has often used to befuddle defenders and break himself open, giving the captain his second goal of the season.
The Lions’ production slowed down during the middle third of the match as both teams settled into a slower rhythm of play. But Orlando City kept Cincinnati from ever truly threatening the goal, allowing Pedro Gallese to finish the match without needing to make a save.
Júnior Urso capped the team’s scoring in the 80th minute, tapping in a pass from Benji Michel after the ball pinballed through the box for a nervous handful of seconds.
The victories of the match went beyond just the scoreline for the Lions.
After sitting out the first two matches of the year while serving a red-card suspension from the 2020 playoffs, Pereyra made his presence felt within the opening minute. Beyond his assist, Pereyra brought a renewed vigor to the midfield.
João Moutinho played his first minutes since August 2019 on Saturday after undergoing hip surgery in the offseason. Although the left back played less than 10 minutes, his entry into the match marked an important step for the dynamic defender as he fightstoearnbackhisstartingposition.
The Lions have now recorded two shutouts at home and remain undefeated on the season. The team will have a week to prepare for their next home match against New York City FC on Saturday.