Orlando City remains
Carrasco’s game-winner moves Lions to 3-0 at new stadium
perfect at home with a 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls.
Servando Carrasco is regularly praised as the hard worker, the consistent role player, the one whose contributions are coveted by Orlando City and often unnoticed by outsiders.
But Sunday, Carrasco’s value was recognized by all as he scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls (2-3-1, 7 points) that kept the Lions (3-1-0, 9 points) perfect at home.
“It means a lot because we won the game,” Carrasco said of his goal. “The fact that I scored is secondary to me. The fact that I could contribute is the main thing.”
The moment came in the 34th minute off a corner kick delivered by midfielder Will Johnson. Carrasco jockeyed for position alongside Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles, creating enough space to get his head on the ball and direct it into the near post.
Carrasco, a defensive midfielder who subbed on in the 17th minute when Antonio Nocerino picked up a left calf injury, said he absolutely was not expecting to score. He is in his seventh year in Major League Soccer and scored only once before, a penalty kick for the Seattle Sounders in 2013.
“It’s kind of a collector’s item for sure,” he said. “That was definitely a designed play, and credit to Will, it was a perfect ball.”
The Red Bulls tested Orlando