Lions’ super subs fueling win streak
The Buzz:
CHESTER, Penn. — Orlando City teammates have started calling him “The Closer.”
It’s a fitting nickname. The right back has been on the pitch as a substitute for the final minutes of four of Orlando City’s first five matches. He’s helped the Lions secure two wild come-from-behind wins and a last-second draw.
He wants to be in the starting XI — and earned that opportunity Friday at Philadelphia — but he’s happy to embrace the role of super sub. He’s not the only one. “Obviously, I prefer to be playing from the start, for sure,” he said. “But it’s a role that I’ve accepted and guys have made some jokes actually, calling me ‘The Closer’ late in games. Look, I have the trust in the staff and they believe in me. I’m very grateful for that.
“I think that whenever you come on as a sub, you have to make an impact and affect the game in some sort of way. I think in all of my appearances that I’ve had early on in the season so far, I’ve done that. I’ve come on and I’ve helped the team and changed the game a little bit. That’s what, in my opinion, a sub is supposed to do.”
Substitutes have been key players for Orlando City this season. scored a match-tying goal in the season opener as a sub. Allen had an assist on striker match-winning goal against Portland. Rookie
scored a goal to spark the comeback against the Timbers. And replaced Allen when he suffered an injury early in Friday’s match at Philadelphia, helping Orlando City earn a 2-0 win.
It helps that Pinho, Mueller, Allen and Higuita all know what it’s like to start a match for Orlando City.
“I prefer to be in the starting lineup,” Pinho said with a laugh. “I think if you’re a sub, it’s more difficult than being on the field. You’re more nervous outside. [You] see the game and you want to help. You want to do everything to help the team but you’re a sub.
“Before you can go in, you just stay there. You can’t do anything to help the team.”
Mueller started Orlando City’s season opener against D.C. United, came on as a sub after Pinho was injured against Minnesota United, started against NYCFC and started again Friday night against Philadelphia. He said his mentality is the same whether he’s in the starting XI or on the bench to start a match.
“You just have to raise the energy and make a difference,” he said.
“That’s why the coach puts you in, because he has faith in you and hopefully you can change the game. It’s not just coming out to give the young guys minutes or whatever it is, but you got to come in and make a difference.”
Coach said his players must be prepared for whatever their game-day roles might be. Allen has typically come on for but Sutter suffered a lower body injury and was unavailable for Orlando City’s match against Philadelphia Friday.
Allen suffered an injury Friday, leading Kreis to sub on Higuita.
“The job that those guys do is so, so important,” Kreis said of his subs. “They’re going to be needed.”