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Pair of goals by Nani lift Lions to 1st victory this season at Orlando City Stadium
During the first few games of Orlando City’s season, designated player and former Manchester United winger Nani was one of the team’s strongest passers.
And star striker Dom Dwyer said the best was yet to come.
Dwyer’s prediction came true Saturday night. Against the Colorado Rapids, on a stormy night in front of an announced crowd of 22,450 at Orlando City Stadium, Nani delivered on the promise that came with his signing during the offseason.
Nani netted a brace, his first two goals with the Lions, to help Orlando City (2-2-2, 8 points) secure a 4-3 victory over the Rapids (0-4-2, 2 points). It was Orlando City’s first home victory of the season.
Nani stepped up and delivered the match-winning goal for the Lions by converting a penalty kick in the 89th minute, which came after Colorado’s Axel Sjöberg was called for a hand ball in the penalty area.
It almost looked like the Lions would let the match slip away in the second half after they went into the break up 2-1.
The match was delayed for an hour and a minute due to lightning after the end of the first half. After a brief burst of Orlando City energy, Colorado took advantage of two defensive lapses to score goals in the 61st and 71st minutes of the match, and the Lions looked lifeless.
Then Chris on the pitch.
The young fan favorite subbed on in the 80th minute with the Lions reeling after giving up the lead. About a minute later, he scored his second goal of the season to level the match at three goals. Mueller stepped
Brazilian right back Ruan was involved in both of the Orlando City’s goals in the first half.
The first came after he nutmegged Dillon Serna to get into the penalty area. He sent a cross in front of Colorado’s goal that didn’t connect when forward Tesho Akindele whiffed, but the ball eventually found left back João Moutinho.
Moutinho sent in a cross for Nani, who scored his first Lions goal with a header from close range in the 31st minute.
The Lions grabbed their first home lead of the season two minutes later. Dwyer cleared a Rapids corner and Ruan led the counterattack. He sent in a cross that was deflected and fell to Dwyer, who fired a shot that was saved by Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard.
The rebound fell to Akindele, who made up for his earlier miss by scoring his second goal of the season. Akindele was playing in his first match since leaving the Lions’ match against the Chicago Fire on March 9 with a hamstring injury.
The match started a lot like Orlando City’s three previous home matches.
Orlando City trailed early after giving up a head-scratching goal. Neither side asserted much dominance in the early going, but the Rapids grabbed the lead after striker Kei Kamara put away a ball from left back Dillon Serna.
The ball deflected off Orlando City centerback Robin Jansson before falling to Kamara. It looked like both Janasson and fellow centerback Lamine Sané were in position to make a play on the ball, but Sané couldn’t head the ball away and Jansson didn’t jump.
It was the fourth time in four home matches Orlando City trailed in the first half.
Orlando City came alive after an injury to Carlos Ascues — who was playing centerback to start Saturday’s match — forced a change in shape. Ascues went down holding the back of his left leg and was subbed off for holding midfielder Uri Rosell.
The Lions went to a four-man back line and better controlled the remainder of the first half.
Orlando City fans who stayed despite the lightning delay, steady rain and mistakes on the pitch eventually were rewarded with a dramatic victory.