Lions suffer first loss of season
Orlando City can’t make most of goal opportunities
In a game where Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja was looking for consistency and an increase in production from his key players, Cincinnati secured a 2-1 victory over the Lions on Saturday night in front of an announced attendance of 16,512 Exploria Stadium.
Cincinnati (1-2-0, 3 points) struck first in the 13th minute when Luciano Acosta managed to slip the ball past Orlando’s defense, finding Brandon Vazquez to slot the ball past keeper Pedro Gallese.
The Lions (1-1-1, 4 points) had several chances throughout the first half to tie the game.
The first came in the 17th minute when Facundo Torres connected with Alexandre Pato, who headed the ball from close range but was denied by Cincinnati’s Kann.
In the 22nd minute, a chip over Cincy’s backline by Pato found Ercan Kara, who produced a diving header on target but Kann was there again to deny the opportunity.
Moments later in the 26th minute, a free kick played by Mauricio Pereyra found Junior Urso but his header off the set-piece was again denied by Kann.
Orlando tied the game in the 42nd minute when a cross sent in by Torres found Urso to head the ball past Kann to give the Lions the 1-1 tie before the halftime break.
But the tie was shortlived when Dominique Badji managed to muscle off Ruan before crossing the ball to an unmarked Vazquez, who headed the ball past Gallese to give the visitors a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute.
Up next, Orlando travels to take on the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.