Orlando City defender Seb Hines delivers the offensive punch in a 6-1 preseason win against Brazilian side Bahia.
Orlando City defender Seb Hines isn’t exactly known as a goal-scorer.
The English-American defender last scored multiple goals — in a season — for Middlesbrough in 2011-12. Yet, somehow, in a comical and unreal cap to the preseason, the Lions’ centerback scored four goals to lead the Lions to a 6-1 win over Brazilian side Bahia on Saturday night at the Orlando Citrus Bowl.
All four of Hines’ goals came on headers, and all four were assisted by Kaká — three on corner kicks and the fourth on a free kick. Pedro Ribeiro and Darwin Cerén added goals in what turned into a blowout victory ahead of next week’s regular-season opener. All in all, Orlando City had to feel encouraged about how the team looked a week before it opens the season against Real Salt Lake next Sunday in the Citrus Bowl.
“I’m very unlikely to score one
in a game, so to score four I’m very proud and happy to do so,” said Hines, who is former teammates with Bahia coach Doriva and jokingly apologized to him after the game for having a career night.
Hines also credited Kaká, whose teammates call him Ricky, for setting up the goals.
“It just fell to my head. It was great delivery from Ricky and I just tried to get my head on everything I could in the box. Lucky for me it went into the back of the net. I would’ve liked to save some for the league,” Hines said.
Midfielder Kevin Molino, in his first action in the Citrus Bowl since tearing an ACL there May 2, looked strong. Kaká was constantly in around the action in the box and finished the night with four assists. Brek Shea was dangerous on the overlap and the three-man defensive midfield provided
an extra layer of protection in front of the back line.
The star, of course, was Hines, who seemed to have a magnet drawing the ball to
his head on set pieces. Orlando City has spent a lot of time training set pieces, and Hines was the major beneficiary. He twice scored on
the back post off corners, flicked in a header from 10 yards out for a hat trick in the 71st minute and then added a fourth off a free kick
at the near post in the 86th minute.
Hines could only spread his arms and smile after the last finish.
The only negative for Orlando City was the slow start — the back line was beaten on a simple ball over the top finished off by Zé Roberto just 52 seconds into the game — but otherwise the Lions controlled the contest.
Orlando City rolled out its new 4-3-2-1 look against Bahia, and the lineup gave a good hint of what the starters will look like in little more than a week’s time against Real Salt Lake.
The only question is whether Antonio Nocerino will supplant one of the three defensive midfielders — Cerén, Servando Carrasco and Ribeiro — as a starter next week or whether coach Adrian Heath will ease the Italian into the team as a substitute. Ribeiro impressed again and added a goal in the 78th minute to top off the performance.
Molino showed no nerves and was one of the bright spots of the game, looking very much like he hadn’t missed a step. Most impressive was his movement and passing, and he should have had two assists in the first half as his through balls put both Kaká and Cerén alone on goal, only to see both of their efforts saved by Bahia goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba.
Overall, Orlando City looked dynamic and dangerous as it pushed forward. Kaká and Molino worked closely under Cyle Larin, who also had a pair of chances he should have finished but couldn’t get on frame. Shea looked good overlapping on the left side and caused problems for Bahia, while Ribeiro was a threat driving forward out of the midfield. Hines’ goalscoring was an amusing note in the preseason finale, but also a sign of Orlando City’s development on set pieces in its second season.
The measurement of the team’s growth truly begins next Sunday.