Orlando Sentinel

Cyle Larin scores twice

Larin scores twice as Orlando City moves to 2-0

- By Alicia DelGallo Staff Writer

as Orlando City rallies to defeat Philadelph­ia 2-1, cementing the Lions’ best start of their three years in Major League Soccer.

Two games, three goals and six points.

Orlando City is off to its best start since joining Major League Soccer in 2015.

Cyle Larin is responsibl­e for all of those goals, scoring two Saturday night to lift the Lions (2-0-0, 6 points) over the Philadelph­ia Union (0-1-2, 2 points) in a 2-1 victory at Orlando City Stadium.

“First and foremost, it’s about the work rate and commitment Cyle Larin has put in to take himself to a new fitness level,” Lions head coach Jason Kreis said after the match. “He’s able to play a little bit of a different way than he did last year. I enjoy seeing people who work hard get success. His partner up there, he deserves a couple goals as well. I wouldn’t want to make any comment about the forwards without saying how important Carlos Rivas was to the performanc­e tonight as well.”

Rivas toyed with defenders most of the game, drawing them away and opening lanes for Larin to attack. He took off with a long ball from Jonathan Spector in the 39th minute as three opponents in white circled him. He fired a hard cross directly to Larin’s feet as the Canadian charged and followed the ball into the net.

“We talked about how these players were actually a little slow, so I knew there would be some

 ?? JACOB LANGSTON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPH­ER ?? Orlando City forward Cyle Larin, right, works to control the ball as Philadelph­ia’s Alejandro Bedoya defends during Saturday’s match.
JACOB LANGSTON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPH­ER Orlando City forward Cyle Larin, right, works to control the ball as Philadelph­ia’s Alejandro Bedoya defends during Saturday’s match.

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