Kaká scores game-winner for Lions
Former Orlando City captain Kaká sealed one of the club’s most dramatic and thrilling victories on this date in 2016.
The Lions faced off with Toronto FC, which was anchored by reigning MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco and had been a tough opponent for Orlando City.
Cyle Larin scored early for Orlando, but the Reds responded with a goal from Jordan Hamilton in the 47th minute. Fan favorite Adrian Winter fired up Orlando City supporters at Camping World Stadium when he scored in the 83rd minute, but Giovinco set up Justin Morrow for what seemed to be a crushing equalizer in the 90th minute.
Eight minutes of stoppage time were added, but it seemed the Lions couldn’t do much with it.
However, during Orlando’s last push into the penalty area, Drew Moor shoved down Julio “The Beast” Baptista in the box, prompting referee Ismail Elfath to signal for a penalty.
Toronto’s players were furious about the controversial call, with
TFC defender Josh sent off for abusive toward the referee.
Kaká kept his team out of the scrum and prepared to take a penalty kick. He converted in the 100th minute, sealing a 3-2 victory for Orlando City and celebrating exuberantly with his teammates.
Williams language
FHSAA intends to follow the lead of DeSantis and leave many decisions to the 67 public school districts and individual private schools.
“As an organization, we can’t create a solution that is one size fits all,” said Jacob Oliva, the state Department of Education representative on the FHSAA’s board of directors. “We want those decisions to be driven and determined at the local level.”
Tomyn did acknowledge that fall sports state championships are not a certainty.
“I’m not so sure that we’re going to be able to have that this year in the traditional format as in the past,” he said of FHSAA finals.
The association’s priority Tomyn said, is to offer sports programs that are “as safe and as good as we can have”.
Other key topics in Tuesday’s discussion included:
■ The FHSAA has no current plan to require a facemask for every athlete — leaving that as a local decision.
■ A push by Tampa Plant assistant principal Lauren Otero, who soon will become president of the FHSAA board of directors, to survey all member school principals and headmasters on their plans and concerns. The FHSAA’s sports medicine advisory committee will take that on.
■ Playing games without spectators, or with a limited number of fans, could cripple high schools financially. “Bearing the expense of football but not getting money coming in, we’re not going to be able to afford anything for our schools,” said Mark Rosenbalm, coordinator of athletics for Collier County Schools in Southwest Florida. “Football usually pays for all of our [sports] programs.”
■ Some school districts could restrict out of county travel and the FHSAA championship state series could be eliminated in favor of regional playoffs. “Yes, we’ve discussed a lot of those things,” Tomyn said. “I just think it’s way too premature to talk about something like that. We can be creative when we get to that point.”
■ Shifting the start of fall sports back was discussed. “Moving fall [sports] impacts the winter which in turn impacts the spring,” Tomyn said. “That’s why we’re very comfortable in staying exactly where we are right now.”
■ Coaches are concerned that MaxPreps power rankings, which are now used to determine at-large playoff berths and seeding for district and region tournaments, will be skewed if some teams are forced to start later than others and play significantly fewer games. “If teams are not able to schedule in Week 1 we’re not going to punish them,” Tomyn said. “We are prepared to work with schools in individual circumstances.”
■ Officials who referee games are worried about contracting the coronavirus. John Scarpino, a task force member representing Brevard County’s Mid Coast Officials Association, asked that the FHSAA create state-mandated protocols for schools that assure the health and well-being of referees.
■ Regarding specific fall sports Tomyn said bowling, cross country, golf and swimming and diving all could safely be contested “with some adjustments.” Girls volleyball and football will take more consideration he said.
The task force is scheduled to meet again Wednesday, July 1, at 9 a.m.