The past two summers have seen hard choices for Orlando City.
Moving from USL Pro to MLS has not been easy. There have been difficult choices. They were made even as the team moved. Fan favorites were cast aside for one reason or another. Players who seemed capable of making the jump up to MLS and realizing that dream.
The Iron Lion Firm memorialize many of those players — Miguel Gallardo, Jamie Watson, Dennis Chin — in banners near the tunnel where Orlando City and the teams enter the field. They are players that were fundamental to the franchise’s formation. The kind of players that remain etched into fans’ memories.
That is what made Kevin Molino special.
Of all the players who made the jump up to MLS off the final USL Pro roster, Molino was one of the originals. Someone who had spent years with the Lions and toiled in the USL Pro quietly building his ability and racking up goals. In the team’s final year at USL, Molino set a league record with 20 goals.
Molino would get his move up to MLS with the team he had cut his teeth with. He began reaping the rewards with the national team with Trinidad and Tobago. The 2015 season was the realization of his dream. And Orlando City fans were there reveling in it with him and enjoying every step of his journey.
In his first seven games in MLS, he recorded one assist on 14 shots and four shots on goal. More importantly, he looked like he belonged.
Then tragedy struck.
In a friendly against Brazilian side Ponte Pedra, he took a bad turn and went down on the pitch. A torn ACL knocked him out for the entire year. And not even in a game that would matter. The Lions would ride on emotion — Kaka would don his jersey after scoring a goal in a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy.
But Molino’s absence was quickly felt. The Lions soon began falling in the standings, mired in a losing streak that would knock them too far out of the playoff contention to climb back in. There was a revolving door of midfielders next to Kaka, including bringing Brek Shea up from the back and Carlos Rivas and newly acquired Adrian Winter.
It took a long time for the Lions to get any kind of rhythm and the chemistry with Kaka never full formed again. Molino was a strong option and someone the Lions needed. He seemed to be playing his best right when the injury took place.
“Last season, my first thought was to be one of the team, and the second was to be alongside one of the best players in the world and get a relationship going,” Molino told Simon Veness of MLSSoccer.com. “I was really excited to be part of making a mark with Orlando in its first season in MLS. It didn’t work out last year, but I know I still have an opportunity to make it work, and make my professional soccer dream come true.”
It has been a long road back for Molino without doubt. There is anticipation from fans to have him back on the pitch. There is anticipation from the team itself as he makes his way back.
He even drew a foul to help Orlando City get a goal in a recent friendly:
63' GOAL. Molino draws the PK and Kaká converts it! City lead 2-1. #CityPreseason pic.twitter.com/7k6Mmvt0Bz
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 21, 2016
Molino though is the heart of this team. At least to the supporters.
Kaka has the star power and there are plenty of players who are better or come with more pedigree. But no one has the history Molino has with this team or this fan base. He is the heart and soul of this team — a connection to the past and the future along with a key player for the present.
For the early part of the season focus will be on who fills that hole in the midfield. Molino may not be ready to start right away. But his return at the Orlando Citrus Bowl will certainly come with a loud ovation.
His return to form could very well signal Orlando City’s emergence as a Playoff-caliber team. It is much anticipated by everyone.
