It looked like the same story as Orlando City’s first season. an offense that could not break through and get the ball in the net despite constant pressure, a team letting fouls and 50/50 calls devolve them into frustration, cards giving up opportunities and just on and on and on.
Then came the rush. The blitz. The last crescendo of desperation.
After knocking on the door for so long and coming up frustratingly so, the dam just broke loose.
Throwing everything it had at net, Orlando City’s Brek Shea found Cyle Larin streaking into the box for a one-time off his right foot past Nick Rimando. This was the 94th minute, the final of stoppage time.
Real Salt Lake gave up possession quickly and Orlando City quickly sent the ball down the entire field, just holding off the referee’s final whistle.
The ball bounced into the box and Nick Rimando was finally caught too far off his line. and the ball bounced to Larin who toed it to Adrian Winter and then into the back of the net.
In a matter of 30 seconds, Orlando City went from extreme disappointment — blowing an opportunity with Real Salt Lake down a man in the first half and trailing 2-0 — to ecstasy. Never could splitting the points at home in a home opener be so satisfying . . . or perhaps as lucky.
The Lions may have had the better run of play, but not really ever the best opportunities. What mattered though was just finishing the game off. Orlando City did that in scoring those two goals in the final 60 seconds for a 2-2 tie with Real Salt Lake at the Orlando Citrus Bowl on Sunday.
Larin and the Lions were knocking on the door throughout the game but could not find the breakthrough. They had the run of play in the first 10 minutes, even without Kaka in the lineup, and had scoring opportunity after scoring opportunity. Larin scored on an early goal called back on an offside call.
The Lions had 12 corners and 52.4 percent of the possession. This was their game.
And things seemed to get even more advantageous for the Lions when Demar Phillips picked up his second yellow card and an ejection for a hard and reckless foul on Larin.
The Lions seemed set for 70 minutes of 11-on-10 soccer and an opportunity to continue to put things on Real Salt Lake. They were clearly preparing to score a goal.
That fell apart quickly when Real Salt Lake sent a ball in over the defense and Seb Hines made a sliding challenge in the box called for a penalty shot. Joao Plata finished it.
Orlando City let frustration sink in at that point. Darwin Ceren committed a red card for an uncalled-for shove into a Real Salt Lake player. Whether or not that was a red card, it set a dour mood right before halftime.
Real Salt Lake, up 1-0 heading to the locker room and now even on men, had the upper hand.
And they took advantage as Plata added one more in the run of play after a nifty move by Juan Manuel Martinez beat three Orlando City players before feeding it to Tony Beltran who crossed it to Plata running to the far post.
Things seemed to be unraveling for Orlando City quickly. The same frustrations that haunted the team throughout all last season resurfaced. The team was wining about calls and unable to mount a consistent, threatening attack.
Rimando was controlling his box well. Any balls sent long were easily collected by Rimando. And crosses were never really on target. Orlando City really lacked that bit of class it needed to score that final goal. Larin was not touching the ball much in the second half and the team was searching for some offense.
The team did not find it until that moment of desperation. And oh what a moment it was.
The other things everyone can work on and worry about in the week of preparation for the Chicago Fire.
That moment though was glorious. Something the jam-packed Orlando Citrus Bowl needed and wanted for an opening day. Disappointment turned to exhilaration. And one point is one point in the end. Better than a disappointing loss.
