For so long, Orlando City sat back and absorbed pressure. Frustratingly so.
The Lions could not get out of their own end in the second half and were just holding on to their 1-1 draw, hoping the copious possession they conceded would not come back and bight them.
In an instant the equation changed and had to. Juan Agudelo put New England ahead in the 71st minute and Orlando City had to go into overdrive.
Suddenly, the Lions awoke and were trying desperately to get back in the game. A few key substitutions and the promise of five minutes of stoppage time gave Orlando City some last minute life.
And then in one brilliant moment it all worked.
Adrian Winter took a long ball along the sideline and beat a defender to get in toward the penalty area. He fed it to Cyle Larin who was holding off his defender waiting for his teammates to catch up to him — a tremendous sign of growth from the second-year player.
He nudged the ball center toward Carlos Rivas running in toward the net and Rivas fired it in to deliver a 2-2 draw for Orlando City in the 90th minute at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on Saturday.
It was not the result perhaps Orlando City deserved, but one the team would gladly take.
Joe Bendik added one more save at the goal line, punching the ball away as New England continued to rebuild pressure in the box, and the woodwork saved one more for Orlando City to hold onto the draw and take a point home.
It was not the prettiest performance for Orlando City in any way. The Lions gave up possession in their half for large swaths of the game. Orlando City may have won possession statistically, but it certainly did not feel that way. Particularly through the second half.
Yes, once again, Orlando City struggled to string possession through the midfield. The Lions were not able to muster much of an attack throughout the game, totaling 11 shots and two on target for the game.
The two on target were the only two that went in. Rivas’ beautiful strike and Molino firing in a shot from the far post after a flick from Cyle Larin to tie the game at one in the first half.
Those golden opportunities were few and far between — Julio Baptista notably had a beautiful look that went just wide of the net. Orlando City still struggles to generate offense. Particularly without Kaka on the pitch.
Orlando City is still trying to find its rhythm offensively and building chemistry and consistency. The team has stayed afloat with draws, but have struggled in the meantime. This team has not pulled together perfectly.
Until then, the Lions are good at finding ways to pull games out and rise to the occasion when they need to. That leaves the game in the hands of chance sometimes and that is not sustainable.
Orlando City is still working through some hiccups this early part of the season and still finding their footing.
