Adrian Heath had a unique perspective to Sunday’s Orlando City game against Sporting Kansas City.
The coach was suspended for Sunday’s game and relegated to a suite inside Children’s Mercy Hospital Stadium while the game played out. He visited with supporters before the game and anticipated his team would put in a solid performance.
That was not the case at all. The Lions lost a 1-0 lead and lost 2-1, but were clearly outplayed. Orlando City gave up 34 shots including 13 on target and looked completely outplayed.
Imagine Heath feeling totally helpless watching all this.
It was enough for him to apologize to the fans and supporters as the team reconvened for practice ahead of Saturday’s game against the Montreal Impact.
“They deserve better than we gave them,” Heath told Alicia Del Gallo of the Orlando Sentinel. “We didn’t reciprocate, we didn’t do our side. Everybody, we let them down . . . and I apologize, but we’re going to need them. They’ve never let us down in past, and I want it to be same at the weekend.
“It’s the most disappointed I’ve been since I’ve been on with the team. We had a couple of big defeats since I’ve been in MLS, but sometimes I didn’t think the team was as strong as it should have been, but there was no excuse yesterday.”
The stories from the stadium were not good. Heath visited supporters before the game. It was an interesting perspective.
Thanks coach for stopping by pic.twitter.com/PmoftTk4j8
— The Ruckus (@RuckusOrlando) May 15, 2016
And then it became an interesting dichotomy to after the game. Obviously disappointed and frustrated with their play, it appears no Orlando City players went over to recognize the away supporters.
It is typical for opposing teams at least to clap in the direction of opposing supporters during road games.
Not one single @OrlandoCitySC player came over and acknowledged the away support in Kansas City. No heart just like today's performance.
— Iron Lion Firm (@IronLionFirm) May 15, 2016
It was certainly a low point in a season that has had its share of disappointments. The Lions have not won a game since the April 3 romp over the Portland Timbers. Orlando City has managed just three draws in six games since then, falling to seventh place in the early Eastern Conference tables (two points out of a playoff berth).
The Lions have a lot of things to correct, including improving their midfield possession and shoring up their defense. But it feels like the issues go a little bit deeper at this point too.
The team has to start correcting some things and moving in the right direction.
