There was desperation at the end of Orlando City’s game against the Chicago Fire on Friday at the Orlando Citrus Bowl, but not the same desperation. Not the same desperation as Sunday when the team needed to make up two goals.
This was a different kind of gasp. The kind of gasp where Orlando City had all the weight and pressure of expectation, all the better chances and all the opportunity. And still could not break through.
Up a man for nearly an hour after a first-half red card to Michael Harrington, the Lions should have had every opportunity and every advantage to break a 1-1 tie. What they managed was some more shaky play on defense — the Fire got some great chances at goal down a man — and a lot of pressure but little offensive push.
The Lions had to settle for that 1-1 score at the Orlando Citrus Bowl on Friday.
There were some flurries of shots and chances to break down the defense and get past Matt Lampson. Nothing really serious. Aside from Cyle Larin shooting one off the post late in the game.
Orlando City was good at possessing the ball and getting the ball into dangerous areas, but not good at that last bit it takes to score. That was a problem last year as much as it was in the opener against Real Salt Lake.
It happened again and again. The Lions would get the ball into an attacking area, send it out wide and have a poor cross or service to the attackers running into the box. Or the team would attack through the middle and be a hair off on runs or attacks on goal.
Orlando City had 13 shots, getting five on frame. Chicago, despite playing the majority of the game with 10 men, still managed 10 shots and got some really good opportunities in the process. It felt like an even game with Orlando City having most of the opportunities.
That is not how it should be in this situation. And not with how Orlando City started the game.
The Lions got on the board first in the fourth minute when play opened up for Cyle Larin to receive a pass inside the box and tuck the ball into the top right corner. Orlando City had scored early and were already on the front foot.
That seemed to be the way this game was destined to go, especially after that red card.
Chicago though always had an answer. The Fire used their speed and opportunistic defense throughout to get on the attack and counter when the Lions made mistakes.
The big one came on a long ball in the 14th minute. John Goossens sent the ball past the defense and left Seb Hines in a foot race with David Accam. Hines got beat by the speedy Accam to the ball and then failed to make a slide tackle to save the goal.
Accam just beat Hines in a foot race and finished.
It was a critical mistake made when the teams were still at even strength. One though that Hines recovered well from the rest of the game. He successfully made several stops in the penalty area and helped preserve the tie on more than a few occasions.
Orlando was a step off and could not get in sync at that critical moment when it was about to score.
And unlike Sunday’s come-from-behind tie, this one was a game Orlando City absolutely had to have. With two games at home to open the season, two draws is simply not a strong result. They were two opportunities missed.
This was certainly an opportunity missed. All the advantages were there for Orlando City. And points were left on the board.
This young team is still learning how to finish and how to take advantage of these opportunities. Waiting for a breakthrough.
