MONTVERDE, Fla. - Orlando City B earned its first League One win Friday night, defeating 10-man Toronto FC II, 2-0, at Montverde Academy. Orlando were dominant in the first half, out-shooting TFC II 10-2 and winning 60% of possession, but wouldn’t break the 0-0 deadlock until the 42nd minute. The goal came from one of many productive OCB counter attacks on the night. Rafael sprung to hosts loose following a TFC II corner kick, playing a long pass from the top of his own 18-yard box to Serginho who quickly found Moises Tablante flying down the right wing. Tablante took a few strong touches forward into the Toronto penalty area before curling a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Kevin Silva.
Almost immediately following the goal, Orlando created another dangerous chance from a counter attack. Natan Simeon played a long ball forward out of the back, putting Rafael in behind the Toronto back four. The center midfielder chased down the long pass and as he drove towards Silva’s goal, Franco Ramos Mingo tripped him from behind resulting in a penalty kick and a sending off. Austin Amer stepped up to the spot with the opportunity to make it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime, but Silva guessed correctly and made a good save holding on to the penalty attempt to ensure there was no rebound. OCB would get a second chance from the penalty spot in the 74th minute after Julian Dunn-Johnson brought down Tablante inside the area with a lunging tackle.
This time, Thiago Souza stepped up and calmly slotted the spot kick home, driving it low and to his left. The short-handed TFC II side struggled to put things together in the attacking third to muster a comeback, forcing Orlando goalkeeper Juliano Chade to make just one save on the way to his second clean sheet of the season.
