New York City Football Club II Goals: Myers 17', 58' Beer 19'
Orlando City B Goals: Mohammed 6', 87', Lynn 62', 80'
Quick Read
NYCFC II suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to Orlando City B on Sunday night. The visitors took a sixth-minute lead through Sharkur Mohammed. NYCFC II would earn an equalizer through Matt Myers in the 17th minute before taking the lead a little over sixty seconds later through Jack Beer. The home side stretched their advantage in their 58th minute as Myers claimed his second of the evening with a header. Orlando found a route back into the game in the 62nd minute through Jack Lynn. The forward would restore parity between the two teams in the 80th minute. The visitors took the lead in the 87th minute through Mohammed's second of the evening. That goal would prove enough for Orlando to claim all three points on the evening.
Match Recap
The Boys in Blue hosted the Lions on Sunday night at Belson Stadium in a fifth meets ninth contest.
Matthew Pilkington knew victory could pull his side to within a point of Chicago Fire II just above the playoff line as they pursue a place in the postseason.
Pilkington made two changes to the team that recorded an emphatic 5-0 win against Inter Miami CF II last time out, with Samuel Owusu and Klevis Haxhari replacing Alexander Hauschild and Drew Baiera.
The contest started at a fast pace and that saw the opening goal arrive in the sixth minute. Sharkur Mohammed was found in space after a turnover in the NYCFC defensive third, and he fired off a low shot that beat Alex Rando in goal.
NYCFC wasted no time in trying to engineer an equalizer. Matt Myers currently leads the team for goals, and minutes after Mohammed's goal he came close with an effort from a narrow angle that was well saved.
The forward would not be denied for long, however, and in the 17th minute, he claimed his 14th of the campaign and his fourth in the last two games to tie the game up between the two sides.
One goal became two not long after as NYCFC II took a first-half lead through Jack Beer. The midfielder's tenacious tackle allowed him the chance to shoot from the edge of the box and arrow a shot past the goalkeeper.
The contest was showing no signs of slowing down, with NYCFC II's next great chance coming via a breakaway. Piero Elias did well to hold onto the ball before finding John Denis out wide - the striker earning a corner after shooting from a narrow-angle.
Pilkington's side were looking relentless in their pursuit of a third goal, and that allowed them to find spaces behind the Orlando defensive line. Myers was afforded several half-chances, but he was unable to add to his tally.
In the 37th minute, Myers turned provider as he set up teammate Jonathan Jiménez with a chance. The forward was able to get a shot off inside the area, but his effort was well-saved by Javier Otero.
As the halftime whistle approached Orlando fashioned a good chance through Jack Lynn, but the striker was denied by Alex Rando, and that allowed NYCFC II to go in a goal up at halftime.
The second period started with no changes for either side as they both sought the game's fourth goal. Orlando earned the first chance of the half via Nabilai Kibunguchy, but he couldn't keep his header down.
That miss would be punished in the 55th minute as Myers finally secured his second of the evening. Laid on by a cross from Denis, the striker was on hand at close range to head the ball home and give NYCFC a two-goal advantage.
Their two-goal advantage lasted only four minutes, however, as Orlando found the net through Lynn in the 62nd minute. The striker had previously been denied by Rando, but this time his effort from close range was able to get past the shot-stopper and half NYCFC II's advantage.
The visitors were keen to capitalize on their growing momentum and turn two goals into three. Jorge Almaguer attempted to find the net from distance, but his effort was well wide of the target.
Pilkington turned to his bench for the first time in the 74th minute as he introduced Ronny Arévalo in place of Jiménez.
Orlando continued to push for an equalizer and they found it in the 80th minute through Lynn. The Lions would take the lead for the second time in the 87th minute as Mohammed secured his second goal of the evening.
Pilkington added two new faces to the contest in an attempt to draw NYCFC II level. Maximo Carrizo and Jonathan Shore replaced Beer and Denis. The pair were unable to help spark a comeback, and that confirmed a narrow defeat for the Boys in Blue at Belson Stadium.
How We Lined Up
Match Highlights
What's Next
Next up for New York City Football Club II is a meeting with Chicago Fire II at SeatGeek Stadium on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00PM ET.
Watch live on AppleTV and follow our official @NYCFCII Twitter page for updates.
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