NYCFC – 1
Orlando City SC – 2
Match recap …
Kaka scored a pair of goals to lead Orlando City SC to a 2-1 win over New York City FC Sunday night at Camping World Stadium.
NYCFC (11-8-8), which had a four-match unbeaten streak snapped, remains in second place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Toronto FC, while Orlando City SC (6-7-13) is now one point below the playoff line.
Kaka put the hosts in front on 32 minutes when he put the rebound of his own saved shot past Josh Saunders for his fifth goal of the season.
Steven Mendoza leveled in the 55th minute, knocking in the rebound of Frank Lampard’s saved shot from 12 yards out for his third goal in an NYCFC uniform.
However, Kaka put the hosts back in front from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute after Maxime Chanot tripped the Brazilian in the box.
The best chance NYCFC had in the first half came off the foot of Andrea Pirlo, who put his 24-yard free kick into the Orlando City wall in the 19th minute. The Lions raced down on a quick counter, but Saunders did well to parry away a lofted ball by Kaka.
Tommy McNamara turned and put a shot on frame from just outside the 18-yard box in the 53rdminute, but Orlando City goalkeeper Joe Bendik made a difficult save.
Orlando City looked to tack on another goal in the 70th minute, but Ronald Matarrita tracked back to make a spectacular sliding save off the line before crashing into the post.
Frank Lampard put a shot on frame in the 81st minute, but Bendik got a touch to force the ball over the end line.
PHOTOS: New York City FC at Orlando City SC
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How they lined up …
Patrick Vieira made two changes from his starting lineup in a 1-0 win over the LA Galaxy at Yankee Stadium on August 20 with Steven Mendoza starting on the right side of the three-man front line and Maxime Chanot returning from suspension to start centrally in a four-man backline.
Jack Harrison came on for Tommy McNamara for the first substitution of the night in the 72ndminute. Four minutes later, Khiry Shelton came on for Jason Hernandez as NYCFC pushed numbers in attack in search of the late equalizer.
Vieira brought on Tony Taylor to replace Andrea Pirlo with his final change in the 82nd minute.
Man of the Match …
Steven Mendoza
In his first start since June 2, Steven Mendoza used his pace to cause problems for the Orlando City SC defense and scored his third goal of the year, an equalizer in the 55th minute after Frank Lampard’s initial shot was initially parried away.
Photo of the Match …
Key moment …
With Orlando City SC attempting to add a third goal late, Kevin Molino took a shot at an open net, but Ronald Matarrita tracked back and made a spectacular sliding save on the goal line before crashing into the post in the 70th minute.
Matarrita came to the rescue again four minutes from full time when he raced back to dispossess Cyle Larin from behind.
Stats and milestones …
- NYCFC had a four-match unbeaten streak snapped with their first loss in more than a month
- Steven Mendoza scored his third goal of the season in his first start since June 2
- NYCFC still has the best road record (6-5-3) in MLS
What it means …
NYCFC remains in second place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Toronto FC and one in front of the New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union.
NYCFC returns to Yankee Stadium Thursday at 7 pm to face D.C. United.
