Orlando City 0 Charlotte Eagles 0
Just got back from the Orlando Citrus Bowl where I watched Orlando and Charlotte play out a goalless and pretty much lifeless scoreless draw. In fact, the most action was to be found at half time as two teams of rugby seven’s entertained the 4,241 people in the crowd with an exhibition of fast moving rugby.
The rugby was only played for 12 minutes during the half time break but it provided all the scoring of the night as try after try was scored. I couldn’t tell you the final score of that game…or who the teams were but perhaps I should have paid closer attention as there was literally nothing to report on the main event of the night.
In essence, this USL PRO game pitted top v bottom against each other but you’d never have been able to tell that it was Orlando who topped the league while Charlotte propped it up having, in fairness, played two games less than their opposition.
There really wasn’t a lot of action worth noting as time and time again both teams gave away possession when poised to make a strike on goal and it quickly became frustrating as neither team could find a way to dominate.
The first half started well for the Eagles as classy midfielder Alan Sanchez orchestrated events and it looked like Charlotte might find some reward. Orlando fought back after a hesitant first 15 mins but after that the half fizzled out with only a tackle by Brady Bryant providing the other action of note as as he found his way into the referees note book as he earned himself a yellow card in the 31st minute.
The second half was pretty much a repeat performance but the game livened up on the 75 minute mark as Orlando’s Jack Traynor saw the red card for a blatant shirt tug that prevented the lively Jorge Herrera from breaking through clean on goal. The resulting free kick was wasted and perhaps this was the critical moment of the game even though the Eagles managed to hit a post and then bring a good save from City keeper Miguel Gallardo in the dying moments.
Overall, a game to forget and the crowd in Wilmington where Orlando play on Saturday will be hoping for better things. Orlando are now 10 games unbeaten and remain top of the table. Final score: Orlando City 0 Charlotte Eagles 0
