Orlando City Secure 2012 USL PRO Title
Led by two goals in the first 25 minutes and two more from Forward Dennis Chin late on, Orlando City Soccer Club clinched their second consecutive USL PRO regular season title by defeating Charleston Battery 4-0 at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The title also guarantees home field for the 2012 playoffs.
“I’m pleased for the players for all the hard work they put in,” said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. “I thought some of our play was very, very good.”
Kevin Molino got the scoring going for Orlando City (15-1-5, 50 points) with help from the Charleston (11-7-0, 33 points) defense. In the 17th minute from outside the 18 yard box, the talented winger blasted a strike that deflected off the side of Battery Defender Kyle Hoffer over his own Goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra for an own goal and the early 1-0 Lion lead.
It only took a few more minutes for Lions to strike again. In the 21st minute, a charging George Davis IV laid a perfectly flighted cross off to an unmarked Matt Luzunaris, who headed home from just inside the six yard box. The goal marked the fifth straight match that Luzunaris has scored in and it was his ninth goal of the season.
Charleston, who came into the match in third place in the USL PRO table, simply couldn’t match the work rate of the Orlando team but even when they threatened, they found a solid Lions back line led by Captain and Goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo. Barttery’s frustrations then reached boiling point halfway through the second half as Defender Colin Falvey and Orlando’s James O’Connor clashed, which then saw a major skirmish involving most players from both sides. Both Falvey and O’Connor were handed red cards and then it was the turn of Charleston Defender Kyle Hoffer to earn his second yellow of the night for showing dissent to referee Ibanez after committing a minor foul. It was a soft dismissal that left the Battery struggling with only nine men.
It didn’t take long for Orlando to then capitalize as late substitute and Oviedo-native Dennis Chin scored twice in the 77th and 85th minutes, and the 4-0 scoreline secured the USL PRO title. Chin’s two goals took him to a record breaking ten goals in Orlando City franchise history, topping last year’s record of nine by Max Griffin.
City now turn their attention toward the International Friendly to be played at the Florida Citrus Bowl tonight against Stoke City of the English Premier League. Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m and tickets can still be obtained from the Citrus Bowl ticket office before the game. See you there!
More photos at www.FloridaLeisurePhotography.com and MarkSimsPhotography
