Orlando City B Loses 2nd-straight Match, Falls to Ottawa Fury FC

(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Match Recap

After a loss to Toronto FC II on June 14, Orlando City B returned to Canada to face Ottawa Fury FC in search of at least a point. Unfortunately for the United Soccer League Lions, the journey north resulted in another loss. Ottawa (5-4-4, 19 points) defeated OCB (4-6-4, 16 points) 1-0 Tuesday morning at TD Place Stadium.

Despite maintaining 60.4 percent of possession and sending in three more corners than Ottawa, OCB’s chances were limited. Ottawa held OCB to just six shots (one on goal), as the Canadian side unleashed 10 shots (three on goal) en route to the win.

Ottawa scored the lone goal off the foot of Steevan Dos Santos in the 43rd minute, courtesy of the interception by forward Carl Haworth. After Haworth intercepted an OCB pass, he streaked down the open lane in OCB’s final third with OCB midfielder Pierre da Silva trailing him. Despite the trailing defensive effort, Haworth created space and sent in a low, grounded cross into Dos Santos for the one-touch goal past Earl Edwards Jr.

OCB almost responded with an equalizer just minutes after the second half started. From the left sideline, da Silva sent in a free kick into Ottawa’s box. The ball was headed downward toward center-back Conor Donovan’s left foot, where it tipped upward toward goal, but was eventually palmed away by Ottawa goalkeeper Callum Irving.

da Silva continued to press for an equalizer, as he took a wide-left shot from inside the top-left part of Ottawa’s box in the 67th minute. Forward Ben Polk followed that up with a left-footed blast from the top of Ottawa’s box that took one bounce and skipped wide right of a diving Irving and the net.

Michael Cox couldn’t capitalize on OCB’s final opportunity in the 83rd minute, as he wasn’t able to get a foot on a grounded cross that dashed through Ottawa’s six-yard box.

Edwards Jr. made one final crucial save in stoppage time in a one-on-one situation with Jimmy Sanon. First, Edwards Jr. cleared the ball from the top of his box toward midfield, but the ball was deflected back into OCB’s final third. Sanon pounced on it in an onside position and darted toward Edwards Jr., who was positioned just above the penalty spot. Sanon tried to go to Edwards Jr.’s left, but the 25-year-old dropped to his left to make the save.

Man of the Match: Steevan Dos Santos

Dos Santos was instrumental in Ottawa’s attack. He finished with three shots (two on goal) and a goal. He also recorded two tackles and drew four fouls.

What’s next?

OCB stays on the road for their next match and will travel to face the Rochester Rhinos on Friday at 7:05 p.m. Both teams drew 1-1 in their first matchup on June 7 at Orlando City Stadium.

Seb Hines Plays 1 Match After Re-injuring Knee

Less than one week after re-injuring his right knee in the 1-0 loss to Toronto FC II, center-back Seb Hines returned to the pitch. The Wetherby, England, native subbed into the game after halftime and played 45 minutes. He finished with a shot (one on goal) and a tackle and drew one foul.

Hines underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on his right knee on March 13 and has since tallied 350 minutes in six matches for OCB.

After the injury, first-team head coach Jason Kreis noted the re-injury was less serious than initially thought.

“Seb…ended up being a lot better than we thought he would be,” Kreis said after training on June 16. “He went down very, very awkwardly in that match. We had feared the worst that it would be another knee injury that would keep him out for an extended period of time. But upon evaluation, he actually feels quite good. And so we think we can continue to move forward with his rehabilitation process.”

Highlights

15′ | Massive clearance off the line from Zach Carroll. Clutch timing.

0-0 | #OTTvORL pic.twitter.com/mC8J8AczzR

— Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) June 20, 2017

NDR Notes

• Hines played in his first match since re-injuring his right knee in the first minute of a 1-0 loss to TFC II on June 14.
• OCB is on a two-game losing streak, dropping its past two games on the road to Canadian sides TFC II and Ottawa 1-0 in each match.

Scoring

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Ottawa Fury FC starting XI (4-2-3-1): Callum Irving (GK); Andrae Campbell, Shane McEleney, Kyle Venter, Jonathan Barden; Gerardo Bruna, Lance Rozeboom (C); Carl Haworth, Steevan Dos Santos, Jimmy Sanon; Tucker Hume

Orlando City B starting XI (4-4-1-1): Earl Edwards Jr. (GK); Zach Ellis-Hayden, Conor Donovan, Zach Carroll (C), Austin Martz; Pierre da Silva, Ryley Kraft, Jordan Schweitzer, Danny Deakin; Ben Polk, Michael Cox

Edits Log:

• 6/21/17, 12:15 a.m.: Corrected a logical error in “Match Recap” regarding Edwards Jr.’s final save.

For more on OCB as they try to claw out of their latest losing streak, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.