Scott Sutter Silences Seattle with Stoppage-time Equalizer in Draw

Orlando City SC gets off to a good start to begin the Lions' three-game road trip. City will next play the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

By
Victor Tan
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Orlando City SC right-back Scott Sutter dribbles the ball during a 2-0 win over D.C. United at Orlando City Stadium on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. (Photo by Carlos Romero / The Mane Land)
(Photo by Carlos Romero / The Mane Land)

Match Recap

Orlando City SC began a stretch of three games in the span of nine days on Wednesday. The Lions’ first result ended with one point, as City (7-5-5, 26 points) drew 1-1 with the Seattle Sounders (5-7-5, 20 points) at CenturyLink Field. Orlando’s second-consecutive draw came courtesy of its second-consecutive, stoppage-time, equalizing header—this time, it came off the head of right-back Scott Sutter.

Trailing 1-0 in the 94th minute, left-back Victor “PC” Giro made a run down the left flank that forced Seattle to foul him just outside the left part of the Sounders’ box. That set up team captain Ricardo Kaká to tally his third assist, his second in the past two games, on a set-piece delivery into Seattle’s box to Sutter.

City attempted to open the match’s scoring early with an early Carlos Rivas run into Seattle’s final third. In the fifth minute, Kaká expertly slid a ball into the gap down the middle-right flank into Sounders territory where Rivas then unloaded a low, right-footed shot from the corner of the six-yard box. Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei dropped to a split, allowing his right foot to deflect Rivas’ attempt.

It was the Sounders, though, who would ultimately get the first laugh. In the 18th minute, Nicolás Lodeiro sent in a pass over center-back Tommy Redding that also beat other center-back Jonathan Spector to Will Bruin. Bruin let the ball bounce and roll to his right where he then unleashed a near-post, goal-scoring effort past Lions goalkeeper Joe Bendik.

Seattle pressed hard to double its lead with dangerously threatening chances in the 32nd and 59th minutes. In the former moment, Lodeiro sent a corner kick into the middle of City’s six-yard box where Román Torres’ touch forced a slow effort toward goal, giving left-back Donny Toia enough time to clear it off the line. Bendik scrambled to keep the 1-0 deficit in the 59th minute, staving off a point-blank shot by Clint Dempsey. Bendik then crawled to the rebound, challenging Osvaldo Alonso’s ricocheted effort before gathering the ball on another rebound.

Rivas nearly equalized in the 60th minute off a low, near cross by Sutter. The Colombian’s subtle, left-footed touch pin-balled off Frei before being cleared for a Seattle counterattack. In the 62nd minute, Dempsey returned the favor with an on-target shot of his own. Lodeiro chipped the ball over Redding, leading Dempsey toward the left part of City’s box for a left-footed strike. Bendik dropped to his left to keep the one-goal deficit.

Man of the Match: Victor “PC” Giro

Though he played just five minutes, PC provided the energy and pace City needed in the waning minutes of a then-one-goal game. He drew three fouls in his limited time, entering into a three-way tie for team-high most fouls drawn with Cristian Higuita and Spector.

What’s next?

The Lions will stay on the road and take on the Chicago Fire on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Both teams drew in a scoreless bout at Orlando City Stadium on June 4.

Highlights

NDR Notes

  • Sutter scored his first Orlando City goal in the draw with Seattle.
  • Kaká recorded his second assist in two games. He has three on the season so far.
  • In his third game back since returning from injury, Kaká played in his second-consecutive, 90-minute match. He has played three full games this season.
  • Will Johnson came off the bench for the first time this season. He has so far started 15 of his 16 appearances, recording three assists and a goal in 1,345 minutes.

Scoring

Time Team Goal-scorer Assisted by
19’ Seattle Sounders FC Will Bruin n/a
94’ Orlando City SC Scott Sutter Ricardo Kaká

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal Possession %
Seattle Sounders FC 1 0 13 6 52.8%
Orlando City SC 1 1 10 6 47.2%

Seattle Sounders starting XI (4-4-1-1): Stefan Frei (GK); Nouhou Tolo, Chad Marshall, Román Torres, Cristian Roldan; Jordan Morris, Gustav Svensson, Osvaldo Alonso (C), Nicolás Lodeiro; Clint Dempsey; Will Bruin

Orlando City SC starting XI (4-4-2): Joe Bendik (GK); Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter; Ricardo Kaká (C), Antonio Nocerino, Cristian Higuita, Matías Pérez García; Carlos Rivas, Giles Barnes

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