• Final stats

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC played with 10 men for most of the night but saw smoke pour out of the supporters section after a stoppage-time equalizer salvaged a draw for the Lions on opening night.

Orlando City (0-0-1, 1 point) tied D.C. United (0-0-1, 1 point) 1-1 in front of a sold-out crowd of 25,527 at Orlando City Stadium Saturday night to open the 2018 season.

The vision of Justin Meram and the hustle from Jonathan Spector made the 92nd-minute equalizer possible. Meram, who was the engine of the midfield all night, sent a ball past three United defenders into the box to a sprinting Spector, who sent it first-time to Stéfano Pinho. Pinho was in perfect position to tap it home for his first-ever Major League Soccer goal.

“I dream about that, about this moment,” Pinho said after the match. “I’m so happy to score at Orlando. I saw the fans go crazy.”

Playing with 10 men for more than 50 minutes, hustle was the key to City’s unlikely comeback. Spector, a center back, sprinting into the box to get an assist in stoppage time was one such example.

Another was after a free kick for City about 10 yards outside of the top of United’s box. Yoshimar Yotún’s free kick did not produce anything for City, and D.C. countered with a long ball sent in front of Darren Mattocks in the 79th minute. Mattocks had nothing but Joe Bendik and open field in front of him when he was chased down by a sprinting Mohamed El-Munir, who slid in to block Mattocks’ inside-the-box shot.

“Mohamed, I think, in particular—when you look at the play where he had to sprint back 60, 70 yards to make a defensive stop on a striker—that, for me, was a game-changer.” Kreis said after the draw.

City played most of the game handicapped courtesy of a video-assistant referee’s decision in the 41st minute. A jump ball between Victor “PC” Giro and Yamil Asad resulted in both men sprawled on the ground and a yellow card issued to PC. The second-year Lion was then issued a red for elbowing Asad.

“On the second [review], it was a really odd situation where I think my player is fouled first,” Kreis said. “I think he was pushed from the back going up on an aerial challenge. Once he gets pushed from the back, he’s just fighting to try and get his balance back, and, sure, an arm was flailing, and it hit the opponent’s head.

“But, again, interesting decision because the referee deliberates over it for a while, shows a yellow card, and then we’ve gotta deliberate some more to look at video review. So, something about that process seemed a little bit off to me.”

PC’s red card wasn’t the only time the VAR made an appearance, though. United was also granted a penalty kick after the fact when a hand ball was issued to Will Johnson after video review of a cross sent in from Mattocks ricocheted off Johnson’s hand in the 16th minute.

Lining up to take the penalty was Mattocks, who sent it high and to the right. Bendik guessed correctly and touched it just enough to ricochet off the bottom of the crossbar and bounce near the line. Spector, then, dove in head-first to clear the ball out of bounds.

“Incredible save. One of the most underrated goalkeepers in this league, I would think,” Meram said after the match. “He doesn’t get enough credit, and, tonight, he showed why he’s so good. And a great guy off the field and in the locker room. I’m proud of that performance he had. He kept us in it tonight.”

After the penalty-kick drama but before the red card, United found the back of the net. D.C. scored off a free kick in the 32nd minute after rookie Cam Lindley was given a yellow card on his first foul of the night. Asad took the free kick from the left wing, which, after bouncing past defenders in a crowded box, found the back of the net.

Rookie forward Chris Mueller was given an opportunity to score in his MLS debut and tie the game in the 51st minute when Meram, who dribbled to the top of the box, found Mueller open on the right side. Mueller’s shot was just wide right.

The Lions had another chance to tie the game when a cross from Meram was sent from one side of the box, over the goalkeeper, and landed at the feet of Yotún. A first-time touch from inside the box by Yotún got past the keeper but was cleared off the line by United defender Frédéric Brillant in the 57th minute.

Even though the Lions played most of the game down a man, they had more possession on the night by controlling the ball 59 percent of the match.

“We out-possessed D.C. United on a night where we were down a man for 60 minutes,” Kreis said. “So, I think that says something, but I do believe there’s still lots of room for improvement, obviously.”

Who’s Next?

Orlando City will now prepare to face Minnesota United FC and former City coach Adrian Heath March 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Orlando City Stadium.

For more on the Lions, as they prepare to welcome their former coach back to Orlando, follow Tommy Cardinal on Twitter at @NDR_TomCardinal.