ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC has been a goal-scoring machine over its past two games.
After scoring only twice in their first three matches, the Lions scored four goals in a win over the New York Red Bulls and, most recently, exploded for three goals in the final 10 minutes of a 3-2 comeback win over the Portland Timbers.
Scoring goals–at opportune moments, at least–has obviously not been an issue, so far, for Orlando this season. Instead, it’s City’s defense that has faltered.
In each of the Lions’ first five games, they have conceded the first goal. They’re also tied for the most goals allowed in the East with 10 and are tied for second-most goals allowed in the whole league.
“Still lots of improvement to be made, from my point of view, on the defensive side of things,” Lions head coach Jason Kreis said after training Tuesday. “Not necessarily the defending in our final third.
“For me, it’s more the defending happening in the midfield third and what they’re doing in those areas to, again, control the match better so that we’re not dealing with so many transitions.”
City’s deficiency on the defensive end is not new to the club. Of the 20 teams that the Lions have competed against since their inaugural season in 2015, City rank No. 1 in goals allowed with 174. The second-highest total is Chicago Fire SC’s 163 goals allowed.
But 2018 is expected to be different. Kreis has not shied away from saying that this season’s roster is, “our group in our vision.”
That group, however, is not yet complete, as midfielder Oriol “Uri” Rosell has been sidelined during his entire time in Orlando, so far, with an injury. That’s expected to change, as Kreis said the Spaniard has been training in full for the past week-and-a-half and is in consideration to play against the Philadelphia Union on Friday.
For Kreis, Rosell is a player who can potentially achieve that desired control in the midfield, effectively helping the Lions’ defense as a whole.
“Could be really critical. Starting off in the diamond [formation], I think [Rosell] was really the missing piece, from my point of view,” Kreis said. “A very young player in Cam Lindley–I think he did a fantastic job of what he could, but it’s a big, big ask, that role, to play the No. 6 alone.
“And then Cristian [Higuita] played one game there, and I thought he did a pretty decent job, too. Probably wasn’t quite as clean on the ball as I would like that position to be, and Uri represents a total package for us in that position.”
As for the back line, team captain Jonathan Spector just made his return to the field against Portland after missing the New York game with concussion-like symptoms.
First-year Lion Lamine Sané and Spector started together for the first time this season against the Timbers, both playing the full 90 minutes.
“I think our decision-making, at times, is slightly off, but, overall, I think the picture is there,” goalkeeper Joe Bendik said after training. “And now we’ve got two positive results in the last two games.”
Said Bendik of Spector’s return: “Jon is a great player, a great defender. Is our captain, so I think that gave everybody a little bit of lift to see him back out there. But, like I said, the big picture and what we’re trying to do is there. We just need to execute a little bit better.”
The Lions return to action on Friday when they travel to face the Union for an 8 p.m. meeting and their second road game of 2018.
For more on the Lions, as they try to reduce their 2.0 goals allowed per game average, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.
