BAY LAKE – Orlando City SC is just two wins away from a CONCACAF Champions League Berth. The team managed a 5-4 penalty shoot out win over Los Angeles FC after their 1-1 draw in the MLS is Back quarterfinal on Friday night.
The Lions were perfect from the penalty spot in the shootout which proved the vital difference. Jordan Harvey only hit the woodwork on LAFC’s final kick. That allowed Nani to step up and bury the last shot sending Orlando to the semifinal and continued LA’s inability to win a shootout.
It was looking like the local team was going home with Orlando down 1-0 as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, but Joao Moutinho found the equalizer. The goal came off a Nani corner with Moutinho leaping to head it home to send the match to penalties.
On the hour mark, Los Angeles opened the scoring. Diego Rossi stole possession and was then able to cut it back to Bradley Wright-Phillips who scored with a simple tap-in.
“I want to say that we are very proud of the group of players who have done an excellent job today and stayed in the game. That needed a lot of heart and desire and determination and I think they accomplished that in those 90-plus minutes. The game rewarded them because they were the best team on the field. They were patient in the difficult moments and I want to highlight that, that’s the heart of the team and the Club.”
Nani could have started things three minutes before that goal when Nani stepped up to hit a penalty. Diego Palacios fouled Ruan, but Kenneth Vermeer saved Nani’s penalty.
Wright-Phillips thought he’d scored in the 31st minute when he put the ball in the back of the net. Unfortunately for the black and gold, it was disallowed on a video review as Brian Rodriguez was offside in the build-up.
For the first time since its USL era, Orlando City SC is through to a semifinal which will be held on Thursday.
(Photo courtesy: Devin L’Amoreaux and Matthew Stith)
Florida Soccer Report 
2 thoughts on “Orlando City Downs LAFC on Penalties”