BAY LAKE – Orlando City SC has qualified for its first final since the 2013 USL Pro Championship following a 2-1 win over Minnesota United on Thursday night. Nani was the star, scoring two goals in six minutes to win the match.
Orlando opened the scoring in the 36th minute thanks to a long ball from Robin Jansson. It was a perfect ball from Jansson for Nani who was left with a simple finish to put Orlando in charge.
Nani scored his, and his team’s, second two minutes before halftime, just outside the box he took a touch to create space and hit a perfectly curled strike to double the lead.
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With seven minutes to play Minnesota got back into the match, Kevin Molino’s through ball set up the chance. Molino found Mason Toye, who timed his run perfectly allowing him to finish efficiently past the keeper.
That chance ended in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Orlando took advantage of the Loons being forward to find the equalizer. A quick counter finished when Benji Michel rounded the keeper and passed the ball into the back of the net.
After an almost 90-minute weather delay kickoff finally came just before 9:30 p.m. and both sides started slowly. That was probably more due to the importance of the match than the delay messing with preparations.
The Lions had a quality first chance in the 15th minute. Nani found Ruan who was able to cross for Tesho Akindele who shot wide.
Minnesota made three changes just before the hour mark, after doing little to threaten the Orlando defense to that point in the first half. Two of those subs combined for the Loons’ lone goal.
In the 75th minute, Minnesota United could have got on the board. A free-kick from Raheem Edwards seemed destined for the top corner only for Pedro Gallese to get to it and make the save.
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Minnesota pushed for the last five minutes and stoppage time, but all the huffing and puffing didn’t count.
It was the first win for the Lions over the Loons in club history. The final will pit Orlando against the Portland Timbers for the MLS is Back Championship on Tuesday night.
(Photo courtesy: Jared Martinez, Matthew Stith, Devin L’Amoreaux)
Florida Soccer Report 