KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Orlando City had two goals ruled out but with 11 minutes remaining a moment of magic from their Portuguese captain to salvage a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Friday night.
Nani came up big, hitting a stunning back-heel in the late stages past the keeper, and sending him off with joy. Only for the referee to go to the Video Assistant Referee screen, after the Lions already had two goals disallowed. Luckily for OCSC this time the goal stood, salvaging a point.
“We were in the situation in the game where we needed to score and it was good to score like that because I didn’t have to do too much,” Nani said. “The ball just bounced to me and then I had just to do the movement, back heel, and it was good.”
That goal pulled back Gianluca Busio’s opener in the 45th minute. The ball was cut back to Busio after Daniel Salloi stole the ball from the keeper. That allowed Busio to take a touch and then send it past the keeper at the near post, surprising him by not shooting across goal.
Orlando should have opened the scoring in the first minute as Nani’s ball found Tesho Akindele running in on goal. His shot was well saved but rebounded for Benji Michel who somehow shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
A free-kick allowed Sporting Kansas City to get the ball in the back of the net. A backheel from the dead-ball allowed Walter to hit a shot that was deflected, which forced Pedro Gallese into the save. Nicolas Isimat-Mirin reacted the fastest and stabbed the ball home from the rebound, seemingly scoring his first MLS goal. But the replay was viewed by the referee confirming that Orlando held their defensive line well, seeing the goal chalked off for offside.
While undefeated, Orlando hasn’t won its first two matches but will be favored for its next match on Saturday against FC Cincinnati at Exploria Stadium.
Photo Courtesy Major League Soccer
Florida Soccer Report 
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