Behind 87th- and 90th-minute goals by Jamie Watson and Dom Dwyer, Orlando City defeated Taurean Manders and his Antigua Barracuda FC teammates 2-0 at the Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
Orlando controlled possession early on, with the team adjusting to a lineup that featured 10 different starters from Friday night’s 2-0 win over the visiting Phoenix FC. Players including defenders Justin Clark and Brian Fekete, along with former Orlando City Under 23’s defensive stalwart Oumar Diakhite, made their first starts of the 2013 season, getting valuable minutes under their belts.
Manders who started the match only played 31 minutes before being substituted.
Early chances by midfielders Adama Mbengue and Ian Fuller loosened up the Antigua backline toward the middle of the first half, with Orlando gaining more chances as the match went on. Mbengue and Fuller both had attempts ring off the right-hand post, coming dangerously close to the back of the net. The chances continued to mount for Orlando, but despite the increased pressure the game remained scoreless at halftime.
League-leading scorer Dom Dwyer, Long Tan and Jamie Watson came in after the break to give the Lions a spark up front, looking to get by the Antigua backline. After chipping away and earning continued chances, Orlando finally got their chance with three minutes left to play in regulation.
Former Portland Timbers midfielder Freddie Braun was making a turn in the penalty area in the 86th minute, only for Barracuda defender George Dublin to trip Braun, earning Orlando a penalty kick. Watson converted in the bottom-left corner past Goalkeeper Molvin James, putting the Lions up 1-0. The penalty conversion marked the second straight game in which Watson converted an attempt and his seventh goal of the season.
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