Orlando City got its first home win of the 2019 season, defeating the Colorado Rapids 4-3 at Orlando City Stadium. Here are three takeaways from the match:
Defensive lapses
The Lions are still leaking goals at an alarming rate, particularly when in a four-back formation.
The Lions were down inside of 10 minutes after Kei Kamara opened the scoring. The ball fell to him after centerback Lamine Sané missed trying to head the ball away. The ball then bounced off centerback Robin Jansson and to Kamara.
Colorado’s Cole Bassett was left alone twice in the second half, and twice he made the Lions pay. The first time he sent in a cross for an unmarked Nicolás Mezquida, who scored off a header. The second time, he faked out Jansson and sent a left-footed curler into the back of the net.
Orlando City went to a four-back formation when Carlos Ascues – who was playing centerback in Saturday’s match – came off in the 30th minute with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Uri Rosell came on and the Lions were sharp in the attack for the remainder of the half.
“The game plan as regards to [defense] then has to change,” O’Connor said about switching things up after Ascues’ injury.
“We spoke a halftime about what they were trying to do – they overload centrally – and making sure that we understood how to manage that. I think there’s a couple of instances where maybe our decision-making is poor a little bit higher up the field and then we get really punished because we dragged around the field.
“You don’t want to be conceding three goals. As exciting and entertaining as it is for everybody to win, it is, it’s great, we don’t want to be having that every week. I certainly don’t.”
A few players have said the Lions are at their best when they’re playing with three centerbacks. O’Connor said when he was playing out scenarios in his head, he felt the way the game was going, it made sense to go to the back four.
He also mentioned the lengthy weather delay taking some of the Lions’ momentum.
“If it’s a back four, if it’s a back three, it’s understanding where the space is and making sure we deny it,” O’Connor said.
“But there’s certainly a link, looking at next week there are some big decisions that are going to have to be made around that. I think our understanding of defensive principles needs to be better. Whether it’s a back three or a back four, we’ve got experienced players, so we just need to make better decisions.”
Ruan’s impact
The first half of the match pretty much belonged to Brazilian right wingback Ruan. Both of Orlando City’s goals over the first 45 minutes came thanks to Ruan’s pace and ability with the ball.
He nutmegged Colorado left back Dillon Serna (who was subbed off to start the second half) before sending in a cross that went through the six-yard box and eventually made its way to João Moutinho. Forward Tesho Akindele probably should have connected with that cross for a score, but the Lions ended up scoring anyway.
Orlando City’s second goal only happened because Ruan pushed the ball forward on the counter-attack. His cross to Sebas Méndez was deflected to Dwyer, which led to the sequence for goal No. 2.
Ruan also had three tackles, two interceptions and eight recoveries and was fouled four times. He wasn’t as effective in the second half after the Rapids made a change, but he still forced a hand ball in the penalty area, which led to the match-winning penalty kick.
“I think he started to fatigue, as well, as the game went on, so we were a little concerned with that,” O’Connor said. “Obviously, he’s pushing so high, it’s making that there’s somebody who can cover that space.”
Since coming on against the Chicago Fire, Ruan has shown an ability to take on players one-on-one and his speed is undeniable.
Akindele’s return
Tesho Akindele played in his first match since suffering a hamstring injury against the Chicago Fire on March 9 and made an immediate impact. His skill around the penalty area – particularly his awareness of where to be when the ball isn’t at his feet – is something that O’Connor said this team needed last season.
Akindele created a team-high four chances, scored a goal, completed 80.5 percent of his passes and, aside from missing on a cross from Ruan, in the six-yard box, put together a solid performance in his return.
It’s worth noting he contributed on defense, too. He had three tackles, an interception and four recoveries.