Orlando City B fit themselves into a playoff spot with nine games to go after a shutout of the Ottawa Fury.

(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Match Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City B extended their unbeaten streak to nine games, courtesy of a Hadji Barry brace and a Seb Hines header in their largest margin of victory in team history. The United Soccer League Lions haven’t lost a match since the last time they played the Ottawa Fury FC on June 20.

OCB (7-6-10, 31 points) defeated Ottawa (7-8-6, 27 points) 3-0 in front of an announced crowd of 1,004.

With the win, OCB have climbed up the table into a playoff spot with nine games remaining in the season. This home match was pivotal for OCB, as they haven’t won in front of their crowd since April 4 and were sitting neck and neck with Ottawa for a playoff spot. For head coach Anthony Pulis, the hard work is finally paying off.

“Biggest satisfaction for me is that the guys have been rewarded for all their hard work,” Pulis said after the match. “The performance levels have been really, really good, and they haven’t been rewarded with good results, and I’m just pleased for all the players. For the hard work that they’ve put in every single day.”

Barry completed his brace in the 71st minute with OCB already leading 2-0. The second-year Orlando City player found space on a breakaway but was tracked down by an Ottawa defender in the box. Barry turned his back to the goal to protect the ball, faced the post and shot it into the corner of the net. For Barry, all credit goes to his team.

“I just feel good getting out there scoring goals.” Barry said in the post-game press conference. “Credit goes to my teammates. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to be on this run I am ‘cause they’re the ones feeding me the ball, and I’m just finishing the puzzle.”

An early chance came for the visiting team in the ninth minute when Adonijah Reid sent a low cross into the box, finding Carl Haworth near the penalty spot by himself. His shot was saved by a sprawling Earl Edwards Jr. to keep the match scoreless.

Another early opportunity came in the 27th minute when OCB had a shot attempt deflected. The ball rolled back to Austin Martz, who rocketed it on frame from outside the box. Ottawa goalkeeper Callum Irving caught the shot cleanly as he dove to his left.

OCB’s first goal of the match came off a free kick won by Michael Cox on a jump ball. The ensuing free kick was a ground pass sent right past the wall and into the box to a streaking Barry. Barry’s shot barely deflected off the head of Hines and into the back of the net to open the scoring in the 34th minute. For Pulis, he and his staff are consistently coming up with new set-piece ideas.

“We spend an awful lot of time, myself and [assistant coach] Rob [Valentino], as a staff, trying to come up with set pieces—set plays, whichever you want to call it,” Pulis said. “Depending on how the opposition are gonna set up, just trying to come up with new ideas, really. And we’ve worked on numerous, numerous set pieces in the last 18 months. Not many have come off, and then when you see one come off like that tonight—really, really satisfying.”

Edwards Jr. had his hands full all night, notching five saves in the first half, nine on the night. It was in the 53rd minute when he became a hero, though. A shot from inside of the box was blocked by a sliding Fernando Timbó, whose arms were away from his body as he dove in. The ball ricocheted off the underside of his shoulder. Timbó was shown a yellow, and Ottawa midfielder Gerardo Bruna lined up to take the penalty. Bruna’s shot, sent low and to the left, was saved by Edwards Jr. to keep OCB ahead.

Seven minutes later, team captain Lewis Neal sent a ball into the box to Barry, who dribbled through a defender’s legs, ran around him and passed the ball into the right side of the net to extend his scoring streak to three games. Pulis is just glad Barry is doing his job.

“We talk about roles and responsibilities and people doing their job. Hadji’s job, as a striker, is to score goals.” Pulis said. “So, he’s done his job. Are there areas of his game that he needs to improve on? Yes, 100 percent… But he’s done his job. He scored goals, he’s taken his chances.”

This is OCB’s fourth clean sheet in the past five games.

Man of the Match: Hadji Barry

In the 72 minutes Barry was on the field, he recorded two goals and an assist. Barry also completed 80 percent of his 20 passes. In his past three games, the University of Central Florida product has recorded four goals and an assist.

What’s Next?

Orlando City B will travel to North Carolina to face the leaders of the Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Independence, on Saturday.

Video Assistant Referee Not Utilized During Pivotal Hand Ball

Edwards Jr.’s nine saves on the night were all impressive, but one sticks out as a game-changer. His penalty save in the 54th minute was a pivotal moment in the match, as it kept Ottawa from equalizing. Pulis, however, didn’t think the penalty should have even taken place.

“Well, that was a turning point in the game, in my opinion. First and foremost, I’ll be honest, I’m really disappointed in the [video-assistant referee] system tonight,” Pulis said. “I think everybody that was in the stadium saw the replay on the screen, and it was quite clearly not a hand ball. It hits him underneath his arm.”

The USL has been used as a testing site for Major League Soccer’s implementation of V.A.R. throughout this season and has been utilized in select games. Pulis was disappointed by the head referee’s decision to not utilize that tool.

“The fact that we have that system in place and the referee doesn’t go over to check was hugely disappointing.” Pulis said. “Thankfully, Earl’s come up big and has kept us in the game. That was the game-changer.”

Michael Cox’s, Seb Hines’ Physicality Make Impact Against Ottawa

Coming into the Ottawa match, the main concern for OCB was defending the long ball. The physical presences of Hines on defense and Cox on the attacking side seemed to make a difference. Cox showed his physicality on a jump ball by winning a free kick in the 33rd minute that led to the first goal. For Pulis, it was the return of last year’s Cox.

“That was the old Michael Cox tonight. I think the Cox that we saw last year, which we’ve been craving to see this year.” Pulis said after the match. “I said that to him when he came off that that is the level, that’s the standard we expect from him. Because if he plays like that every game…the boy can play, he’s got everything.”

The free kick that Cox won resulted in a goal but not before it touched the head of the other physical presence on OCB, Hines. For Edwards Jr., Hines has been a consistent presence for the defensive side in this unbeaten run.

“I think the one consistency in the back-line for these past nine games is probably Seb Hines,” Edwards Jr. said. “Being an MLS guy, coming down and playing USL games, I think he’s doing everything people would expect him to do and more. To get on the end of one today and help us get a shutout, I think he’s been a huge part in our nine-game unbeaten streak.”

Highlights

10′ | No sir! The Land Lord, Earl Edwards, at it again with some classic save work! 0-0 | #ORLvOTT pic.twitter.com/15a3cg2NIj — Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 16, 2017

13′ | Michael Cox trying a curler from the corner of the box! The effort landed on the top of the net. 0-0 | #ORLvOTT pic.twitter.com/pDPRZLleYE — Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 16, 2017

19′ | The Land Lord hitting the deck to protect a low shot on the near post! Good stop. 0-0 | #ORLvOTT pic.twitter.com/y16DGIhdtU — Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 16, 2017

27′ | Austin Martz absolutely belts one on goal. Ottawa with a nice stop. 0-0 | #ORLvOTT pic.twitter.com/dTsGRZjsU5 — Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 17, 2017

34′ | GOOOOAAALLLL! Seb Hines deflects one in off his noggin. The assist from Hadji! 1-0 | #ORLvOTT pic.twitter.com/NH7zipIoS3 — Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 17, 2017

The goal that has the boys up after 45. #ORLvOTT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/YqZIwO179R — Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 17, 2017

54′ | Ball don’t lie! Ottawa given a PK for an apparent handball and @earljrucla just ain’t having it! 1-0 | #ORLvOTT pic.twitter.com/e8alGsST53 — Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 17, 2017

60′ | GOAL! OH MY! Hadji Barry take a bow! 2-0 | #ORLvOTT pic.twitter.com/u7sao8fVaE — Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 17, 2017

71′ | MAKE IT THREE FOR #OCB! Hadji having his way out there! Some great work from Michael Cox as well! 3-0 | #ORLvOTT pic.twitter.com/n6gP0aXMJF — Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 17, 2017

When you’re on your game, you’re on your game. 👏 #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/poO79nE0VB — Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 17, 2017

NDR Notes

OCB recorded their first win at home since April 4 against Toronto FC II.

Barry’s scoring streak is now at three games. He has four goals in that span.

OCB now sit at the bottom of the playoff table with nine games remaining.

The win over Ottawa was OCB’s fourth clean sheet in five games.

Scoring

Time Team Goal-scorer Assisted by 34’ Orlando City B Seb Hines Hadji Barry 60’ Orlando City B Hadji Barry Lewis Neal 71’ Orlando City B Hadji Barry n/a

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal Possession % Orlando City B 3 1 10 5 51% Ottawa Fury FC 0 0 20 8 49%

Orlando City B Starting XI (4-4-2): Earl Edwards Jr. (GK); Austin Martz, Seb Hines, Fernando Timbó, Zachary Ellis-Hayden; Lewis Neal (C), Tony Rocha, Pierre da Silva, Jordan Schweitzer; Michael Cox, Hadji Barry

Ottawa Fury FC Starting XI (3-4-3): Callum Irving (GK); Jonathan Barden, Ramón Del Campo, Wandrille Lefevre; Andrae Campbell, Sergio Manesio, Jamar Dixon, Gerardo Bruna; Adonijah Reid, Nicholas DePuy, Carl Haworth (C)

For more on OCB, as they continue to solidify a playoff spot, follow Tommy Cardinal on Twitter at @NDR_TomCardinal.