Orlando City SC responded to its first loss of the season with a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls.

Match Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC head coach Jason Kreis said during the week that his team’s match against the New York Red Bulls was an opportunity for his team to respond to failure. After losing 2-0 to Columbus Crew SC on April 1, the Lions (3-1-0, 9 points) defeated the New York Red Bulls (2-3-1, 7 points) 1-0 off midfielder Servando Carrasco’s lone goal at Orlando City Stadium in front of a crowd of 25,527.

“I think the mood [during this week of training] was that we needed to prove something. We needed to rebound,” Carrasco said after the match. “I think we want to be a team that is able to bounce back after a defeat. Because if you become a team who can’t rebound after a tough defeat, then the playoffs are gonna be pretty hard to get to. I think the main thing for us was to feel a sense of confidence, to feel a sense of we have something to prove, and I think we did that for sure.”

Team captain Will Johnson’s corner kick from the left side found Carrasco’s head in the 34th minute for the lone goal of the match. Carrasco, who has started City’s first three matches this season, only entered the game after starting midfielder Antonio Nocerino went down with an injury in the 17th minute.

“Servando is a player that has worked extremely hard in the offseason, in the preseason,” Kreis said after the match. “He proved to us that he was the fittest player on the team, and he’s continued every single day to bring a workman-like attitude to things. He gives his team and this club and these fans his heart and soul.

“So, I’m absolutely ecstatic that he scores the goal that wins the game for us.”

City nearly doubled its lead in the 67th minute when forward Cyle Larin found himself in a clear one-on-one situation with Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles. Larin’s shot went low and right, but a diving, stretched-out Robles made the save to keep it 1-0.

New York nearly struck first in the 12th minute when Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips’ shot bounced under City goalkeeper Joe Bendik. With Bendik on the ground, center-back Jonathan Spector slid into his own net for the clearance.

“I won’t say exactly what was going through my head, but, ‘Just get rid of it,'” Spector said after the match. “I think Joe got a touch on it, made a really good save, and, fortunately, I was in the right position to clear the ball.”

Man of the Match: Servando Carrasco

Carrasco scored his first goal for Orlando City and his first goal since 2013. This was also just his second-career goal. The San Diego, California, native finished with one shot (one on-goal), three tackles and completed 82.6 percent of his 23 passes.

What’s next?

Orlando City will host the Los Angeles Galaxy in front of a sold-out crowd on April 15 at 3 p.m.

Antonio Nocerino Sustains Mild Calf Strain

In the 17th minute, Nocerino sustained a mild calf strain that put Carrasco into the match. For Kreis, Nocerino’s initial response was still cause for concern for the second-year City head coach.

“Disappointing. Calf injury. You know, we’re a long way from knowing what the severity of it was, but one would think it has to be pretty serious for him to pull up the way he did and really not even be able to give it a second effort,” Kreis said. “So, very, very disappointing to have an injury on such an important player.”

This is just another injury for Orlando City in a season and preseason that’s been marred with lower-body injuries. Outside-backs Rafael Ramos and Tony Rocha are only now returning to fitness after sustaining hamstring injuries during the preseason. Back-up right-back Kevin Alston has been playing with Orlando City B after nursing an injury from the preseason.

Furthermore, midfielder Ricardo Kaká also suffered a hamstring injury in the season-opening match against New York City FC. Center-back José Aja also got injured in the loss to Columbus.

Scott Sutter Starts at Right-back

City right-back Scott Sutter made his first start for Orlando City. In the loss to Columbus, Sutter made his debut for the Central Florida squad as a substitute. Sutter starting on the outside allowed Johnson move to his native midfielder position.

For Kreis, making the decision was a matter of Sutter’s performance in training since he first arrived, not just during the week leading up to the Red Bulls match.

“Yeah, I don’t think it’s so much what’s happening during the week. He’s been with us a couple of weeks, so it’s happened over a couple of weeks,” Kreis said. “It’s also what we scouted and what we know about Scott. He’s a very capable player. This atmosphere and this match wasn’t gonna be a big thing for him. He’s been there and done that. So, didn’t have any hesitation to put him in the starting lineup.

“It was great that he got 20 minutes last week to kinda get a little taste of MLS, and I thought he had a strong performance tonight.”

Highlights

12′ | Joe gets a piece of a chip from BWP on the break and Specs cleans up the rest of the threat. Big time hustle. 0-0 | #ORLvNY pic.twitter.com/syQtQtPNbo — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) April 9, 2017

21′ | Carrasco finds Sutter alone on the wing and takes a crack. Just over. Robles had a hint of worry in him. 0-0 | #ORLvNY pic.twitter.com/2kNharIKiE — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) April 9, 2017

24′ | City finding opportunities. This time MPG curls one just outside of the post. Best chance from either team thus far. 0-0 | #ORLvNY pic.twitter.com/j5oIJEkQyq — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) April 9, 2017

43′ | Sutter really trying for one in his first start for City. 1-0 | #ORLvNY pic.twitter.com/y5WQMr2Uzg — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) April 9, 2017

51′ | Rocket whips one in on the left for his strike partner, Cyle, but the header flashes just wide. 1-0 | #ORLvNY pic.twitter.com/kXIKJN5lFQ — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) April 9, 2017

67′ | Cyle with a world of space but Luis Robles finds a way to make a stop… 1-0 | #ORLvNY pic.twitter.com/08DaNDi1Og — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) April 9, 2017

NDR Notes

Carrasco scored his first goal for Orlando City, just his second career goal. His first goal was with the Seattle Sounders in 2013.

Sutter made his first start for Orlando City against New York. That moved Johnson back to his native midfielder position. Sutter’s City debut came against Columbus on April 1.

Higuita made his first start of the season.

This is Orlando City’s second shutout of the season. The Lions’ first shutout came against the other New York team, New York City FC. That result also ended 1-0.

In three matches at home, City has allowed only one goal. That came in a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union.

Scoring

Time Team Goal-scorer Assisted by 34’ Orlando City SC Servando Carrasco Will Johnson

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal Possession % Orlando City SC 1 1 12 3 38.8% New York Red Bulls 0 0 12 4 61.3%

Orlando City SC starting XI (4-1-2-1-2): Joe Bendik (GK); Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter; Antonio Nocerino; Will Johnson, Cristian Higuita; Matías Pérez García; Carlos Rivas, Cyle Larin

New York Red Bulls starting XI (4-2-2-2): Luis Robles (GK); Kemar Lawrence, Aaron Long, Aurélien Collin, Sal Zizzo; Tyler Adams, Felipe Campanholi Martins; Sacha Kljestan (C), Daniel Royer; Bradley Wright-Phillips, Derrick Etienne