Orlando City SC hadn't won at home since defeating last-place D.C. United in late May. That changed when the Lions scored a club record six goals in a drubbing of the New England Revolution.

(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Match Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. – A home win had evaded Orlando City SC for some time. In fact, since a 2-0 win over last-place D.C. United on May 31, the Lions have not earned three points at home. That changed in a mid-week matchup between the Lions (10-13-8, 38 points) and the New England Revolution (11-15-5, 38 points), as City drubbed a 10-man New England side 6-1 at Orlando City Stadium.

“I think we’ve proven that we’re a capable team. I think we’ve proven that when the guys are fully committed and work really hard together, we can be a very good team,” City head coach Jason Kreis said after the record-setting win. “That’s the way it’s been all year, from my point of view. When we’ve been putting forth our best, when the players give everything they have is when we get the good results. And when we don’t, we don’t.”

Scoring came fast and early for the Lions, who, going into Wednesday’s matchup with New England, had scored the third-fewest goals in all of Major League Soccer. City jumped out to an early 2-0 lead behind unlikely goals from midfielder Antonio Nocerino, who had not scored in 49 appearances and 44 starts, and center-back Seb Hines, who was making just his third appearance and second start of 2017 for the first team.

In the 22nd minute, City took advantage of an early one-man advantage, as New England’s Xavier Kouassi was administered a straight red card after video review in the 11th minute. On Yoshimar Yotún’s free-kick delivery from near the top-right part of New England’s box, Nocerino darted to the earliest point of contact and misdirected the ball to the far post for his first-ever Orlando City goal. New England goalkeeper Cody Cropper managed to get his body on it, but it bounced in anyway.

“Yeah, I am happy, but before I’m happy for game,” Nocerino said after the win. “Because the team is play incredible soccer, with the ball, without the ball, and I’m happy because the fans—is win for fans, for everyone, because tonight is very important three point, especially because it is play in the home, and I’m happy, first, for game, after for score.”

Said Kreis on the early ejection: “I think any time you have an early ejection to your opponent, the first thing that’s in your mind is, ‘Will the referee be looking to even the score a little bit? Will he be influenced to try to level a little bit, especially with the decision that he wasn’t quite sure about.’ And so I felt, in that instance, as soon as one of our center-backs got a yellow card, we were making [a] decision he was coming out at half. Then the other one got a yellow card, and we’re sitting there going, ‘Okay, maybe we need to wait a little bit.

“But, obviously, it’s an uncomfortable position ‘cause you feel like things could be level pretty quickly on you if you’re not very careful and very smart.”

Just 10 minutes after Nocerino’s opening goal, Hines made his mark on the match in familiar Hines fashion. On a corner-kick delivery by Yotún, again, Hines elevated near the penalty spot for a header that evaded Cropper’s outstretched body. That was Yotún’s second assist of the match, third of the season for the Lions.

Team captain Ricardo Kaká capped a three-goal first half with an upper-90 strike in the 43rd minute. First-year MLS Lion Dom Dwyer broke into the attack with the Brazilian flanking him to his left. Dwyer then laid it off to Kaká, who drove to the top of the box and gave City a 3-0 lead. This was the captain’s first start since playing a full game in the 4-0 loss to the Revolution on Sept. 2. He played 13 minutes in the 2-0 win over D.C. on Sept. 9.

“You know, I honestly feel that every time Ricky plays, he wants to make a statement,” Kreis said. “I feel like every—he’s a committed professional. He’s a top-level player, world-class player, and he’s a world-class person. So, I had no doubts about inserting him back into the lineup and any doubts about what I thought he could give us tonight. I think his effort, first and foremost, was fantastic, and, obviously, he can make special plays, and he made two very special plays tonight.”

Kaká further extended City’s lead in the 77th minute with his first brace of the season. The 35-year-old first led an open Dwyer down the middle-right part of New England’s box, but Cropper came off his line to make the sliding save. Kaká, however, was there for the rebound and smacked it in the back of the net.

Dwyer eventually got his name in the score sheet, scoring in the 84th minute. Yotún added to his two-assist performance with a goal just before stoppage time to make it 6-1.

Lee Nguyen scored New England’s lone goal of the game in the waning seconds of the first half, scoring off a free kick that escaped the outstretched arm of Joe Bendik in first-half stoppage time.

Man of the Match: MF Yoshimar Yotún

Yotún was instrumental in the Lions taking advantage of being up a player for a little more than 80 minutes. He assisted on the first two goals of the night, helping Nocerino score his first Orlando City goal and assisting on Hines’ first goal of 2017. The Peruvian took one shot (one on target), crated a game-high six chances, completed 84.2 percent of his passes, recorded a tackle and drew a game-high four fouls.

“[Yotún’s] absolutely fantastic with dead-ball service,” Kreis said. “You know, we saw tonight—he had two assists on those but could’ve had probably, I think, two more. So he’s a fantastic server of the dead ball. He’s a fantastic central-midfield player that has a great vision for things and sees some passes that others don’t.

“So really, really pleased for him as well because I thought [in a 3-0 loss to the Portland Timbers], he struggled a little bit in that game and gave the ball away a whole lot more than he’s used to, so it was nice to see him really rebound tonight.”

What’s next?

The Lions conclude a stretch of three games in eight days when they host FC Dallas on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Antonio Nocerino, Seb Hines Score 1st Goals

Nocerino and Hines celebrated season-firsts in the win over New England Wednesday evening. After 50 games and 45 starts in two seasons with the Lions, Nocerino finally scored his first Orlando City goal. For the 32-year-old Italian, he wouldn’t have wanted to score his first City goal anywhere else.

“The first goal, it’s important, especially in the home, you know?” Nocerino said. “When you score in this atmosphere, it’s incredible. I’m happy because is score in the home and no in the—maybe in Atlanta, no? Because it’s incredible atmosphere here, and my first score, I’m—it’s important because I score in my home.”

As for Hines, he’s endured an arduous season rife with injury and second-team action. While he’s embraced his role as a leader with Orlando City B, establishing himself as a fixture in Anthony Pulis’ side, Hines has enjoyed being back with the first-team Lions. City’s win over New England was Hines’ third appearance and second start for the club’s MLS side. He scored his first goal off a corner-kick delivery by Yotún in the 32nd minute.

“Yeah, I mean, at the start of preseason, I was feeling fat, and then, obviously, the injury with my knee where I had to have the operation, which put me behind,” Hines said after the win. “And then it was important for me to get games with OCB and get that confidence back, and now I’m feeling fully fit, and I was just biding my time, waiting to get the call to get a game in.

“Later on, I’ve played a couple games, and I’ve been pleased to be out there in front of our fans. Obviously, the first game in front of our fans in the new stadium. It was a great experience for me.”

Highlights

17′ | Kaká! Cropper with a great save to deny the Skipper. 0-0 | #ORLvNE pic.twitter.com/Hjzu4WaU4B — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 27, 2017

The Italian’s first goal has him on another planet of emotion right now. #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/Uz0d2SDyAU — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 28, 2017

You never forget your first! Go on, Noce! #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/ZwIHNa1wd4 — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 28, 2017

29′: YELLOW. Scott Caldwell is booked. This ref and his cards right now…#ORLvNE #MLS pic.twitter.com/nCxwl3TYkN — New Day Review (@NewDayReview) September 28, 2017

Good things happen when Seb Hines rises up! #ORLvNE https://t.co/TZMrQ2HuvE — Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 28, 2017

☝️ goal for Seb. ✌️ for the Lions. ✌️ assists for Yoshi. #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/l0RRulqhMR — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 28, 2017

39′ | Noce making things happen in the box! He flashes a low hard cross across the face of goal! 2-0 | #ORLvNE pic.twitter.com/bfTP0LYyxg — Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 28, 2017

NDR Notes

Nocerino scored his first Orlando City goal in the win over New England. It took 50 games and 45 starts to get the holding midfielder his first score.

Yotún scored his first Orlando City goal in the 90th minute.

Making his third appearance and second start of 2017 for the first team, Hines scored his first goal.

Kaká scored his fifth and sixth goals of the season.

This is Orlando City’s first home win since defeating D.C. United 2-0 on May 31.

City’s six goals is the most they have scored in their MLS history. The Lions had previously scored five goals in two matches: a 5-2 win over the Columbus Crew on Aug. 5, 2015, and a 5-2 win over the New York Red Bulls on Sept. 25, 2015.

The Lions’ six-goal performance was also the first time they have been a part of a match where either team has scored six times.

Richie Laryea recorded his first MLS point with an assist on Yotún’s 90th-minute goal.

Scoring

Time Team Goal-scorer Assisted by 22’ Orlando City SC Antonio Nocerino Yoshimar Yotún 32’ Orlando City SC Seb Hines Yoshimar Yotún 43’ Orlando City SC Ricardo Kaká Dom Dwyer 45’+1’ New England Revolution Lee Nguyen n/a 77’ Orlando City SC Ricardo Kaká Dom Dwyer 84’ Orlando City SC Dom Dwyer Cyle Larin 90’ Orlando City SC Yoshimar Yotún Richie Laryea

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal Possession % Orlando City SC 6 6 21 11 59.1% New England Revolution 1 0 10 5 40.9%

Orlando City SC starting XI (4-1-3-2): Joe Bendik (GK); Donny Toia, Léo Pereira, Seb Hines, Scott Sutter; Servando Carrasco; Yoshimar Yotún, Giles Barnes, Antonio Nocerino; Ricardo Kaká (C), Dom Dwyer

New England Revolution starting XI (4-4-2): Cody Cropper (GK); Chris Tierney (C); Claude Dielna; Antonio Mlinar Delemea, Benjamin Angoua; Xavier Kouassi, Scott Caldwell, Je-Vaughn Watson, Lee Nguyen; Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury

For more on Orlando City, as they look forward to hosting Dallas on Saturday, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.