PHOTO BY JUSTIN GLATT VIA ORLANDO CITY SC
Orlando City SC gave up an equalizer in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time and settled for a 2-2 draw with New York City FC on Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium.
Jonathan Shore’s long-range strike erased a lead that Martín Ojeda had given the Lions early in the second half with a historic goal. Ojeda’s 49th-minute finish made him the first player in club history to reach 50 goals in all competitions. Iván Angulo crossed from the right, Vinícius Nogueira headed the ball back, and Ojeda finished from the top of the box.
New York City opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Alonso Martínez slipped between Iago and goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau to finish a cross from the left at close range.
Antoine Griezmann leveled the match in the 32nd minute, heading in a cross from Ojeda on the left wing.
The goal extended Griezmann’s streak of consecutive MLS matches with a goal contribution to 11, one shy of the club record Ojeda set last season. According to the official press release, the 2018 World Cup winner has 14 goals and seven assists in 19 appearances across all competitions since joining Orlando City in July. Only Lionel Messi reached 20 MLS goal contributions faster.
“Unfortunately, they tied on the last play. That hurts a lot,” interim head coach Martín Perelman said. “We like to win at home. We don’t like this, and we do our best.”
“Of course, we wanted to get the three points, and we fought for that, but now we focus on the next game and the next three points,” Nogueira said.
The result leaves Orlando City at 12-13-6 with 42 points. New York City moved to 8-12-11 with 35 points.
The Lions extended their club-record scoring streak to 24 matches across all competitions, according to the official press release. Midfielder Wilder Cartagena made his 100th appearance for the club.
Orlando City was without defenders Griffin Dorsey and Robin Jansson, along with forwards Tyrese Spicer and Tiago, because of injury and illness. Midfielder Luís Otávio served a suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Orlando City begins a two-game road trip on Wednesday, October 28, against Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field in Chicago at 8:30 p.m. on Apple TV. The Lions then visit Charlotte FC on Saturday, October 31.
