Kaká saves the day for Orlando City in opener

By Paul Tenorio
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Updated: March 8, 2015

Just minutes from a spoiled MLS debut, the player Orlando City signed to be its star delivered his first marquee moment for the Lions.

Kaká’s free kick in injury time deflected off New York City FC defender Jeb Brovsky and into the net, setting off a celebration at the sold-out Citrus Bowl and delivering Orlando City a 1-1 draw in the club’s first MLS game.

It wasn’t a win, but the moment preserved the joyous mood and held up to the significance of the day.

“The result wasn’t what we wanted for the first game, but everything that happened tonight was incredible for everybody: the crowd here, the supporters, this team,” Kaká said. “We are building something very special.”

A dream that started at Orlando City president Phil Rawlins’ kitchen table nearly a decade ago had looked for much of Sunday to be playing out even better than he ever imagined. A Citrus Bowl overflowing with purple provided a tremendous atmosphere; the announced crowd of 62,510 was the second-biggest for an MLS debut in the league’s 20-year history. Orlando City was putting on a dominant display in front of a national television audience. All that was missing was a goal.

And then NYCFC star Mix Diskerud nearly spoiled the party.

The U.S. national team midfielder curled a shot into the far post in the 76th minute to give NYCFC a 1-0 lead, and suddenly what felt like the ideal start for Orlando City’s MLS era was sliding toward disappointment.
Orlando Sentinel publishes special edition for Orlando City Lions opening match
About 8,000 copies of a special edition of the Orlando Sentinel were delivered to fans as they left the Citrus Bowl Sunday after the opening MLS match of the Orlando City Lions.

Things got worse when center back Aurélien Collin was ejected in the 83rd minute after drawing a straight red card for a hard tackle on NYCFC forward David Villa. Orlando City had compete with 10 men the remainder of the match against NYCFC’s 11 and Collin will be suspended for the Lions’ next game.

“We dominated the game, we had more chances,” defender Seb Hines said. “To be one-nil down we were really disappointed.”

Enter Kaká.

Orlando City midfielder Amobi Okugo drew a foul near the top of the box to set up the free kick. Kaká stood over the ball with the pressure of a city on his shoulders, and his curling shot smacked off of Brovsky’s chest and arm and caromed past a helpless Josh Saunders.

The goal set off a raucous celebration in the stands.

“I didn’t want the day to end on a sour note, because it was too good a day to end like that,” Lions coach Adrian Heath said.

Orlando City had controlled the majority of the match against NYCFC, which came into the game trying to steal some points on the road. The Lions held the ball through the midfield, but failed until late in the first half to start converting that possession into goal-scoring opportunities.

Kaká nearly opened the scoring when Kevin Molino teed him up for a shot from 20 yards out, but the blistering effort went right at NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders, who parried it away. Carlos Rivas then had a good look in injury time of the half, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.

The chances continued for Orlando City in the second half.

Molino’s shot in the 48th minute just missed the lower corner, with Saunders extending to push the effort wide of the far post. In the 63rd minute, Rivas stung a left-footed shot narrowly wide of the same post.

New York City then started to find some more answers and created a few dangerous moments, with Khiry Shelton just misfiring in the 68th minute before Diskerud broke through a few minutes later on a goal provided by NYCFC’s two biggest stars.

Former Barcelona striker David Villa got on the ball on the left side of the Orlando City box and found Diskerud, who got off a shot just in front of two Orlando City defenders that snuck inside the far post to stun the home crowd.

But with 90 minutes showing on the clock and the club’s first MLS result hanging in the balance, Kaká found a way to save the day.

“I’m extremely proud of everyone connect with the football club today,” Heath said. “The staff, the players, not the least of all the supporters, who I thought were absolutely incredible. It was something to see before the game when we came out, and something I’ll remember for an awful long time.”