In its second week of action, MLS NEXT Pro might already have the game of the season as Eastern Conference foes New York City FC II and Orlando City B battled in an end-to-end thriller.
The game couldn’t be decided in regulation as it ended in a 2-2 stalemate and went to a shootout where OCB won 5-4 at Osceola Heritage Park Sunday evening. Orlando City B’s shootout win gives the team its second consecutive victory and hands NYCFC II its second consecutive shootout defeat.
OCB forward Moises Tablante scored in the 18th minute after a Jack Lynn assist set him up for a tap-in, giving Lynn two goals and an assist in two games. NYCFCII tied the game courtesy of a penalty converted by forward John Denis in the 35th minute. Three minutes after the equalizer, OCB took the lead again through a penalty of its own netted by defender David Boccuzzo. NYFCII again tied the game, this time through midfielder Kenan Hot in the final minute of stoppage time in the first half.
NYCFCII created the most opportunities in the game with 22 shots on goal and controlled possession of the ball with 64%. However, the Orlando City B defense held firm in the second half to keep the game tied at 2-2 and force a shootout.
The Story: Goalkeeper duel in shootout
After the game ended in a 2-2 tie in regulation, the goalkeepers from both NYCFCII and OCB made vital saves in the shootout.
NYCFC II goalkeeper Alex Rando put the visitors in the driver’s seat after making a diving save to his bottom left corner to deny OCB’s third penalty kick from midfielder Joey DeZart.
However OCB goalkeeper Javier Otero matched Rando’s heroics with two saves of his own. The first coming at the expense of NYCFC II defender Stephen Turnbull, sending the shootout to sudden death.
OCB converted its following penalty and then Otero stepped up again to save NYCFC II midfielder Stevo Bednarsky’s penalty to give his team the win.
Otero finished with seven saves this game after having nine saves last week against Chicago Fire FC II.
The shootout was so out of the ordinary that even OCB Head Coach Martin Perelman was surprised by the way things unfolded, “It’s the first time I’ve seen something like this in my life. I’m 35-years-old and 30 years in football and I’ve never seen something like this, so for me it’s also new. It’s strange, but it’s the league and we accept it and we are happy to take this point.”
