After succumbing to an early first-half deficit, Orlando City B battled to a 1-1 draw against the Charlotte Independence on Saturday at Titan Soccer Complex in Melbourne.

“Charlotte caused us some problems first half, I have to give credit to them. I was pleased to get [the players] in at halftime. We had to tweak a couple of things tactically. They took that on board and in the second half were better,” OCB head coach Anthony Pulis said.

“Obviously we got the goal really early [in the second half]. I thought, ‘well this is brilliant. Maybe this gives us the impetus and we can get try and get the winner’ and it just wasn’t to be. I thought tonight, on the balance of play, a draw was a fair result.”

Brian Brown put the Independence (7-4-4, 25 points) on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, but Michael Cox scored the game-tying goal moments into the second half after finishing off a cross from Zach Hayden for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

OCB improves to 6-6-4 with 22 points, and are riding a season best four-game unbeaten run.

On the stats category, Charlotte outshot the USL Lions 8-6.

Orlando City B XI: GK Mark Ridgers, D Zach Hayden, Devron García, Conor Donovan, Mikey Ambrose, M Richie Laryea (Marius Obekop 77’), Johnny Mendoza (Tyler Turner 83’), Andrew Ribeiro, Tony Rocha, Pierre Da Silva, F Michael Cox

Substitutes: GK Jake Fenlason, D Kyle McFadden, M Antonio Matarazzo, Alejandro Garcia, F William Eyang

Orlando City B travels to take on the Rochester Rhinos on Sunday, July 10 at Sahlen’s Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

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(Photo courtesy of Orlando City Communications) 

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