Photo Courtesy of Orlando City
Following a two-goal performance last weekend, Facundo Torres scored and assisted to lead Orlando City past a 9-man Colorado Rapids for a 2-0 victory Saturday night in front of 18,711 in attendance at Exploria Stadium.
Substitute Ramiro Enrique scored the game-clinching goal late after Torres picked out the Argentine for the second goal of the night as the Lions extended their unbeaten streak to six games and for the first time this season winning consecutive games.
“Today was very necessary to get this win,” said coach Oscar Pareja after the game. “We know what happened in the field. What today matters is that we have a very good first half. The second half we could have been probably more aggressive but the boys were cautious about just closing the game and this is something that we carry in our shoulders, and I understand that.. we needed to win.”
It’s three goals in two games for Torres, who now leads Orlando with five goals this season.
The Rapids went down a player in the 39th minute after Braian Galvan was issued a straight red card for a dangerous challenge to Wilder Cartagena.
With the player advantage, Orlando found the opening goal in the 56th minute when Mauricio Pereyra found Torres whose shot deflected off a defender and past the keeper for the 1-0 lead.
The Rapids went down to 9 players after Lala Abubakar was sent off for a yellow following a foul on Angulo in the 75th minute.
Orlando again took advantage of the player in the 82nd minute when a play started by Cesar Araujo found Torres open on the right side of the box, who then found Enrique unmarked at the edge of the box to strike the ball past the keeper to seal the win for the Lions.
17-year-old Alejandro Granados made his MLS debut at the closing of the game, entering in stoppage time for Torres. The Orlando City B/Academy player, who signed a short-term deal on Friday became the youngest MLS player for Orlando City.
For the third consecutive game, Pareja played the same starting XI on Saturday.
Gallese made his 100th appearance for Orlando for his sixth shutout of the year.
Orlando will be without Antonio Carlos and Kyle Smith for the New England Revolution game next week due to yellow card accumulation.
The Lions will already be without Pedro Gallese, Wilder Cartagena and Facundo Torres because of national team duty with Peru and Uruguay, respectively.
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