Orlando City SC racked up their third successive 2-2 draw against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening at Camping World Stadium in a fixture that meant far more than the result alone.
The Lions’ first MLS fixture since the tragic Orlando shooting back on June 12th, the event was an incredibly moving spectacle that saw referee Robert Sibiga temporarily halt the game on 49 minutes to pay tribute to the 49 victims.
The first in-play stoppage in Major League Soccer, the tribute was excellently observed in an #OrlandoUnited event which received much praise from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer who thanked Orlando City SC for bringing the city community together.
Thank you @OrlandoCitySC for bringing our community together tonight. #OrlandoUnitedpic.twitter.com/LUlQ0jbhSq
— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) June 19, 2016
With the game cast under the shadow of the tragic events, Orlando City SC supporters were incredible throughout the 90 minutes and on the whole, Adrian Heath‘s team performed well in the circumstances but yet again, defensive errors proved our undoing again.
First surrendering Seb Hines‘ opener to Chad Barrett who equalised on 85 minutes, everybody thought Orlando City SC had struck a glorious stoppage time winner when substitute Julio Baptista blasted a fine volley past David Bingham on 91 minutes.
Whilst it then seemed impossible that San Jose Earthquakes could get up the pitch in time to cause any further damage, they did.
With Brek Shea failing to get the ball away from trouble in the final play of the game, the ball found its way to Quakes sub Shea Salinas who coolly slotted past Joe Bendik to tie the game, almost as dramatically as the Lions did against Real Salt Lake back in March.
Orlando City SC 2 San Jose Earthquakes 2 – Highlights – June 18, 2016 (Credit: San Jose Earthquakes)
Orlando City SC vs San Jose Earthquakes, 18.06.2016
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Major League Soccer
Gameweek 15
Joe Bendik | 8/10
Kevin Alston | 6/10
Tommy Redding | 6/10
Seb Hines | 7/10
Luke Boden | 7/10
Servando Carrasco | 6/10
Cristian Higuita | 7/10
Adrian Winter | 7/10
Kevin Molino | 7/10
Brek Shea | 6/10
Cyle Larin | 7/10
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