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Orlando City SC gained a valuable point on the road at Colorado Rapids on Saturday evening with the 0-0 result meaning City have now tied TWELVE games this season.

Enough to temporarily put Jason Kreis‘ side back above the line in sixth place (28 points), Joe Bendik crucially earned his third clean sheet of the season.

A much improved defensive display by Orlando City SC, Jason Kreis surprised a few by making a series of key changes to his starting eleven heading into this one at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Handing starts to Julio Baptista, José Aja and Orlando City B graduate Mikey Ambrose, Orlando City SC’s defence looked far more calm and assured throughout the evening.

The performance of Mikey Ambrose was particularly pleasing due to the fact this was the 22-year-old’s first ever Major League Soccer start while José Aja and David Mateos functioned well as a new centre back partnership.

After a solid, if not spectacular first-half display from Orlando City SC, the second-half was all about containment with the Lions starting to fatigue in the difficult conditions at high altitude in Commerce City.

There were a few hairy moments for the Lions with Albanian international Shkëlzen Gashi starting to dictate the game in the second-half as Pablo Mastroeni’s Rapids hit the post in the 56th minute.

However, Orlando City SC battled well to dig in and in truth, referee Sorin Stoica’s decision NOT to send David Mateos off for an alleged last man challenge on Kevin Doyle (65 minutes) meant we could pull through.

Only Orlando City SC‘s second goalless fixture of the 2016 campaign, the point should be considered valuable given the fact Colorado Rapids were flying high in second place in the MLS Western Conference coming into this one.

Now comes two massively important opportunities to nab points off our Eastern Conference rivals with Toronto FC and New York City FC visiting Camping World Stadium over the course of the next week.

Jason Kreis will know that it’s victories Orlando City SC crave now to truly give us a leg up in the MLS Cup play-off qualification race.

To our supporters who traveled out to Denver, you continue to show that you are the best in MLS. #NeverTravelAlone pic.twitter.com/LD9Ec1YSHF

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) August 21, 2016

Additionally, shout out to the large number of travelling Orlando City SC fans from both the Iron Lion Firm and The Ruckus who did all of us Lions fans proud in the corner of Dick’s Sporting Goods Park last night!

Respect!

Colorado Rapids 0 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – August 20, 2016 (Credit: Colorado Rapids)

Colorado Rapids vs Orlando City SC, 20.08.2016
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
Major League Soccer
Gameweek 24

Joe Bendik | 7/10
Kevin Alston | 7/10
José Aja | 8/10
David Mateos | 7/10
Mikey Ambrose | 8/10
Servando Carrasco | 7/10
Antonio Nocerino | 8/10
Brek Shea | 5/10
Julio Baptista | 5/10
Kaká | 7/10
Cyle Larin | 6/10

SUBS

Matías Pérez García | 7/10
Tony Rocha | 6/10
Tommy Redding | 5/10