Still unbeaten and yet to concede following Gameweek 2, Orlando City SC left Chicago Fire (0-0) frustrated after a ridiculous VAR call that cost City potential victory.
On 73 minutes, Júnior Urso‘s deflected strike beat Gabriel Slonina, only for referee Ismir Pekmic to rule out the goal due to what he interpreted as an Ercan Kara handball in the build-up.
Barely touching Kara’s hand, it’s worth noting, VAR can be used to overturn a subjective decision if a “clear and obvious error” is identified.
But after Júnior Urso‘s strike rippled the Fire net, it took Ismir Pekmic several minutes to make a decision. MLSSoccer.com themselves even described it as a “lengthy Video Review”.
The question to ask yourselves is, if it took Pekmic that long to reach his decision, it can’t have been a “clear and obvious error” at all, could it?
Especially considering there was no major protest from any Chicago Fire players prior to the Video Review.
Not the first and certainly not the last time Orlando City SC will receive a very harsh call from PRO Referees, the incident won’t be forgotten by City supporters any time soon.
Especially considering a victory could’ve taken Oscar Pareja‘s side joint-top of the Eastern Conference two weekends into 2022.
Before Pekmic’s crazy decision that made a mockery of refereeing, Orlando City SC were admittedly far from their best in an even game lacking genuine quality.
With César Araújo and Facundo Torres still getting acquainted with their City team-mates, Orlando City SC‘s performance improved after half-time.
City supporters’ hearts skipped a beat in stoppage time as sub Ercan Kara went one on one with Gabriel Slonina.
With Slonina equal to Kara’s strike, the play was then ruled offside to Kara’s relief.
But it’s time to draw a line under our Soldier Field draw.
Orlando City SC will now fancy their chances of beating their next opponents FC Cincinnati at home.
Winless in two (conceding six), FC Cincinnati visit Exploria Stadium on the back of a heartbreaking loss last Saturday.
After being reduced to 10 men, D.C. United stole all three points at TQL Stadium thanks to a 98th minute Ola Kamara penalty (0-1).
Now coached by Pat Noonan, life isn’t getting any easier for the Orange and Blue in MLS.
Orlando City SC vs FC Cincinnati – 2019/21 head-to-head stats
The last time Orlando City SC faced FC Cincinnati, the Lions ground out a hard fought 0-1 away win last October.
Admittedly, City should’ve won 0-2 at TQL Stadium.
Long after Júnior Urso‘s well-placed 13th minute opener, sub Tesho Akindele scored a legitimate goal on 85 minutes.
Blasting one from range, Akindele’s strike cannoned off the crossbar.
However, referee Marcos de Oliveira and his fellow officials failed to spot that the ball had crossed Przemysław Tytoń’s line after the woodwork was hit.
With no goal-line technology in Major League Soccer and no resulting VAR call, it was a bitter pill to swallow.
Especially considering that FC Cincinnati were calling for a penalty deep in stoppage time when sub Rodrigo Schlegel fouled Brandon Vazquez.
Fortunately, there was a no-call from Marcos de Oliveira.
Adjudging that Nick Hagglund fouled Schlegel in the build-up, this could’ve easily been given as a penalty another day.
And who knows, perhaps PRO Referees had since realised their Akindele error before ruling in Orlando City SC‘s favour.
The full-time whistle was a huge relief for the Lions who achieved their first away victory in TEN road trips.
FC Cincinnati 0 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – October 16, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Still a young Eastern Conference game series, Orlando City SC remain unbeaten against FC Cincinnati in FIVE MLS head-to-heads.
There’s been THREE City victories and TWO draws so far. Our two wins at Exploria Stadium were both by handsome margins (5-1, 3-0) too.
In last year’s home meeting (3-0), Tesho Akindele scored in just 33 seconds to make it 1-0.
This remains Orlando City SC‘s fastest ever MLS goal with Akindele also scoring City’s second fastest goal – in 50 seconds against Toronto FC in June 2021 (2-3).
After Tesho Akindele gave Oscar Pareja‘s side a fast start, Nani (19 minutes) and Júnior Urso (80 minutes) goals further capped a dominating one-sided affair.
Orlando City SC 3 FC Cincinnati 0 – Highlights – May 1, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
If you’re looking for an Orlando City SC goalscorer against FC Cincinnati, don’t look past Júnior Urso.
Scoring seven MLS goals for City, two of these have come against the Orange and Blue.
Scoring in TWO of the last THREE league head-to-heads, the Brazilian will be extra eager to open his 2022 account.
Especially after VAR and Ismir Pekmic cruelly denied Urso his first goal of the season at Chicago Fire last Saturday.
Orlando City SC form
When moving to Exploria Stadium in 2017, Orlando City SC wanted to create a hostile and intimidating environment to maximise home advantage.
It’s taken a little while but Oscar Pareja‘s Lions are now defending the fortress on a more consistent basis.
Undefeated in ELEVEN of our last TWELVE home fixtures in MLS, only CF Montréal beat Orlando City SC (2-4) in this streak.
New York Red Bulls were the only other team to beat City at Exploria Stadium (1-2) in 2021.
Strong home form is key in any successful season, something the Lions will be looking to replicate this year.
FC Cincinnati form
If you could pick any MLS team to play right now, it’d be FC Cincinnati.
Results-wise, the Orange and Blue have endured a miserable time since their inaugural 2019 season.
Finishing rock bottom of the Eastern Conference three seasons running, Pat Noonan has a huge job on his hands.
Thumped 5-0 at Austin FC on Gameweek 1, then came last weekend’s heartbreaking stoppage time loss to D.C. United (0-1).
All in all, tacking on last season’s form, FC Cincinnati have lost their last FOURTEEN consecutive MLS fixtures.
Quite simply, anything other than three points for Orlando City SC will be considered a big disappointment here.
Austin FC 5 FC Cincinnati 0 – Highlights – February 26, 2022 (Credit: Austin FC)
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