Orlando City wasted no time finding their way down the field to start the game. Early in the 1st minute, Cyle Larin found himself with a chance to put a shot on goal, but he sent it wide left.
Larin would get his 2nd chance at goal in the 10th minute, but this time he sent it sailing wide right all the way for an NYC FC throw in. Again in the 13th minute, Orlando City almost had another shot opportunity, but Rivas cross sailed past Larin out of bounds giving NYC the ball on another throw in.
In the 18th minute a ball that hit the elbow of an NYC FC player inside the box was not picked up by the ref, this could have been a huge opportunity for the Lions.
The Lions would continue to create opportunities, but they were unable to capitalize on countless corners and crosses. They only connected on 1 out of 9 first half crosses.
Possession and tempo was controlled by Orlando City in the first half, but an extra time corner setup NYC FC with a late chance to score. Off the corner, Mix Diskerud took a shot at goal that was blocked. Kwame Watson –Siriboe sent the blocked shot into the back of the net off the deflection to give NYC a 1-0 lead as the teams went into the locker room at the half.
Orlando led the stats in shots at the half 8-5, 6 of those shots came from outside the box.
The second half was a different story for Orlando City, and this is when Larin started to find his target. In the 62nd minute, Corey Ashe sent a beautiful cross into the box where it found an eager Larin ready and waiting as he headed it into the back of the net to tie the match at 1.
The Lions did not let up after tying the game, just 8 minutes later Larin was at it again. With NYC FC only working with ten healthy men as one of their defenders, Javier Calle, was sitting down inside their box. After a shot by Adrian Winter was blocked, he recovered and found the ball and passed it over to Larin inside the goal box. Larin tapped it in for the go-ahead goal.
After the match, Orlando Head coach Adrian Health admitted that he did not even see the injured player, ""I didn't see him. I thought Cyle was running 25 yards offside; I didn't see him."
In the 74th minute, it looked as if Larin had given the Lions a 3-1 lead, but the ref's determined that the ball had not crossed the goal line. This would be the Lions last attempt on goal.
NYC missed two shots attempts late to draw even. After 4 minutes of stoppage time ran out it was official, the Lions had sealed a victory in their last home match of the season.
With the win, Orlando City keeps its playoff hopes alive. They will need Montreal Impact to lose or draw on Saturday when they play New England. No matter what happens, Adrian Heath has made one thing clear, they are going to fight till the bitter end.
"We're gonna take it to the last game. "
Orlando City will play their last regular season match of the season Sunday, October 25th in Philadelphia against the Union.