The match started with much controversy after a clash that involved Lion's defender Seb Hines and Revolution's midfielder Xavier Kouassi. During a dispute for the ball on the 9th minute, both players collided, and Kouassi stepped on Hines, who received the worse part. Referee Silviu Petrescu called a foul it seemed to be a clear foul. However, Petrescu wanted to review the play using the Video Assistance Referee (VAR). This rule allows the referee to review a play with a monitor place at the side of the field. After reviewing the play, Petrescu decided to issue a red card to Kouassi.
In minute 21st, Lion's forward Kaká was fouled on the right side of the field by defender Revolution's Claude Dielna who received a yellow card. City Midfielder Yoshimar Yotún sent a cross from the free-kick which was slightly deflected by midfielder Antonio Nocerino. New England's goalkeeper Cody Cropper was surprised by Nocerino’s deflection and was not able to stop the ball from going in. The Italian opened the scoring and netted his first goal for the Lions since his arrival.
“It has been beautiful… Because at the beginning I used to play more defensively, and today I played a little more as I used to in AC Milan” said Nocerino at a postgame press conference about his goal.
Ten minutes later, Kaká manages to earn a corner kick for his team. Yotún executed the free-kick, and Hines beat New England’s defenders in the air. The 29-year-old headed the ball into Cropper’s top right corner leaving the visiting keeper with nothing to do. The crowd was crazily happy after seeing Hines return to the goal.
Two minutes before the end of the first half, Kaká received a pass from forward Dom Dwyer and dribbled a couple Revs’ defenders outside the box. The Brazilian saw a space and placed the ball precisely on the top right corner of Cropper’s goal. A couple of seconds later, the whole stadium was full of purple smoke and cheer from the home fans.
However, New England would hit back right before the end of the first half when Hines fouled forward Kei Kamara at the verge of the box. Midfielder Lee Nguyen was in charge of finding the back of the net for his team after perfectly executing the free-kick. Despite goalkeeper Joe Bendik’s efforts, who had earlier saved another free-kick from Nguyen, the ball went in, and the crowd fell into a complete silence.
The goal-party continued the second half in the 77th minute, Kaká made a pass that left Dwyer alone inside the box against Cropper. The USMNT player shot and the ball deflected by the visiting goalkeeper. In his attempt to net the ball that was in mid-air, Dwyer tried a bicycle kick and missed. However, Kaká came into the picture again and scored his second of the night and the fourth for the Lions.
Seven minutes later, Bendik initiated a counter-attack with a pass to forward Cyle Larin. The youngster passed it to Dwyer and the 27-year-old shot a rocket that went directly in. The crowd, who expected Dwyer to score at least once in the game, was happy to see Dwyer scoring.
Even though Orlando had scored five goals, the crowd was not satisfied and chanted “we want 6-1” repeatedly. Just a minute later, in the 90th, Yotún got a hold of the ball outside the box, saw a space and made a powerful shot to the base of the right posts. Cropper dived but was not even near of saving that ball. The Peruvian pleased the crowd with the desired sixth goal.
The match ended with a total of twenty-one shots (eleven on target) and 59% of ball possession for Orlando City SC. Meanwhile, New England Revolution made ten shots (five on target) and had a total of 41% of ball possession.
The referee issued nine cards (eight yellows and one red card) three for Orlando (Hines, Pereira, and Kaka) and six for New England (Nguyen, Angoua, Delamea, Caldwell, Dielna, Kouassi).
Orlando City starting XI: [G] Joe Bendik; [D] Scott Sutter, Seb Hines, Léo Pereira, Donny Toia; [M] Antonio Nocerino, Servando Carrasco, Yoshimar Yotún; Giles Barnes; [F] Dominic Dwyer, Kaká (C).
New England Revolution starting XI: [G] Cody Cropper; [D] Benjamin Angoua, Antonio Mlinar Delamea, Claude Dielna, Chris Tierney (C); [M] Lee Nguyen, Je-Vaughn Watson, Scott Caldwell, Xavier Kouassi; [F] Teal Bunbury, Kei Kamara.
Orlando City SC will receive FC Dallas on September 30th, 2017 at the Orlando City Stadium. Whereas, New England Revolution will face Atlanta United at Gillette Stadium on September 30th, 2017.