Reeves' Army

Orlando City U-23 took advantage of Panama City Beach Pirates early, then held them off for a 1-0 win.

Drew Helm punched in the lone goal at 10′. Panama City Beach went down a man at 40′ when David Malloy threw an elbow. Orlando City had a total of 20 shots, to the Pirates’ 9.

Orlando City will host Ocala Stampede next Friday night at 7pm.

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Note to season ticket holders: Do you still have that plastic card  you received with your tickets?

If so, then that is your admission to our U.S. Open Cup match.

We will be playing KC Athletics of the USASA on Tuesday night at 7pm at the Seminole Sports Complex in West Sanford. Tickets will be $15 each. If you are an OC season ticket holder, bring the plastic card to identify you and get in free.

Orlando City U-23 pulled ahead first, but fell apart at the end, dropping out of the U.S. Open Cup against NPSL’s Jacksonville United, 2-1.

The match was delayed 90 minutes by lightning, sending the teams scrambling right as they were lining up for introductions. With the wet and oddly chilly conditions as the rain ended and darkness fell, the teams got little traction in the first half, though City was able to press forward quite often.

The Cubs finally hit paydirt early in the second half, with Drew Helm taking a deflection off a cross and burying it at 49′ for first blood. United struggled with an injury, and blew through their three subs through the middle of the second half, leaving at least one player limping across the pitch for several minutes late.

United finally stumbled onto the board when a scrum led to an incidental handball in the penalty box, netting them a penalty kick. Tomislav Krizanovich converted the PK at 81′. Momentum finally went the way of the 2011 NPSL champions, and Ramak Safi put them ahead with a goal at 88′. City had a few chances late, but were unable to get back level.

Jacksonville will host Tampa Bay Rowdies next Tuesday night. Our U-23s now turn their undivided attention to the PDL schedule, hosting Panama City Beach Pirates on Saturday night at 7pm.

Orlando City, meanwhile, will join the U.S. Open Cup fray in the second round next Tuesday night, May 22, hosting KC Athletics of the USASA. They upset the PDL’s Real Colorado Foxes last night, 3-1.

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Three Orlando City players were named to the USL Pro Team of the Week yesterday: forward Max Griffin, midfielder John Rooney and defender Wes Allen. The player of the week was Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nickt, who had ten saves, and has started their season with six straight clean sheets.

The 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup begins tomorrow night, and part of the launch is Orlando City U-23 hosting the 2011 National Premier Soccer League Champions, Jacksonville United. The game will be at Seminole Soccer Complex on Markham Road in West Sanford, with a kickoff at 7pm.

This will be the first time the former Kraze have hosted a match in the U.S. Open Cup since 2000. They hosted that match in Kissimmee, and got upset by a local USASA team.

The Kraze did well last year, winning 2011 U.S. Open Cup qualification and making the PDL playoffs, and many of their players are back. But Jacksonville United won the 2011 NPSL, and are dominating early action for the 2012 season, scoring 11 goals and only surrendering three in their first two matches of the regular season.

As I have mentioned before, the winner of this match will host the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the second round. If it’s City, the match will be back at Seminole Soccer Complex at 1pm. It will be followed by the big club at 7pm, as Orlando City will host either Real Colorado Foxes of the PDL, or USASA team KC Athletics.

We have notes and quotes by Chris Jones, and a preview by Adam Soucie.

The big club is back in Orlando, and has the week off this weekend. Their next match is the aforementioned second round U.S. Open Cup match.

Orlando City navigated the minefield again at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, pulling out a 2-1 win over Antigua Barracuda FC to remain undefeated on the tropical island of Antigua.

The Barracudas got a favorable penalty early on, with Quinton Griffith nailing the shot at 20′ for an early lead, the first time the Lions have been behind all season. That lasted all of six minutes, as Maxwell Griffin answered back with a goal of his own at 26′.

The action in the second half was early, as Wes Allen got the ball in an early penalty-box scrum, nailing the ultimate game-winner at 49′.

Orlando City gets the next week and weekend off before a series of home events beginning Tuesday, April 22, with their entry to the U.S. Open Cup.

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Speaking of, Orlando City U-23 opens the first round of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night with a match against the 2011 Champions of the NPSL, Jacksonville United. Game time is 7pm, and the match will be at Seminole Soccer Complex in West Sanford.

Orlando City stumbled to a 1-0 win over Antigua Barracuda FC. Literally.

The pitch at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was in terrible shape, torn up in the middle from cricket matches. The grass, where there was grass, was dry and tight, making attacks difficult to put together.

Jamie Watson got carded for diving at 86′. I wouldn’t be surprised if he really tripped over a pothole.

We finally got our due at the death when Max Griffin took a pass from Jamie Watson and nailed it into the net at 89′. Antigua’s Twitter seemed to think it deflected off one of their players for an own goal. We’ll see if USL Pro reviews it. That was followed by an inexplicable seven minutes of stoppage time before the time finally called.

Orlando will be back at it again on Sunday afternoon at 4:30pm. Hopefully the pitch at Stickey Wicket Stadium will be better.

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As for the U-23 team, they suddenly discovered their offense tonight, and dismantled Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy, 6-0. It was 4-0 at the half.

Goals by Jonathan Mendoza (5′), Oumar Diakhite (9′), Drew Helm (38′), Ryan Griffin (45′), and Nicolas Russo with a brace (61′ and 70′).

Orlando City U-23 will be hosting Jacksonville United, the 2011 NPSL Champions, on Tuesday night at 7pm in the first round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.