Orlando
Orlando City Lions Conquer New York City FC 2-1
Published
8 years agoon
By
FNN NEWSORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) //via Orlando SC// – In its third match in nine days, Orlando City SC (6-7-13, 31 points) earned three massive points with a 2-1 win against second-place New York City FC (11-9-8, 41 points) Sunday at a stormy Camping World Stadium. Kaká earned his first multi-goal game in Major League Soccer (MLS) as the Lions took their seventh point of the season from 2015 expansion rival NYCFC.
“For me the most important thing tonight was the performance. I’m seeing continued improvement in the performance, continued improvement in how we’re defending and it’s pleasing,” Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “Credit to the guys, they had a positive reaction to that adversity [from the beginning of the second half] and we end up winning. I’m really pleased for the players.”
Luke Boden, David Mateos, José Aja and Tommy Redding filled the back line, as Antonio Nocerino and Servando Carrasco manned the holding midfield behind a potent attack of Kevin Molino and Matías Pérez García with MLS All-Stars Kaká and Cyle Larin. Kevin Alston, Brek Shea and Tony Rocha–who made his fourth MLS appearance–came on in the second half.
Kaká opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a classic display of world-class skill. After working the ball up the right wing with Pérez García, the Brazilian superstar turned the corner on his defender and sprinted at NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders on the post. Kaká’s first shot went through Saunders’ legs, but stopped just short of the line before he followed it up and tapped it in.
Orlando City continued applying pressure through the rest of the half as Larin, Kaká and Molino all had strong looks on goal. NYC would equalize early in the second half though, when Steven Mendoza fired home a close-range rebound after Joe Bendik made a strong save on another short-distance shot from Frank Lampard.
The Lions, urged on by 27,482 supporters that stuck around through heavy rain, pressed on for another go-ahead goal. Pérez García, who made his third start in purple, played a slick backheel pass to Kaká on the edge of the box. The captain took a touch to get open for a shot, forcing an NYCFC defender to trip him up. Kaká buried the penalty kick, sending Saunders the wrong way to win the game for City.
It took a special defensive effort from the Lions’ back line to stop the Eastern Conference’s third highest scoring team. Bendik made three saves, including on a strong shot from Lampard in the 81st minute that Bendik got his fingertips on to keep out of the goal. Aja also made several important clearances and Mateos continued his steady improvement under Kreis.
“For me the most important thing tonight was the performance,” Kreis said in the post-game press conference. “I’m seeing continued improvement in the performance, continued improvement in how we’re defending and it’s pleasing. It certainly wasn’t a perfect night, and we are after perfect.”
Orlando City SC recognized Orlando Pride in the Club’s National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) forward Christina Burkenroad at halftime for her work with the #RethinkHomelessnessYouth, part of the Orlando City Foundation and founding partner Orlando Health’s efforts to end youth homelessness in Orlando. Orlando Health will donate $1 (up to $20,000) for each post tagged with #RethinkHomelessnessYouth for tonight’s game.
The Lions go on a two-game road trip beginning Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Montreal with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff before going to Los Angeles on Sept. 11 to take on the Galaxy. Orlando City returns to Camping World Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 17, when it hosts Columbus Crew SC at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Florida
Scottie Scheffler Wins Second Red Cardigan at 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Published
1 month agoon
March 10, 2024By
Mike BrodskyORLANDO, Fla. (FNN Sports) – Scottie Scheffler wins his second red cardigan at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, today, along with $4 million of the $20 million prize pool. The red cardigan was first awarded in 2017, in memory of Arnold Palmer who passed the year before. Scheffler first won the API in 2022.
The number one ranked golfer in the world, Scheffler finished at 15 under par for the four day tournament, carding a 66 today. Wyndham Clark finished in second place at 10 under par. API defending champion, Kurt Kitayama, did not make the cut, this weekend, finishing 7 over par after the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday.
This coming week, the top golfers head to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, for the 50th anniversary of The Players Championship. The winner will walk away with $4.5 million of the $25 million up for grabs. This is the PGA Tour’s largest regular season purse. Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
Golf
Lydia Ko and Jeff McNeil win the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions
Published
3 months agoon
January 21, 2024By
Mike BrodskyORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Lake Nona resident, Lydia Ko, has won the 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations LPGA Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, while Mets All-Star Second Baseman, Jeff McNeil, has won the celebrities and amateurs competition. The four day tournament wrapped up Sunday. Ko takes home $225,000 of the $1.5 million prize pool, while baseball player McNeil wins $100,000 of the $500,000 designated for the athletes and entertainers.
Ko finished at -14, two strokes ahead of Alexa Pano. Defending champion, Brooke Henderson, finished third at ten under par. McNeil ended with 138 points using the Modified Stableford scoring system, in his first time competing in this tournament. Annika Sorenstam finished in second place amongst the celebrity golfers, with 136. Former Major League Baseball pitchers Derek Lowe and Mark Mulder tied for third place at 135.
The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions also announced today that they have extended their agreement with the LPGA to continue this tournament at Lake Nona for another five years, with a 65% increase in the prize pool money.
Stay tuned to Florida National News for more, and be sure to follow our Florida National News page on Facebook for more photos and videos from the tournament.
Golf
Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions Returns to Lake Nona
Published
3 months agoon
January 17, 2024By
Mike BrodskyORLANDO, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions is back at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando Thursday, 1/18 through Sunday, 1/21. This tournament kicks off the LPGA Tour’s 74th season, featuring top women golfers, who have qualified by winning a tournament in 2022 or 2023, playing alongside celebrities from the world of sports, entertainment, and music.
Comedy fans can watch Larry The Cable Guy entertain the crowd with his one-liners and banter. “Fresh Prince” fans can tune in to Alfonso Ribeiro in hopes of seeing him dance “The Carlton.” Bachelor fans can follow Ben Higgins or Wells Adams to see if they’re passing out any roses.
Sports fans can see some true legends in a different light. Basketball fans can look for Vince Carter, Ray Allen, or Chandler Parsons. Baseball fans can watch for John Smoltz, Albert Pujols, or Roger Clemens. Football fans will find Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith, Marcus Allen, Brian Urlacher, and Charles Woodson.
You’ll find many other actors, musicians, and champions of various sports. If you’d like to watch some fun golf while also celebrity spotting, be sure to visit the tournament’s website to get your tickets, and to see who else will be playing this year.
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