Facundo Torres’ redirected goal helped Orlando City to a 2-0 win over the nine-man Colorado Rapids on Saturday night, only their third home win of the season.
Orlando City (7-4-5, 26 points) pushed the visitors, who went down a man late in the first half before Torres gave the hosts the lead in the 56th minute with his fifth goal of the season. Mauricio Pereyra found Torres lurking outside the top of the box, and he cut toward the middle before shooting. His shot found a defender and deflected into the open goal.
Torres had a chance in the 71st minute to earn his second brace in as many games, but this time the deflection went wide of the post rather than inside. Only minutes later, the hosts found themselves facing only nine defenders when Lalas Abubakar was sent off for his second yellow in the 75th minute.
Pereyra took advantage of the lack of defenders to drive down the middle of the attacking third and unleash a rocket, but goalkeeper Marko Ilic launched and tipped it wide of the post.
However, the Lions got their late insurance goal. Torres worked his way into the box before finding second-half substitute Ramiro Enrique at the edge of the box. Enrique cut inside and put one just inside the far post in the 83rd minute for his first goal as a member of Orlando City.
The Rapids (2-9-7, 13 points) fought despite playing with only 10 men since late in the first half before Abubakar was sent off, but it was just too much to overcome. In the 39th minute, Braian Galvan was sent off with a straight red after a challenge with Wilder Cartagena as both players went in with a high boot, but Galvan’s connected with Cartagena.
Jonathan Lewis and second-half substitute Michael Barrios did their best to test the Orlando City backline, but they were unable to make the final shot count.
Ilic finished the night with four saves, including that big save on Pereyra later in the second half. Orlando’s Pedro Gallese stopped both shots on target he faced.
The Lions have won all four home games in league play against Colorado since joining MLS.
–Field Level Media
