Orlando shines in 4-2 win against Toronto
Four different Lions scored Saturday, including first-time starter Alex Freeman, and the Purple cruised to their first win.
Alex Freeman celebrates a goal for Orlando City B last season. The 20-year-old homegrown defender, son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman, scored his first MLS goal in his first MLS start Saturday against Toronto FC. Photo courtesy of Orlando City B/Mark Thor.
Alex Freeman’s time is now.
Needing a spark after Orlando City lost 4-2 to Philadelphia in its MLS season-opener at home, coach Oscar Pareja gave the 20-year-old defender his first start; it won’t be his last.
César Araújo and Freeman gave the Lions a 2-0 lead against Toronto FC in a two-minute span of an otherwise lackluster first half. Araújo banged a free kick off the inside of the post and into the net in the 33rd minute; moments later, Kyle Smith collected the ball in front of his own goal.
Freeman, son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman, beat a defender and sprinted deep down the right sideline. Taking Smith’s long pass in stride, he made a move to the left and blasted a shot past Reds’ goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
The sides took turns scoring in the second half. Orlando striker Martin Ojeda finished a break with a nifty juke around a diving Johnson in the 63rd minute.
The Reds began to look dangerous after Ola Brynhildsen came into the match in the 65th minute and finally gave Toronto a presence in the box. Defender Sigurd Rosted headed home a corner kick at the back post in the 72nd minute, but Dagur Dan Thorhallsson — who was benched for Freeman — tucked home a silky Luis Muriel pass in the 81st minute with his first touch after entering the match.
Toronto’s Deiby Flores Hulk-smashed a sitter from distance five minutes later to end the scoring.
Orlando City will play its first road match of the season Saturday at Yankee Stadium, long-time temporary home of New York City FC.