Orlando City B vs. Bethlehem Steel FC: Final Score 2-0 as Laryea Brace Lifts Lions

Orlando City B traveled to Bethlehem, PA, to take on the Bethlehem Steel. A pair of Richie Laryea second-half goals gave the young Lions the 2-0 victory, their second of the young season. OCB comes home with a 1-1-1 record on the three-game road swing.

Both teams had good chances to open the scoring early in the game. For the Lions, it was a cross by Austin Martz in the 11th minute that just missed the head of Pierre Da Silva at the back post. Steel FC nearly was able to open the scoring just a minute later when Marcus Epps sent a ball into the box. After bouncing around, Zach Carroll was able to clear the ball away from the Lions’ net.

Following the opening chance, it looked like the home side would strike first. In the 20th minute, Cory Burke got sent through on goal but OCB goalkeeper Earl Edwards came out to make the block. Three minutes later, Seku Conneh was through on goal after what looked to be a foul on Bethlehem but was waved play on. Again, Edwards made himself big and was able to make the stop. In the 36th minute, a dangerous ball in the back was intercepted by Fabian Herbers, who found himself free on goal. Edwards came out to make a sliding tackle which took down Herbers and cleared the ball.

OCB made the home team pay for those missed opportunities in the 49th minute. After a failed short free kick attempt, an OCB throw-in allowed the Lions the opportunity for a beautiful buildup from the back. Martz ended up with the ball darting toward to end line where he dropped it back for Richie Laryea to slide in his first professional goal.

In the 71st minute, the Lions doubled their lead. Receiving a long ball from the back, Albert Dikwa found Laryea to the right of goal. Wasting no time, Laryea took a touch and let go a shot from distance. The ball beat Steel goalkeeper John McCarthy to his low far post, giving Laryea his second goal of the game and the Lions a 2-0 lead.

As time wound down, both teams had another good chance on goal. In the 75th minute, Edwards denied Conneh once again with a diving one-handed save. Three minutes later it was McCarthy stopping Martz with a diving save, keeping the Steel deficit at two.

In the end, OCB was able to hold onto the lead and come away with the 2-0 win. It’s the young Lions’ second win on the season and their first away from the friendly confines of Orlando City Stadium. The win moves the team into seventh in the Eastern Conference with eight points. The Lions will return home Thursday night when they take on St. Louis FC.

Starting XI: Edwards, Jr.; Ellis-Hayden, Carroll (Donovan 45’), Timbó, Alston (Thomsen 34’); Neal, Rocha (Schweitzer 76’), Martz, Laryea, Da Silva; Dikwa.

Unused Subs: Fenlason, Deakin, Cox, Polk.

Goals: ORL - Laryea (49’, 71’).

Yellow Cards: ORL - Laryea (38’), Ellis-Hayden (87’); BET - Trusty (45’+2), Burke (47’), Jones (68’), Wijnuldum (70’), Conneh (88’).