Second-half goals help Orlando City rally to tie Charlotte

Field Level Media|published: Wed 19th June, 22:02 2024

Jun 19, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Orlando City forward Luis Muriel (9) dribbles the ball against Charlotte FC defender Adilson Malanda (29) during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Orlando City's Duncan McGuire and Facundo Torres scored second-half goals against short-handed Charlotte FC in a 2-2 tie Wednesday night in Charlotte.

Kerwin Vargas scored in the first half and Brandt Bronico gave Charlotte another lead, but the team was unable to survive more than 50 minutes of match time with a player down. Orlando City pulled even in the 63rd and 81st minutes.

Charlotte's excitement about scoring was dimmed late in the opening half when midfielder Scott Arfield was shown the red card.

Kristijan Kahlina made six saves, but he failed to collect his ninth clean sheet of the season for Charlotte (8-6-5, 29 points), which had its home streak of holding opponents scoreless end at five matches.

Orlando (4-8-6, 18 points) has a five-match winless streak (0-3-2). Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar stopped three shots.

Arfield, who was in the starting lineup for just the fourth time this season, was dismissed in the 38th minute after a tackle from behind on Orlando City's Felipe Martins. An original foul and subsequent yellow card was upgraded to serious foul on Arfield after video review.

Torres posted his third goal this year about four minutes after Bronico's first goal of the season put Charlotte back in front. Stajduhar came out of the crease to challenge, but Bronico popped the ball over him.

McGuire tied the score with his first goal since mid-May. His sixth goal of the season ended a four-match stretch without scoring.

The first equalizer was set up by Torres with a header pass. McGuire cut through the box and had a perfect redirection and Kahlina didn't have a chance to stop it.

Vargas has scored in back-to-back matches after going six matches without a goal. He has a team-leading four goals this season.

His latest tally came in the 11th minute, with the ball deflecting off Martins. The scoring chance was set up by ball movement from Liel Abada and Arfield.

This is the second time in his three-year MLS career that Vargas has scored in consecutive matches.

Charlotte was without midfielder Junior Urso, a former Orlando City player who suffered a foot injury in Saturday night's match vs. DC United.

--Field Level Media

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