By Official Florida FC

Orlando City may have dropped two more points on Friday night against Sporting Kansas City; however, the Lions left Children’s Mercy Park encouraged.

“I think it was a great performance for our team,” head coach Oscar Pareja told reporters following Orlando’s 1-1 road draw.

“We came here to Kansas in an away game against a very good rival to attack the game with the confidence in the way we played and the way we do our things to get the result. The personality and the consistency in our sequences today was very good and was the highlight of our team. I’m very pleased. Obviously you want to walk away with three points after that many chances that we created, especially in the first half when we had the goal in front of us a few times, but we’re happy. We’re excited to have played and to have this performance and we look forward to the next one.”

Orlando won the xG with 1.0 to Sporting Kansas City’s 0.4. But, the hosts scored right before halftime following an unnecessary giveaway by the Lions as they visitors tried to play out from the back.

As for Orlando? The Lions had their chances. What would have been Andres Perea’s first goal for the club was ruled out because he was narrowly offside.

Perea’s misfortune came well after Tesho Akindele had an opportunity to score within the first minute of the game. Akindele’s effort was saved and Orlando native Benji Michel couldn’t put the ball home.

It’s the type of chance Daryl Dike would have put away. However, the 20-year-old forward remains in England humiliating opponents in the English Championship.

Nani’s 79th minute goal helped Orlando secure a result. Orlando City is 8-2-7 when Nani scores a goal in a match he started.

The captain’s goal is the only one Orlando City (0-0-2, 2 points) has scored in two MLS matches.

Only six of the 27 Major League Soccer teams have scored one or fewer goals. Reigning MLS Cup winners Columbus has the excuse of only having played once this season.

Two games is not enough to portend the entire season. Orlando scored only one goal in its first two games of 2020 and finished fifth in the league with 40 goals scored.

Few things can cure a misfiring attack more than a home match against FC Cincinnati (0-1-1, 1 point). NYCFC scored five set piece goals in a 5-0 evisceration of Jaap Stam’s team on April 24.