Orlando City holds off San Diego with everyone on defense | OneFootball

The defense starred for Orlando City SC as they sent four shots on goal against San Diego FC. It was the fourth that won the match for the Lions.

Offensive fireworks have turned the season around for Orlando City SC. But against San Diego FC, the Lions' defense showed they’ve got a say in where the team goes this year as well.

Orlando sent a total of only four shots on goal toward San Diego goalkeeper C.J. Dos Santos. One of the shots was scored in the 28th minute. Justin Ellis threaded a pass through three defenders when he spied Antoine Griezmann behind them.

Greizmann sent  the right-footed shot home. Daryl Dike got the second assist on the goal, resulting in a 1-0 victory for Orlando.

Dike had worked his way into the box after taking a long ball from Robin Jansson.

This is only the third time this season that San Diego hasn’t scored in an MLS game. It’s only their second loss in their past seven matches across all competitions.

The opponents did their best to activate the Lions’ second-half hex. Orlando felt it the most in the last 11 minutes. San Diego renewed the pressing defense they’d used to open the match. They pushed numbers forward.

Orlando City SC v Real Salt Lake | Dustin Markland/GettyImages

After all, they only needed one score to equalize.

They got so close in final stoppage time that Anders Dreyer fired from a central position outside the box, but hit the right post. For all their efforts, San Diego finished the match with only two shots on target.

Lions goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau said every Orlando player contributed to a united defense to overcome their opponents. They had to keep hitting San Diego when their line was high and shut down their most dangerous plays.

Orlando City SC will have to keep hitting opponents for the rest of the year. Then, the season they turned around will stay turned around.