LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Orlando City B scored a pair of goals in stoppage time to stun a crowd of 8,351 fans at Slugger Field with a 2-1 victory against Louisville City FC on Saturday night. Tyler Turner first converted a penalty kick to level the score, and the visitors took victory on Keegan Smith’s finish moments later to give their playoff hopes a massive boost. Louisville took the lead in the 13th minute off a corner Paolo DelPiccolo’s back-post cross was put home by Guy Abend as the hosts had the better of the early going. Orlando almost leveled the score 13 minutes later when Smith’s shot went off the left post and wide, and Louisville also hit the woodwork three minutes before the break when Niall McCabe’s shot came back off the crossbar and was cleared. The game saw fewer chances in the second half, but as Orlando pressed late on they were first awarded a penalty kick that Turner converted from the spot, and then saw Smith curl home a finish to earn a dramatic win.

Scoring:
13’ – LOU – Guy Abend (Paolo DelPiccolo)
90+’ – ORL – Tyler Turner (PK)
90+’ – ORL – Keegan Smith (Davis Loera)

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Orlando has been known for stoppage-time drama previously in both the USL and MLS, and Saturday night’s game is a contender among all of those that came before it. Once the game ticked into stoppage time, it appeared that time was going to run out, and leave them without anything to show for their late pressure, but a calm penalty kick by Tyler Turner and a great counter-attack that caught Louisville as it pushed for a winner of its own is going to be a defining moment for OCB this season.

• 2. Louisville looked to have done enough to take victory behind Guy Abend’s goal, the latest moment that has seen the midfielder be a threat from set pieces for most of this season. Abend’s four goals now have him second on the team behind USL second-leading scorer Chandler Hoffman, a very nice boost for the side in addition to the solid play he has brought for much of the season in the center of midfield for the side.

• 3. Orlando’s victory not only gives its playoff chances a big boost, it also puts the pressure firmly on the teams looking up at it in eighth place in the standings. With Wilmington and Harrisburg both unable to come away with victory in the past two days, the pressure is going to be firmly on Bethlehem Steel FC on Sunday afternoon to keep pace as the Steel host Toronto FC II at Goodman Stadium.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Keegan Smith, Orlando City B – Smith hit the post in the first half, but ended up providing the game-winner deep in the second as Orlando took a vital three points toward its playoff push.

Upcoming Games:

Louisville City FC at Pittsburgh Riverhounds – August 5, 7 p.m. ET, Highmark Stadium

Orlando City B vs. Toronto FC II – August 6, 7:30 p.m. ET, Titan Soccer Complex