ORLANDO, Fla.- Cyle Larin insisted Orlando City’s win was far more important than him tying the MLS rookie goalscoring record in the Lions’ emphatic 5-2 victory over Columbus Crew.
The No.1 pick in this year’s SuperDraft added two more goals to his rapidly-growing tally to take his season’s haul to 11 and equal the rookie best set by Chicago’s Damani Ralph in 2003.
But Larin was more concerned with the fact the Lions ended a four-game losing skid—three of them in the league—to breathe some life back into their playoff hopes alive after a miserable, winless July.
“It feels good just to win,” he said after bagging the first and third goals in what became a second-half rout. “July was not the best for us, but now we are looking forward again.
“It definitely feels good to tie the record and it would be good to break it in Toronto on Wednesday, but that wasn’t what I was thinking during the game. We knew it was a big game for us and we needed a win.”
The big Canadian, who was born near Toronto, did admit he is growing in confidence with every chance that hits the back of the net. He's also eager for more.
“The more I score, the more I get confident for the next one,” he said. “I definitely feel if I score one, I can score another. If I miss one, I know I will get another chance if I just keep going. I feel I am still learning but I am learning every day and every game.
“Today’s game was about the little things. We didn’t make silly mistakes and we worked hard for each other, and I think that’s what made the difference today after the New York loss.”
Head coach Adrian Heath was equally delighted with the big win hot on the heels of the 5-3 New York City defeat, especially as he was again restricted by injuries that robbed him of right back Rafael Ramos (thigh) and Carlos Rivas (groin) on top of the absences of Sean St Ledger (waived by the team on Friday) and Martin Paterson (back in Britain on a personal matter).
Heath drastically altered his usual formation to play more of a 4-4-2 system, with full back Luke Boden pushed into an attacking left-sided midfield role that occasionally morphed into a 4-3-3.
“I would like to say I was dead clever and came up with a master plan,” he admitted. “But we just tried to get an experienced team on the field. Luke is an intelligent footballer and has played there before. He got better as the game went on and was one of four or five really outstanding performances tonight.
“But everybody worked so hard and it was an incredible performance overall, against a very good team who I feel are one of the best in the league in the problems they cause you.”
The head coach also paid tribute to his midfield duo of Darwin Ceren and Cristian Higuita, who both got on the scoresheet and kept Orlando pushing forward for much of the game.
“I don’t want to keep talking about them too much in case someone out there tries to buy them, but I think they are two of the better midfield players in the league,” Heath added. “They have all the things you need from your midfield guys and, with Servando Carrasco, they were the driving force of our victory.
“We had talked all week about how important this game was for us and it showed in a very disciplined and committed performance. They are all absolutely shattered in there but I have told them that’s the level it takes to win and we will have to produce a similar performance in Toronto to get a result.”
Heath was delighted for his young striker, who has now bagged five goals in the past seven days and leads the team, two ahead of captain Kaká.
“I thought we started a bit apprehensively tonight but we were always very dangerous on the counter-attack, and Cyle had a lot to do with that,” he insisted. “He could comfortably have scored two in the first 10 minutes but he just kept going and he got his rewards.
“The goals came at important times and, as I always say, goals change games. We did that tonight and, to come away and win as we did after conceding so early, I am just delighted for the boys.”
