Orlando City SC 0, Houston Dynamo 0 | 2016 MLS Match Recap

Franco Panizo

Orlando City began a new era on Friday night, and did so with a familiar result.

Just two days after parting ways with long-time head coach Adrian Heath, Orlando City played the Houston Dynamo to a scoreless draw at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Neither side was particularly creative in a match that was delayed slightly because of poor weather, as the two clubs finished with a combined four shots on goal.

While Orlando hogged possession throughout the 90 minutes, the game's best chance came at the foot of Houston veteran Giles Barnes. In the 89th minute, Barnes received a pass and blasted a low shot towards goal from the top of the penalty area. Unfortunately for him and the Dynamo, the ball caromed off the near post and rolled away from the goal.

Kevin Molino had the Lions' best chance in the 50th minute, but was denied superbly by Tyler Deric.

With the draw, Orlando City are now 4-4-9 while the Dynamo are 4-8-6.

Box Score

Three Things

LACKING PUNCH: Whether it was an Adrian Heath hangover, missing Kaká, a combination of those two factors, or something else entirely, Orlando City looked stale on Friday night despite playing at home. The Lions bossed possession by claiming 62.4 percent of it, but were never really all that threatening. In fact, Deric only had to make one save to record the Dynamo's shutout.
NEARLY STOLE ONE: The Dynamo were the inferior side from the run of play for most of the 90 minutes, but they made themselves difficult to play against and nearly took all three points in the end as a result. Barnes was inches from finding what surely would have been a winner after collecting a pass from about 21 yards out, but his ensuing shot was thwarted by the post.
THE BRIGHT SIDE: If there was one positive to take away from the match for Orlando, it was that they recorded a rare clean sheet. For the Lions, the goalless draw marked their second shutout in league play this year and first since March.