Orlando City SC improve unbeaten streak to 17-games

Miguel+Gallardo+earned+his+seventh+clean+sheet+of+the+season+on+Saturday+against+the+Wilmington+Hammerheads.

Danny Morales / Valencia Voice

Miguel Gallardo earned his seventh clean sheet of the season on Saturday against the Wilmington Hammerheads.

Anthony Pullis scored his first goal of the season, as Orlando City SC defeated the Wilmington Hammerheads 2-0 on Saturday in front of an announced attendance of 4,919 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports.

“I don’t care what league you play in, to go a full season without losing,” said Heath about the unbeaten run. “Go 17 games, you ever look at how many teams do it? Not many do.”

Orlando City have now gone unbeaten through 17 league games, all while extending their winning streak to 8-games.

Dennis Chin opened up the scoring in the 32nd minute, when he gave Orlando City a 1-0 lead after he put in a Kevin Molino assist for his fifth goal of the season. The goal was Chin’s first since he netted two against the Oklahoma City Energy on May 4.

Orlando City went into halftime with a 1-0 lead, while having out shot the Hammerheads 15-3 during the first 45 minutes.

Molino earned a penalty kick in the 51st minute when he was taken down in the box by a Wilmington defender. Anthony Pullis took the penalty and buried it into the back of the net to extend Orlando’s lead to 2-0.

“Kevin’s ability is top drawer, as good as I’ve ever played with to be honest,” said Pullis about the clubs leader in assists and scoring. “He can be whatever he wants to be, he’s got potential to really go on and be a really top player and that’s only good for Orlando City.”

Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo notched his seventh clean sheet of the season, although he never had to officially make a save during the game.

With the win Orlando City improves their record to 14-0-3, with 45 points, putting them in front of the second place Richmond Kickers by 10 points.

“I’m obviously delighted to come away with a win,” said Orlando City manager Adrian Heath after the game. “We’ve kept the run going, which was important.”

Orlando was also hit with the injury bug as of late, as the team went into Saturday’s game without midfielder Yordany Alvarez, striker Corey Hertzog and defender Brad Rusin.

The Lions next game will be Thursday, July 17 against Sacramento Republic FC in California.