ORLANDO, Fla. — In the standings and in the record books, it will go down as a 2-2 season-opening draw with NYCFC, but in the hearts and minds of Orlando City’s players, coaches and fans it will go down as a 2-2 victory.
No, not a moral victory, although it would certainly qualify as that as well. It was an actual victory; a victory stolen away by an official who decided an obvious hand ball late in the match was not worthy of a penalty even though it was reviewed on video replay.
The play in question came when City’s Chris Mueller fired a precision pass to star striker Dom Dwyer at the back post, and Dwyer headed the ball downward in front of the goal.