Mueller has 2 goals and Orlando City downs NYCFC 3-1
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Chris Mueller scored twice in the opening 10 minutes and Orlando City won its second game of the MLS is Back tournament, beating New York City FC 3-1 Tuesday night.
Mueller got his first in the fourth minute, scoring on a free kick from Joao Moutinho that never hit the ground. He added a second goal in the 10th minute to give Orlando a 2-0 lead. Mueller has three goals in the tournament.
NYCFC got a goal from Jesus Medina in the first half. Orlando's Tesho Akindele scored late to seal it.
Orlando City was coming off a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami in the tournament opener. Nani scored the game winner in stoppage time.
NYCFC lost 1-0 to the Philadelphia Union in its opening match of the tournament. The loss was all the more disheartening because Maxi Morales, the league's assist leader last season, sustained a quad injury and could miss several weeks.
NYCFC challenged Orlando in the 30th minute but goalkeeper Pedro Gallese dove to deny Gudmundur Thorarinsson. It pulled a goal back in the 38th minute on Medina's blast from outside the box into the top corner.
Akindele's header wrapped up scoring in the 81st minute.
NYCFC midfielder Alex Ring made his 100th MLS appearance.
Orlando City played to a scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake in the regular season opener on Feb. 29. It lost 2-1 to Colorado before the league was shut down on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
NYCFC opened the regular season with a pair of losses to Columbus and Toronto. The team was playing this season under new coach Ronny Deila after finishing atop the Eastern Conference last year.
The results of the group stage matches played without fans as ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex will count toward the regular season.
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