Kaka scored a late equaliser for 10-man Orlando as they drew 1-1 with New York City in a meeting between the MLS newcomers
Mix Diskerud put the visitors in front with a superb curling strike, before Orlando had Aurelien Collin sent off late on for a two-footed lunge on David Villa.
But Kaka’s deflected free-kick in stoppage time gave the Florida outfit a draw in front of over 60,000 fans at the Citrus Bowl in Sky Sports’ first live MLS fixture.
The Brazilian was the fulcrum of Orlando’s attacks early on, linking the play and taking all the set-pieces, but it was his powerful shot that proved the most dangerous moment of the first half. Molino rolled the ball into his path and the 2002 World Cup winner smashed a first-time effort towards goal which Saunders did well to parry away.
The hosts came out for the second half with much more attacking intent, and Molino nearly gave Orlando the lead as he side-footed a low shot from 20 yards which Saunders turned behind at full stretch.
The chances kept coming for Orlando, and Carlos Rivas went close after Cristian Higuita was brought down outside the box. Kaka laid the ball off to the forward, who hammered a low shot just wide of the near post.
It took until the 67th minute for New York to fashion their first good opportunity of the match, as Villa rolled the ball into Khiry Shelton’s path, only to see him drag his shot wide of the post. Moments later Adam Nemec received the ball in space in the area, but he could only sky his effort high over the crossbar.
Then, on 76 minutes, came the opener from New York as the ball was rolled to the edge of the box for Diskerud, who let it go across his body before curling a superb effort into the far corner to give the visitors the lead.
With five minutes to go, the hosts’ day looked to be turning from bad to worse as Collin lunged for a loose ball with a high challenge on Villa, and the referee showed the defender the red card.
But in the first minute of stoppage time, Kaka proved the hero as he fired a 25-yard free kick which deflected off the wall and bobbled into the net to earn the hosts a point.
