Head Coach Jim Curtin
Opening Statement...
Overall a real disappointing day. Obviously you're dealing with a lot of variables; a hot day, one where they are resting some guys. Maybe we had a little bit of a sense that it was going to be an easy night. I don’t think that was the case. I thought we approached the start of the game good, got the goal, then had numerous chances to get the second. In this league, if you let teams hang around, you don't do your job on restarts, you can get punished. So, we didn't give up a lot today, but at the same time these types of games happen in the course of a season. It's one that we are very disappointed about. I know the players are upset about. We found a way to drop two points. We did show some character getting the goal late to at least make it a point, but overall not good enough on the day. It starts with me and it starts with the rest of the group. We’re not happy about it, it wasn’t a sign of a first place team and this league has a way of humbling you when you get a little too high. I think we will learn from it, I think overall perspective wise it has been a good stretch of games. The three tough road games that we had, some good performances in there to take points, but today we kind of let ourselves down. Not our best night and you look at the statistics and it doesn't take a genius to figure out we did enough to win the game tonight, but we fell asleep and let ourselves down on restarts.
On the problems in the attacking phase of the game...
We still had our chances, we created chances, we put [Brian] Rowe under some pressure with our ability. Now when they have eight, nine guys behind the ball it is difficult. I think we had a good sense of patience and still put balls in dangerous areas. I would have liked to have been a little more clinical with the final pass, but we didn't connect. That happens sometimes. Still, getting the one goal early should have been enough. I think at home we should be able to keep clean sheets. We let ourselves down on restarts and it's not like Orlando [City SC] created much in the run of play. We had 21 shots, had enough possession, just didn't finish. It’s clear we miss [Jamiro Monteiro], no question about it, absolutely miss him a ton. You see it's more difficult for us to have an ability to break teams down. He brings that in a big way. Happy for some guys that had decent performances. Obviously Marco [Fabian] getting the goal, happy to have him back. Overall, tonight should have been three points and it wasn't so we let ourselves down.
On Matt Real’s performance coming off the bench...
He made an impact in the game. We had center backs and outside backs to choose from, so it was pretty limited. Obviously missing Ilsinho and Jamiro, missing some pieces. That’s part of it, everybody has a little bit of injuries right now, but happy for Matt to get on the field and make an impact. I thought him and Anthony [Fontana] both left a mark on the game and Kacper [Przybylko] came to life there and finishes the play off for us. Happy there, but still if were a team that wants to separate, were still in first place, which is good, but we should be a little more greedy right now and I think we weren’t. We talk about killer instinct all the time. That was the message at halftime. You can’t let teams hang around because, again, we commit a silly foul after we run 60 yards with a guy, Nani plays in a good ball and we don’t do well. We don’t do well on the corner kick and guys losing assignments. It was a night we needed to do all the simple things perfect and we did not do that. That's what we talked about in the pregame and we came up a little bit short.
On Sergio Santos’ current form...
He has to work to get into the starting lineup. That's obviously the goal of any striker. When we put him on the field you have to take the most of your chances. I thought in Orlando, was not good for a lot of guys, how we closed out that game. He was our one offensive sub that we had today, really, in terms of a forward. He got on the field, he made some plays, had a good cross, Fafa [Picault] could have finished one off. Overall, he's working to get back into the swing of things and there is high competition right now. There are going to be guys coming back off of injuries. When [Jamiro Monteiro] comes back, when Ilsinho’s back it's going to be tough to make the 18 so that's what he should be focused on and trying to find a way to get on the field.
On Kacper Przybylko’s recent form...
He's a great goal scorer. Kacper has been excellent for us this year. You guys can see now, when he gets opportunities he will finish them off. I don’t think it was his best game tonight and I think he would tell you that, but the top strikers finish plays off. Same as [Dom] Dwyer. Dwyer didn’t really have anything to do tonight, other than run defensively, but when he gets his one look, he scores. Kacper’s been the same way for us now finishing off plays, working his tail off defensively, so really happy with him in that regard.
Defender Matt Real
On going in and making an impact...
Jim [Curtin] just kind of told to go in an make an impact. So my focus was to go in there, kind do what I did; drive the ball into the box. When I originally subbed on, I was subbed on as winger, but then when scored the second goal we converted back to a four. I was happy I was able to contribute like I did but as for the result of the team, I feel like we could have gotten more out of that. Disappointed as well.
On his connection with Anthony Fontana...
We're both kind of in similar circumstances. We need to prove ourselves more at this level so I think we both entered the game with fire. We're just kind of eager to show no matter how much time we get that we can make a difference.
On getting into a match late...
It's never easy coming into the game, especially in a situation like that when we're down a goal or pushing for a goal in the last minute but the only thing you can do is throw yourself forward and keep getting balls in the box. Defensively, when you're down a goal, your focus is more attack minded. You just kind of keep pushing forward, get balls in the box, shot and whatever you can do.
Forward Kacper Przybylko
On his thoughts on the match...
I don't really want to talk about my goal today. We had two set pieces, two crosses. We had everything under control in the first half. It feels like a loss and not like a tie. It feels very bad.
On playing against a defense that puts 10 guys behind the ball...
You maybe create better chances. You cross the twice or three times in a half. We scored the first goal. It's just annoying because we had everything under control and we said at halftime let's finish this game. We didn't do it. We got two goals and we shouldn't be happy we tied this game.
On his team’s final goal...
They stay back and very far. There were eight guys standing in front of goal. I was really shocked and really pissed off to go against such a team. I had feeling that they didn't want to win the game. Very strange but they were successful until the 90th minute.
Midfielder Marco Fabian
On what made it difficult to score a second goal today...
I think games like today are difficult because they played good defensively. It's difficult because they have 10 players behind the ball so we tried to shoot, cross and we had a lot of chances but we needed to score more. We try. That's the most important and right now we need to be ready for the next game.
On coming back and scoring...
Yeah I always say the most important thing is my team. I don't care who scores the goals. For sure I feel good. I'm happy that I came back and scored a goal. That's a good thing for me but the most important thing is team. I wanted to take three points, but I feel my ankle is good and I am happy for us. Now I just have to push for more and try to get a rhythm because I need it for next game.
On scoring with his head...
I don't know how many goals I've scored in my career with my head. I'm not a really tall guy, but I always try. Sometimes they don't know I can jump and I score.
