¹û½´ÊÓƵ

In the kind of game ¹û½´ÊÓƵ City SC has been searching for all season, it took a lead and then added to it, and then added some more, and at the same time shut down one of the league’s better offenses in a 3-1 win over Nashville on a hot Saturday night at a sold-out, but not full, Energizer Park.

City SC got goals from two new faces, Jaziel Orozco and Sangbin Jeong and one old familiar face, Klauss, as it matched its season high for goals in a game and won for just the fifth time all season. It looked like City SC was heading for its first shutout of the season after Roman Burki made a save on a PK by Hany Mukhtar, but Burki had left his line early and on a review, Mukhtar got a second chance, which he converted in the 85th minute.

The impact on the standings, however, is minimal, with City SC still closer to last place than it is to a playoff spot. But the team gave an example of what might have been.

It was only the second time this season City SC had taken a 2-0 lead into the half, and the other time came against Sporting Kansas City, when it couldn’t hold the lead, settled for a tie, and pushed Olof Mellberg that much closer to being fired.

City SC’s first goal came from Orozco, making just his fifth start with the team. City SC earned a corner kick after a flurry of chances that ended with Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis tipping a shot by Marcel Hartel over the bar.

Eduard Lowen’s ensuing corner kick was headed toward the top of the box by another new arrival, Devin Padelford, and grabbed by Orozco, who dribbled to the end line and then, from what seemed like an impossible angle, beat Willis at the near post, with the ball slightly glancing off the post on its way in. For Orozco, it’s just his third goal since turning pro, with the other two goals coming in developmental leagues.

Klauss’ goal was his eighth of the season as he continues his revival under interim coach David Critchley. On a play that built up from the back, Lowen made a strong run up the right flank, with Klauss crossing behind him to an outside position and Marcel Hartel drawing attention on a run down the middle. Lowen dropped the ball off to Klauss, and from a tough angle, though not quite as tough as Orozco’s, he also clipped the post as he beat Willis on the short side.

Jeong scored in the 65th minute after a steady stream of possession for the club near the Nashville goal. Lowen got the ball to Simon Becher at the top of the box. His initial shot was blocked, but the ball came back to him and his second shot was flicked into the net with his head by Jeong. It was the first goal of the season for Jeong, who had gone goal-less in his games with Minnesota.

Fallou Fall made his first start for City SC, joining the team’s other acquisitions in the summer window, Jeong and Devin Padelford, in the starting lineup.