In his MLS debut, Kaka proved that he is as good as advertised … Sort of.
Kaka scored the game-tying goal Sunday for Orlando City in its 1-1 draw with New York City FC. The Brazilian midfielder scored off a deflected free kick in second half stoppage time, as 10-man Orlando City clawed back to earn a draw against visitors NYC FC in front of 62,510 fans at the Citrus Bowl.
Kaka won a host of trophies and individual awards during his European soccer career, but his highlight moment wasn’t the product of his undoubted class. Instead, Kaka needed a mean deflection to beat NYC goalkeeper Josh Saunders in the 92nd minute.
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Much is expected of Kaka, who is the league’s highest-paid player ($7,167,500 per year) and the marquee name in expansion club Orlando City’s squad. The 32-year-old might not play with the driving force that made him a superstar with AC Milan and Brazil’s national team, but he reinforced the notion that the best players create their own luck.
Mix Diskerud, another MLS debutante, scored a better goal than Kaka’s earlier in the contest. The U.S. national team midfielder put his team in front with a fine, curling goal in the 76th minute.
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Like Kaka, Diskerud’s goal was the first of his MLS career and the first in his team’s MLS history.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@KICKTV
