Photo: Allison Petro

Saturday’s emphatic 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds not only proved that the Lions are in top form at the right time, but that the two players starting in the forward positions are performing at a high level.

“I think the work rate that (Long) Tan and (Dennis) Chin produced set the tone for the entire night,” Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath said in the post-game press conference Saturday night after the victory. “It was important to note the role that they played.”

Chin and Tan were involved with four of the five goals scored Saturday night, something that had been missing from Orlando’s offense toward the end of the 2013 USL PRO Regular Season.

“We know we weren’t playing up to par (leading up to the playoffs),” Chin said. “We made sure we came out with lots of energy and played the way we know we can play.”

Heath had stressed in training over the last few weeks that Chin and Tan needed to translate strong training sessions into game-time performances, with Saturday the first hint of further successes between the duo in the postseason.

“Week after week we talked about our front players stepping up,” Heath said. “Saturday night, they did. We just have to continue that into the next game.”

The Lions take on the Charleston Battery this Friday, August 30, at Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The winner will advance to the 2013 USL PRO Championship match.

Orlando and Charleston have met twice this season, with their last meeting ending in a 2-1 victory for the Lions as Jamie Watson nabbed both goals for Orlando. The Lions hold an all time 7-1-2 advantage over Charleston.

Tickets are available for Friday night’s Semifinal by calling (855) ORL-CITY.