Can you feel it? The electricity in the air, the buzz in the city? We are less than one week away from the Major League Soccer debut of our Orlando City SC Lions, and the entire 407 area code is eagerly waiting their opportunity to #FillTheBowl.
The team is a pretty big mystery, very different from in years past. With new, exciting names in a new, exciting league, it's easy to get wrapped up in all things new to City. One particular USL holdover, however, is not new to this city. He's not new to the staff or the long-term fans. No, Kevin Molino needs no introduction to us.
To the rest of the world, though? Meet Kevin Molino.
Shown above working an absolutely disgusting one-two, before launching a heat seeking missile at the back of the net, Molino has been doing his thing in Orlando since 2011, being groomed by Head Coach Adrian Heath into the devastating assaulter of nets we've come to know and love.
A Trinidad and Tobago international to the tune of 12 goals in 29 appearances, the 24-year-old Molino has captured two USL Pro MVP awards -- 2011 and 2014 -- setting the league scoring record during last season's MVP performance.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "Sure, he's got a titanium boot, but you need more than that at the next level."
Ladies and gentleman, Exhibit B:
Showing precision and touch under pressure in the box, Molino's process is pretty simple here, "Hey, there's the back of the net. I'm going to put this ball there. That's what happens next." Stopping him does not appear to be an option here.
A member of all three Commissioner's Cup teams and both USL Pro Cup-winning squads, Molino signed a two-year extension with Orlando City on Jan. 10, 2014, becoming the team's first MLS player. A favorite of the fans and staff alike, this seemed like a no-brainer even before he went on to score 20 goals last season, breaking the previous league goal record of 15 by a fairly wide margin.
Working with Kaká from the right side is a dream come true for Molino, and one that could lead to more opportunities to make opposing keepers look completely, utterly foolish.
That, ladies and gentleman, is how you break hearts. Shown here approaching from the left side of the box as opposed to the right side in the previous two videos, Molino is keenly aware of the crashing netminder before reminding him that he is, in fact, Kevin effing Molino, and that he should know better than to try to stop him from scoring.
Hype is defined as "promote or publicize (a product or idea) intensively, often exaggerating its importance or benefits." Allow me to be clear; this is no exaggeration. Kevin Molino is the real deal. This Sunday, March 8, Molinomania runs wild, brother.