Juan Arango, Yohandry Orozco's Connection Peaking At Right Tim For The Cosmos

Photo credit: New York Cosmos

Juan Arango and Yohandry Orozco are connected through their homeland, Venezuela, but their paths have crossed in different stops during their careers.

Orozco watched from the bench with Wolfsburg against Arango’s Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany’s Bundesliga. Now, on the same team, Arango assisted on Orozco’s game-winning goal to send the New York Cosmos back to The Championship Final. The Cosmos will host Indy Eleven on Nov. 13 at Belson Stadium in Queens, N.Y.

“Juan and I have known each other for a long time,” Orozco told NASL.com. “We feel comfortable around one another and have helped each other adapt to the United States. We definitely have a good relationship both on and off the field. He understands the way I play and enables me to be the best player I can be.”

Ayoze sent a clever ball to meet Arango’s run into the box. With his first touch, he cut the ball back into Orozco’s pass and his compatriot made no mistake. The shot from Orozco caromed off the far post and into the back of the net for the decisive touch in the 2-1 comeback win over Rayo OKC.

“Knowing that you are playing with someone as talented as him in your team gives you confidence and helps you to develop as a player,” Orozco said. “Saturday’s goal was very special because Rayo OKC is a very difficult team to play against.

“I remember yelling at Juan so he could pass the ball as I was making my run inside the 18-yard box. He knew exactly how much power the pass needed so I could hit it properly. Although I am a lefty, I felt confident about that play because I knew it could change the game, and it did.”

Both Arango and Orozco were brought to the Cosmos by another Venezuelan, the club’s coach Giovanni Savarese. Savarese and Arango played together with the Venezuelan national team in the early stages of Arango’s career.

“We feel very proud to represent Venezuela around the world,” Arango, 36, said. “Winning a title with Gio and Yohandry would be wonderful.”

Orozco added: “Winning would mean a lot to our fans and families. Giving people in Venezuela a reason to be proud would mean a lot to us and that’s why we are working so hard, so we can wrap the season up the way we all deserve.”

Over the course of 2016, Arango, in an unfamiliar role, led the Cosmos in scoring with 15 goals. He also secured seven assists and was tied for second place in both categories. Arango, who also scored in the game against Rayo OKC to go along with his assist, noted the strides the younger Orozco, 25, has made during the year.

“Yohandry has grown a lot, we all have,” Arango said. “As professional players, we must learn to enjoy the game while we grow and learn from our teammates. He is a very talented player who has scored important goals for us and who can change the game any time. He is fast, versatile, and has the ability to position himself in dangerous areas for our rivals.”

Playing alongside Arango, and his ability to pop up in the right spots in important moments as well as seemingly always finding the right pass, has rubbed off on Orozco.

“I have developed some of my skills a lot by playing next to Juan,” Orozco said. “He definitely gives the game a new dimension, holds onto the ball very well and makes room for players, like myself, to think outside the box and be creative. He also associates very well with both our defensive and offensive line to link the two and make ball transitions seamless.”

Arango and Orozco now look to continue their connection in The Championship Final against a well-organized Indy Eleven side.

“Well, like all finals, this one won’t be easy at all,” Arango said. “We expect a very demanding game against a team that has been consistent throughout the year and a lot of resistance from their midfield and defensive line. But we are preparing well for the Final, we have talented players who can make the difference and will continue training the same way we have been training all year to play the kind of soccer we feel comfortable with.”