Orlando City traveled to Ohio for a semifinal match in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against the Columbus Crew. Unfortunately, this was the end of the Lions’ hunt for a second USOC trophy as the club fell 2-1 to the Crew, failing to advance to the final. This was likely Orlando City’s best chance at a trophy this year, and the congested schedule may prove costly for the club’s chances on the road against a good New England side on Saturday.

Here are my five takeaways from the match.

Of Course it was Martinez

The Lions gave up an early goal, which is never good, but this goal was scored by Josef Martinez. Yeah, that guy is now with Columbus, and of course it was Martinez that gave the Crew the early lead against Orlando City. Antoine Griezmann was the player that kept Martinez onside. The video assistant referee took a look for a possible handball prior to the ball falling for the completely unmarked ex-Atlanta man, but there was nothing to it, and the home team took the lead. I’m fine if I never see Martinez play soccer again.

Welcome Back, Martin Ojeda!

Martin Ojeda started the match, and frankly he didn’t look too sharp in the early going. I should say that he didn’t look sharp until he did. Justin Ellis did some great work to bring the ball to just outside the box, he then sent a great ball across to Ojeda on his left. Ojeda took one touch to set up his cannon of a left foot and blasted a low shot into the bottom right corner past a defender and the outstretched hands of Crew goalkeeper Nicholas Hagan. It was exactly what the Lions needed from their Number 10, pulling Orlando level before the break.

The Double Whammy

There were two minutes in the second half completely changed the tenor of the match. In the 52nd minute, the Crew scored a go-ahead goal. Brais Méndez made a well-timed run to get in behind Robin Jansson and onto the ball from Santiago Rodriguez. There wasn’t anything Mazime Crepeau could to. Then in the 54th minute, Antoine Griezmann went off injured from an earlier challenge at the other end. He came off under his own power, but not having him on the pitch made things more difficult for Orlando City, which looked like a different team without him.

Angulo Put in a Shift

We don’t usually do Player Grades for U.S. Open Cup matches, but Ivan Angulo would have earned a good grade from me for his effort and work rate in this match. As he has in the past, he started on the left wing before moving to right back to finish the match. Even though I thought he occasionally looked tired, he always found the burst of speed when he needed it to either make a run or get back and defend.

A Tired Team

Orlando City looked like a team playing its third match in eight days, while the Crew, who also played three in eight, looked much fresher at home. Martin Perelman made four substitutions in the second half, and while the players who came on brought some energy, the creativity of Griezmann and Ellis (who subbed off) was missing late as Orlando searched for the equalizer. Ultimately, the Crew were able to play keep away to see out the match as the Lions had trouble keeping control long enough to create chances at the end.

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That is what I saw in Orlando City’s 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew. Let us know your thoughts about the match in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

Well, Wednesday night could have gone better. It’s disappointing that we won’t be able to see the U.S. Open Cup final in Orlando, but there’s still plenty of soccer left to play this year for us to get excited about. Before we dive into Orlando City’s game and the rest of today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello!

Orlando City Falls in Columbus

The Lions were eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup after losing 2-1 on the road to the Columbus Crew in the semifinals. Orlando City nemesis Josef Martinez gave the Crew an early lead, but the Lions managed to level things before halftime through Martin Ojeda. Unfortunately, Antoine Griezmann had to exit the match and the Lions were subpar without him, conceding another goal and failing to muster a single shot on target, let alone find another equalizer. All attention now turns towards securing a spot in the playoffs with nine games left in the regular season.

Orlando Pride, Gabi Nunes Agree to Part Ways

The Orlando Pride announced Wednesday that the club and forward Gabi Nunes have mutually agreed to terminate her contract. The 29-year-old had only just signed with the Pride on Aug. 4 on a contract through the 2026 season, but she managed just two appearances for 16 total minutes while in Orlando. Nunes joined the club after stints in Europe with Aston Villa, Levante UD, and Madrid CFF.

Barbra Banda Details Her Time in the NWSL

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda signed a new contract with the club through the 2029 season and she spoke on how she’s grown as a player since joining the league in 2024.

“Honestly, I’ve learned a lot from this league. I would say it’s one of the best leagues in the world because the teams are so competitive, and you never go into a game relaxed,” Banda said. “You need to up your game each and every time. You need to be mentally fit, physically fit. It’s a battle you need to win, and you have to be smart at the end of the day. I feel I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve improved myself in so many ways. And, not forgetting my teammates, who have helped me to improve, and the technical staff as well. I can feel it myself, this level, it’s different.”

Banda has been phenomenal for the Pride, scoring 41 goals in 62 appearances across all competitions and helping the club win the double in her first year in the league. She’s been one of the best strikers in the league’s history, and it’s great to see her sticking around in the City Beautiful.

U.S. Eliminated From U-20 Women’s World Cup

The United States U-20 Women’s National Team drew 1-1 against Brazil but lost in the ensuing penalty shootout in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup’s round of 16. Brazil took the lead in the 59th minute off of a corner kick, but the U.S. equalized in the 63rd minute, thanks to a strike from Seattle Reign midfielder Ainsley McCammon. The Yanks made four of their attempts in the shootout, but Brazil ultimately prevailed by making all five. It’s a tough way to exit the tournament for the U.S., which was matched up against Brazil in the knockout stage after finishing third in its group.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City forward Justin Ellis was noted as an American expected to be called up for the United States Men’s National Team’s friendlies later this month, which would include the match against Peru in Orlando on Sept. 26.

Among the expected USMNT call-ups, per sources:Diego KochenBrian Schwake Matt FreeseCavan Sullivan (per ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle) Zavier GozoNeil PierreMathis AlbertFrankie WestfieldJustin EllisLikely 26 players, including four keepersNothing official til Thursday

— Steven Goff (@stevengoff.bsky.social) 2026-09-16T19:53:52.600Z

• Orlando City academy player Lennox Alvarado was called up to the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team’s training camp in Spain, where the team will play against Scotland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
• The New England Revolution will be without both forward Jack Harrison and midfielder Alhassan Yusuf when they play Orlando City this weekend. Both players are expected to miss over a month due to injuries.
• The NWSL reportedly received eight complaints of either sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, or retaliation so far this year according to reports, but no club names were available.
• The Kansas City Current traded rookie forward Gianna Paul to the North Carolina Courage in exchange for $150,000 in intra-league funds.
• Chelsea announced that Todd Boehly and Mark Walter have sold their stakes in the club, giving Clearlake Capital full control in the process.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.

Orlando City’s leaky road defense continued to be a problem in a 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew at Scott’sMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, OH, in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. After conceding an early goal to longtime nemesis Josef Martinez, whose run the Lions ignored on a set piece, Martin Ojeda brought the game level before the break. Another poor moment at the back led to Brais Mendez’s game winner early in the second half, and Orlando lost all creativity down the stretch when Antoine Griezmann left with a knock and Justin Ellis began to tire.

Needing a goal for a half an hour, the Lions played with no urgency, hardly created anything, and looked like a team stuck in mud as the host Crew had no trouble playing through, around, and over them.

“Very disappointed. I think we didn’t perform as we should and the game was tough for us,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said after the game. “There were moments maybe in the first half that we had better sensations, feelings, and then again, I think we couldn’t do what we have been doing. We didn’t perform as we should. Nothing to say. It’s over.”

Perelman’s lineup featured Maxime Crepeau in goal behind a back line of Bernardo Rhein, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, and Zakaria Taifi. Joran Gerbet and Eduard Atuesta started in central midfield between wingers Ivan Angulo and Ellis with Ojeda and Griezmann up top.

Griffin Dorsey, who was held out Saturday for precautionary reasons, did not dress.

Columbus got forward immediately at the opening whistle and Brekalo was able to block a Santiago Rodriguez shot as the Crew looked to pounce early.

The Lions had a golden opportunity to score early on a corner kick when Griezmann found Rhein in the box all alone on a set piece played short. The Homegrown fullback had lots of net to shoot at but sent his shot right at Crew goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen and the Lions committed a foul trying to corral the rebound in the fourth minute.

It was a costly miss because Martinez put the Crew ahead four minutes later. Columbus won a corner moments later and the Lions were asleep at the switch on a set piece played short. Griezmann kept the play onside as the defense stepped up and no one marked Martinez, who had only to pass the ball into the net from point-blank range with zero defenders to deal with, making it 1-0 Crew early.

That man Josef Martinez! ⚡️@ColumbusCrew strikes first against Orlando in the @opencup semis.

📺: @paramountplus // CBS Sports Networkpic.twitter.com/jaiGTmhLlj

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 16, 2026

“The first 10 to 15 minutes of that first half really cost us,” Ojeda said. “We were not finding the open players when we had them, and we needed to be a little bit more patient to find those open players.

The set piece didn’t wake the defense up, as the Crew nearly made it 2-0 just a few minutes later. A ball into the box found Brooks Lennon, who saw his shot blocked in front by Rhein. The rebound fell to Rodriguez, who fired just over the target.

The Lions worked the ball right to left again on a set piece in the 14th minute but Taifi scuffed his shot and it was easily saved. Two minutes later, Ellis did well to take Atuesta’s pass, fake to his left and fire a near-post attempt with his right foot, but Hagen got down to make the save.

Crepeau saved Anass Zaroury’s shot in the 24th minute but nearly spilled it, despite it not having a lot on it. The Canadian regathered, however.

That play started a back-and-forth period that saw Angulo fire over the bar in the 25th minute and Rodriguez tried to chip Crepeau a minute later but he couldn’t get any lift on his shot, making for catching practice.

Griezmann then won a free kick left of center just outside the box in the 28th minute. Atuesta took the set piece and went for goal but he couldn’t beat Hagen to the near post. Hagen, however, made an awkward save with his chest and Orlando won a corner. On the ensuing set play, the Lions worked the ball to Rhein on the left and the Homegrown fullback sent a looping header toward the back post. The ball hit off the inside of the right upright and Steven Moreira cleared it off the line at the half-hour mark.

Orlando City finally got rewarded in the 40th minute for creating a number of good chances. Ellis started the play in his own half by making a nice move to split Santiago and Andre Gomes, taking the ball up the right channel. Approaching the box, Ellis squared the ball left for Ojeda, who took a touch and blasted a shot just inside the right post to make it 1-1.

Justin Ellis finds Martin Ojeda for the goal! 💥@OrlandoCitySC ties it up in the @opencup semis.pic.twitter.com/PgbZX3li2x

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 16, 2026

“It feels good to score, but at the end of the night, it didn’t help us get the victory tonight,” Ojeda said.

Following the Orlando goal, the rest of the half belonged to Columbus, which kept the Lions hemmed in their own end with long spells of possession. The hosts won a few set pieces but couldn’t do much with them. The closest the Crew came to retaking the lead before halftime came in the 44th minute, when Mendez got in behind the back line, only to have Crepeau make a big save with his right hand. The play, however, was offside.

Orlando survived a late corner and the teams went to the break knotted at 1-1.

At the break, the Crew held the advantage in possession (52%-48%), shots (9-7), corners (5-2), and passing accuracy (93%-92%). The Lions put more shots on target (4-3).

Perelman made his first change at halftime, sending Wilder Cartagena on for Gerbet.

The Lions got forward immediately after the restart and Angulo got down the left channel. He took a tough-angle shot that Sean Zawadzki blocked out for a corner. The set piece fell in the box but the Crew reacted first and cleared it.

Ojeda went for goal on a set piece from the right in the 50th minute that Griezmann won on a rough foul from Taha Habroune, who was booked. Hagen was a little off his post, but Ojeda just missed wide.

Columbus regained the lead off a turnover moments later. Crepeau tried a pass up the middle for Ojeda but it was just over the Argentine’s head. The Crew broke the other way and Rodriguez sent a cross past Jansson, who wasn’t near a defender, to Mendez, with Rhein completely out of the play and trying to catch up. The wide-open Mendez had only to touch the cross home to make it 2-1 in the 52nd minute.

Beautiful finish from Brais Mendez 🇪🇸😮‍💨@ColumbusCrew retakes the lead in the @opencup semis.pic.twitter.com/LjJDW9nRMF

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 17, 2026

Griezmann had to come off for Daryl Dike as a result of the earlier foul from Habroune.

“I don’t have the medical report yet, so we will wait until the doctors and the medical department give us the certain information regarding him,” Perelman said. “Everybody knows how impactful and important he is for us off and on the field and not having him is not a good plan, but it is what it is, and we have to be ready to compete and win, even in a situation like that.”

Mendez put the ball in again in the 60th minute but Martinez, who fed him the ball, was offside on the play and the flag came up immediately. Perelman used the stoppage to send Tyrese Spicer on for Taifi.

The Crew defense had a good spell after that, blocking an Ellis attempted dribble and an Atuesta pass intended for Dike in quick succession.

Columbus nearly made it 3-1 in the 65th minute as the Lions were beaten on a back-side cross behind Rhein, an area of concern that continues despite that being the main source of danger to Orlando’s defense for weeks. The ball quickly cycled centrally to Martinez, who fired just wide.

Angulo won a free kick and a corner over the next few minutes, but the Lions could do nothing with their service on either.

Marco Pasalic subbed on for Ellis in the 78th minute.

Ellis’ departure ended Orlando’s night of creating anything in possession. Down the stretch, the Lions struggled to win possessions that were few and far between as the Crew won seemingly every ball and passed around Orlando players as if they weren’t there. Crepeau made an incredible save to deny Andres Herrera on a 2-v-1 break in stoppage time to keep the final score from getting worse, and Gonzalo Tapia missed just wide on another transition chance moments later.

Angulo won a late free kick from distance on the far right side of the field, but the back-post delivery went off Dike and out of play to effectively end the match on another wasted set piece.

At the full-time whistle, Columbus had the advantage in shots (16-10), shots on target (6-4), and corners (7-4). Despite their struggles to get and keep possession down the stretch, the Lions somehow edged in front in possession (52%-48%) and passing accuracy (91%-90%).

“It hurts because it’s not the result we came here for. It’s not the result that we hoped for, and there were some difficult moments that cost us,” Ojeda said. “We had some chances in the first half that were more clear that we could have finished, and second half there were some chances that were less clear and we had some issues further up the field. So, I’ll say it again, just pain and sadness for tonight.”

The loss snaps Orlando City’s five-match unbeaten run, although all of those matches were in MLS regular-season competition.

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With the team’s U.S. Open Cup run now over, Orlando City has a quick turnaround with a trip to New England to face the Revolution coming up in league play on Saturday.