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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Columbus Crew: Final Score 1-1 as Marco Pasalic’s Goal Earns the Lions a Point

The Lions had their chances, but could only put one in the net, missing an opportunity to distance themselves from the Crew in the standings.

Published

11 months ago

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Image of Eduard Atuesta playing the ball against Columbus.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

It was a wet and wasteful night at Inter&Co Stadium, as Orlando City fell behind the Columbus Crew in the first half, leveled the match before halftime, and then squandered opportunities to go on and win the game. Andres Herrera put the Crew (13-8-12, 51 points) on top, but Marco Pasalic’s blast allowed Orlando City (14-7-11, 53 points) to at least earn a point at home in a crucial match with Eastern Conference playoff seeding ramifications.

A win would have seen the Lions five points clear of ninth-place Columbus, but Orlando remains just two points ahead of the lowest play-in wild card spot.

“Just like always, I think a very competitive match,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “We end up with the sensation that we had those options so clear to find the game, but also we humbly have to recognize that they had two options also at the end, so very competitive match.”

Pareja’s lineup included Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson, and Alex Freeman. Joran Gerbet started in central midfield with Eduard Atuesta inside wingers Ivan Angulo and Pasalic, with Martin Ojeda and Luis Muriel up top.

The game was only a few minutes old when Gerbet sustained a non-contact injury and had to be helped off. Kyle Smith subbed on for him in just the fifth minute.

Columbus dominated play in the first half, while Orlando City was sloppy with its few possessions. The Crew kept the ball and searched for an opening against a defense that seemed more passive than aggressive to start the match.

Diego Rossi returned from injury in the match to start for the Crew and was dangerous from the jump. He got in behind the back line in the eighth minute on a long ball from the goalkeeper, but Gallese came well off his line and blocked Rossi’s shot. The defense arrived to clean up the rebound to end the threat.

Three minutes later, Angulo committed an unnecessary foul just outside his defensive penalty area, conceding a dangerous free kick just right of center. Dylan Chambost went for goal on the set piece, but he sent his shot into the defensive wall. The rebound came back to him, so he fired again, this time sending his shot through the wall but straight at Gallese.

The Crew won a series of corners after that, but Orlando was able to deal with them. Malte Amundsen earned a yellow card for a hard foul on Gallese on the second such set piece.

Herrera scored an easy goal in the 32nd minute. Lassi Lappalainen had the ball on the left and sent a pass through the area to a charging Herrera, who had slipped past both Angulo and Marin. He deflected the ball past Gallese to open the scoring.

The Lions responded well to falling behind. Marin stepped in front of a diagonal left-to-right pass and bombed forward into space in the midfield, taking it into the attacking third. He found Muriel on his right, and the Colombian had plenty of space to shoot from outside the box. Patrick Schulte saved the initial blast but couldn’t hang onto it. Pasalic was first to react, smashing the ball into the back of the net in the 34th minute to tie the match.

“I was able to take it down with my chest, and then I looked up and they were pretty wide open, and they were creating spaces for us,” Marin said. “I like to try and take it in that moment. And I like to look for the diagonal balls in those moments to Marco, to Luis, and I was able to find Luis in that moment. I passed him the ball, and then I tried to make a run and try and find that one-two with him. And then he turned around and he shot it towards the goal, and it was a good shot, but the goalkeeper saved it. And then Marco definitively ran in and was able to get the rebound, and thankfully, able to convert the goal. You know, it’s always great knowing that those two are always going to be there.”

“It’s difficult when you don’t score for five, six games,” Pasalic said. “It’s difficult when you don’t score one game, you know? And for me especially, what’s more important is that I scored the equalizer so I can help the team. I would be happy if we won today with that goal, but like I said, I’m happy that I have broke the ice, and now I keep going and want to push and help the team.”

Columbus nearly struck right back. Rossi shook loose on the right and fired a shot that Gallese saved, but he couldn’t control the rebound, which fell to Max Arfsten. The USMNT fullback saw his follow-up shot blocked by the defense. The second rebound fell to Lappalainen, who sent a header wide.

Orlando City won a couple of late corner kicks, setting up a pair of headers for Brekalo. The Slovenian international sent the first one wide off of Ojeda’s service, and he sent the second straight to Schulte off a recycled ball in from the right in the 43rd minute.

Angulo had to race back to poke the ball away from Herrera, who once again was able to sneak in unimpeded on the right in the 44th minute, and the Lions cleared the ensuing corner cross.

Freeman got down the right and did well to pick out Ojeda in stoppage time. The Argentine fired a shot toward the left post but it went off a defender and out for a corner. That was the last good look of the half.

Columbus held the halftime advantage in possession (59.8%-40.2%), corners (5-3), passing accuracy (90%-86.3%), and shots on target (4-3). Both teams attempted eight shots in the half.

“The first part of the game, we wanted to clog the middle,” Pareja said. “They use the intervals or those zones where they like to play. We knew that they were going to provide us space, and we bet for that option on clogging the middle, but we ended up just defending too low. The first 15 minutes, 20 probably, we felt that it was too much, not what we wanted. “

Bringing Angulo higher on the pitch helped the Lions get more control of the game over the final minutes of the first half.

The Lions won an early corner, with the ball into the area finding Brekalo, who headed it down but right into a defender for the block in the 47th minute.

Two minutes later, second-half Crew sub Ibrahim Aliyu nearly got in behind but the Lions’ defense arrived in time to prevent a shot.

Muriel was sent behind the line in the 50th minute and tried to cut back as the defense arrived. He then tried to cut back again and lost the ball without even a shot attempt.

Orlando conceded a dangerous free kick in the 51st minute, but it appeared to be a clean takeaway. Orlando vehemently protested the decision but the call was made. Rossi took the set piece but sent it well over the crossbar.

Moments later, the Lions got their own free kick but from much further away. Freeman was taken down on the right. Ojeda sent the free kick on target but from that range, Schulte had plenty of time to get in front of it to make the stop. Two minutes later, Freeman nearly got on the end of another Ojeda set piece delivery, but it skipped just in front of him and he was offside anyway.

Muriel stole the ball and burst forward in the 63rd minute. As he approached goal on the left side, he again passed up a shooting opportunity to try to thread a pass to the back post, and again the Crew arrived to break up the play. Three minutes later, the Lions had a 2-on-1 counterattack with Ojeda on the ball. Like Muriel, Ojeda passed up a shooting opportunity to try to give second-half sub Duncan McGuire a tap-in, but he misplaced his pass and the chance evaporated.

Columbus controlled most of the final 25 minutes, keeping the ball in the Orlando third for long periods. Herrera took a pass from Rossi on the right in the 68th minute and cut inside onto his left, firing a shot straight at Gallese.

The game bogged down at that point, with neither side creating much danger as substitutes cycled in and disrupted the flow of the game.

The Lions tried to counter off a Columbus corner in the 80th minute, getting forward four on two with Atuesta picking out Nico Rodriguez on the right, but he took a heavy touch and Darlington Nagbe intervened, knocking the ball out for a corner. The Lions played the set piece short, overcooked the entry ball, and created nothing from the opportunity.

The Crew’s best chance at a winner came in the 83rd minute, when they sent the ball right to left to an unmarked Arfsten in the box. The shot was deflected just wide for a corner.

Four minutes later, the last Orlando attack fizzled when Tyrese Spicer found McGuire in the box, but the defense again arrived to knock it away.

Neither side could do much in the two minutes of injury time and the match ended in an unsatisfying draw.

The Crew increased their possession advantage, finishing with a big edge (61.3%-38.7%). Columbus also had the advantage in shots (18-10), shots on target (7-4), and passing accuracy (90.5%-84.7%). Both teams won seven corners.

“We played really well,” Pasalic said. “We had a difficult opponent. They did also really well. So it was a difficult game. I’m happy that we take one point. It’s better than no point.”

The Lions are back in action a week from tonight as the Vancouver Whitecaps visit the City Beautiful.

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. San Diego FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Lions welcome San Diego FC to Orlando for the first meeting ever between the two clubs.

Published

7 hours ago

on

September 5, 2026

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Image of Joran Gerbet playing against Minnesota United.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match preview and live thread for a Saturday night matchup between Orlando City (7-11-4, 25 points) and San Diego FC (8-8-6, 30 points) at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). It’s the first-ever meeting between these two teams from different conferences

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.

History

As mentioned above, tonight’s meeting between the Lions and San Diego is the first in the series history, so there is no history. The Lions are 2-2-1 against Western Conference teams this season, which means little to nothing in this particular match, and San Diego is going to be Orlando City’s final opponent from the opposite conference in MLS regular-season play this season.

Overview

The Lions are coming off a wild 3-3 road draw at Minnesota United a week ago, in which Daryl Dike and Antoine Griezmann scored on either side of halftime on Orlando’s first two shot attempts to put their team up 2-0 in the 64th minute. Minnesota stormed back with three goals off defensive errors in a four-minute span to take a late 3-2 lead. Just when the Loons appeared to be headed for all three points, Tyrese Spicer scored in stoppage time, forcing Minnesota to split the points. Orlando has a modest 1-0-1 unbeaten streak entering tonight, and the Lions are 5-4-2 at home in 2026.

San Diego is coming off a 3-1 home win over the LA Galaxy despite having Jeppe Tverskov sent off. Tonight’s visitors have won two straight games, but both were at home. They lost their last home game 3-1 at Portland on Aug. 19 and are 2-5-3 away from home this season.

The key for Orlando City tonight will be to mark Anders Dreyer, which is far easier said than done, as he has emerged as one of the league’s best playmakers. His eight goals and 11 assists give him 19 total goal contributions to lead his team. Marcus Ingvartsen is Dreyer’s favorite teammate to combine with, as the Danish forward has converted 11 times, leading San Diego in goals, and has added five assists. However, Ingvartsen is listed as out with a lower body injury. Midfielder Onni Valakari has chipped in four goals and seven assists.

“We respect San Diego, but as well we prepare our game,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said ahead of the match. “We know how strong we are, especially at home, so now we go.”

Orlando City will be without Braian Ojeda (foot) and Adrian Marin (thigh), while Bernardo Rhein (thigh), has been upgraded to questionable. San Diego will be without the aforementioned Ingvartsen (lower body) and Tverskov (suspension).

Match Content

Projected Lineups:

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

Defenders: Zakaria Taifi, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, Griffin Dorsey.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Joran Gerbet, Eduard Atuesta, Antoine Griezmann.

Forwards: Justin Ellis, Daryl Dike.

San Diego FC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: C.J. dos Santos.

Defenders: Kieran Sargeant, Ian Murphy, Manu Duah, Oscar Verhoeven.

Midfielders: Gabriel Pirani, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, Anibal Godoy.

Forwards: Elias Achouri, Onni Valakari, Anders Dreyer.

Referees:

REF: Joe Dickerson.
AR1: Corey Parker.
AR2: Justin Howard.
4TH: Rodrigo Albuquerque.
VAR: Daniel Radford.
AVAR: Jeff Muschik.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter.co Stadium — Orlando.

TV/Streaming: Apple TV.

Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish), Nossa Rádio 1160 AM-WRLZ (Portuguese).

Social Media: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow us on Bluesky Social at @themaneland.bsky.social or follow Orlando City’s official Twitter (@OrlandoCitySC) or Bluesky (@OrlandoCitySC) feed.

Enjoy the match. Go City!

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. San Diego FC: Three Keys to Victory

Here’s what Orlando needs to do in order to return to winning ways against San Diego.

Published

1 day ago

on

September 4, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

After the disappointment of two dropped points against Minnesota on Saturday, Orlando City is back home with an opportunity to get things back on track. The Lions need to keep picking up points if they want to keep pace in an increasingly crowded Eastern Conference, and Saturday’s game is a good chance to start September off on the right note. San Diego FC stands in the way of that good start, and what follows are three things that I believe Orlando needs to do in order to emerge victorious from this game.

Stay Strong on the Left

The left side of the defense has been a question mark for the Lions for much of the year. Adrian Marin, Bernardo Rhein, and Zakaria Taifi have all spent time at left back lately and have done so with varying degrees of success. Regardless of who suits up there on Saturday, that area of the field will be under scrutiny once again, since they’ll be tasked with stopping San Diego right winger Anders Dreyer. He has eight goals and 11 assists in 21 appearances this year, has played 60 key passes during that time, and is generally the lynchpin through which the San Diego offense operates. He hasn’t quite been on the same pace that saw him bag 19 goals and 19 assists in the regular season last year, but with four goal contributions in his last three MLS appearances, he’s extremely capable of wreaking havoc from the wing. A lot of the goals OCSC has conceded lately have come down the left side of the defense, and if that area of the field can’t be taken care of better, the Lions will likely be in for a difficult night.

Do Damage in Transition

Orlando’s current style of positionless, fluid, attacking soccer is at its best when it comes up against teams that want to come out and play. It struggles mightily against defensive bunkers but shines when the Lions can get out and run, target open spaces, and combine with teammates in unexpected areas. Fortunately for OCSC (in theory), San Diego is a team that likes to have the ball, as it has the highest average possession in the league. That means the Lions will have opportunities to force turnovers and break the other way at pace. In order to make that happen though, OCSC will need to be both disciplined and effective when it comes to applying its press. Then, if/when the Lions win the ball, correct decision-making and clinical execution in the final third will be key to avoid letting any chances slip through their fingers (paws?).

Clean Up the Self-Inflicted Errors

Orlando has dealt with more than its fair share of general defensive struggles this year, but avoidable errors have been a particular problem in recent weeks. Whether it’s been an ill-advised challenge, passing to the opposition in the defensive third, or leaving men unmarked in the box, unnecessary mistakes have cost OCSC points time and again. Against lesser opposition it hasn’t always mattered, as the Lions were able to rescue three points against Real Salt Lake, but if Orlando wants to make a playoff push, it needs to make a habit of playing cleaner games, plain and simple. San Diego is a good team with dangerous offensive players, and Saturday’s visitors will very likely take advantage of any opportunities that the Lions gift-wrap for them. Keeping things mistake-free will go a long way.

We’ve got ample proof this season that nothing is guaranteed, but if the Lions can lock down the left side of the defense, make hay in transition moments, and limit unforced errors, then they should be in a good position to take all three points from Saturday’s game. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/4/26

Martin Ojeda details his recovery from injury, Anna Moorhouse loaned to Manchester City, Orlando City’s U.S. Open Cup journey, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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September 4, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda celebrating a goal against New England.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Three straight days of Orlando soccer starts tonight with Orlando City B’s road match against Inter Miami II at 7 p.m. Hopefully, Orlando’s teams do well over the next few days as crunch time is upon us when it comes to making the playoffs, especially for MLS NEXT Pro. For now though, let’s jump right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Prepares for San Diego FC

Orlando City will take on San Diego FC on Saturday in the first-ever game between the two clubs, and one of the storylines to keep an eye on is how much Martin Ojeda plays as he works his way back from injury. The Designated Player came off the bench late in Orlando’s 3-3 draw against Minnesota United in his first appearance since May 23. Not often injured, Ojeda spoke on how being off the field for over a month has shifted his perspective while training to return.

“You learn to value the moment much more. You learn to value every training session because, when you’re training on your own and you’re not available to your teammates, you feel uncomfortable,” Ojeda said. “You value being healthy more. It’s like everything in life. When you feel good, you live life almost on autopilot, so to speak. You go to work, you go home, you come back, you sleep. However, when you or someone close to you goes through an illness or something like that, you value the moment much more and become more conscious of what you’re experiencing.”

Pride Loan Anna Moorhouse to Manchester City

The Orlando Pride loaned goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse to Manchester City through January of 2027. Moorhouse joined the Pride prior to the 2022 season and helped the club win both the NWSL Championship and Shield in 2024. However, she has struggled this year alongside the rest of the Pride’s defense. Moorhouse hasn’t played in the past two games for the Pride, with Cosette Morche starting in her place. Her current contract with the Pride lasts through the 2027 NWSL season, so we’ll have to wait and see what her future with the club is when the loan ends.

Orlando City’s U.S. Open Cup Journey

Between the World Cup, regular season, and Leagues Cup this summer, it can be easy to forget that Orlando City is still in contention to win this year’s U.S. Open Cup. The Lions are in the semifinals of the tournament after crushing Atlanta United 4-1 in the quarterfinals back on May 19. The Lions won much tighter affairs prior to that win, with Javier Otero coming up with seven saves in a 1-0 win over FC Naples and Zakaria Taifi scoring in stoppage time to beat the New England Revolution 4-3 in the following match. Orlando will be on the road for its semifinal match against the Columbus Crew on Sept. 16, but the offense has received a boost due to the arrivals of Antoine Griezmann and Daryl Dike this summer.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

MLS signings continue to pour in as teams look to improve their squads for the rest of this season and beyond. The Colorado Rapids signed Ghanaian winger Ibrahim Sadiq from AZ Alkmaar, where he recorded 18 goals and seven assists in 85 appearances across three seasons with the Dutch club. San Diego also added an attacker by signing forward Cedric Bakambu, who joins as a free agent after playing at Real Betis. As for other notable moves from across the league, Real Salt Lake signed winger Dusan Zagar as an MLS U22 Initiative player, forward Lyle Foster joined the Houston Dynamo on loan, and the Columbus Crew continued to improve on offense by signing Moroccan winger Anass Zaroury on loan from Panathinaikos.

Free Kicks

  • Former Orlando Pride player Christina Burkenroad is retiring from professional soccer and Monterrey will have Saturday’s game against Toluca be a send-off match for her.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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