Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Final Score 2-1 as Lions Blow Late Lead in Loss
Orlando City was moments away from a vital win in the race for playoff positioning, but an unlucky bounce and a goal deep in stoppage time flipped the game around.
Leading after 80 minutes, Orlando City puked away a late lead at Inter&Co Stadium, conceding twice from the 81st minute on — including the winner deep in stoppage time — in a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Dagur Dan Thorhallsson’s first-half goal was moments from being a game-winner when disaster struck, allowing the Whitecaps (18-6-9, 63) to climb to the top of the Western Conference with the win.
Kyle Smith smashed a clearance attempt off of Nelson Pierre and into his own net in the 81st minute, and the Lions (14-8-11, 53 points) survived a bobbled save by Gallese on his own goal line that was reviewed before leaving Thomas Muller alone at the top of the area in the seventh of what was originally given as five minutes of stoppage time.
Despite the heartbreaking nature of the loss, it was a deserved win for Vancouver, which dominated the game almost from the jump. Orlando City, playing without several starters, could not break out of its own end for much of the first half and essentially all of the second half, suffering wave after wave of Vancouver attack, and nearly surviving until the end until Smith’s gaffe spoiled a game well played by the veteran defender. Smith was only playing center back at all because of another key injury to Orlando that took place early in the match.
“Especially the second half, I think we could have been better. We played against a rival who — especially in that half — put a lot of people in between lines, and we couldn’t manage it or sustain the ball a little longer,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “That was a big part of the difference in the game. We couldn’t get out of that domination that they had in the second half, and that cost us.”
Pareja’s lineup included Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Thorhallsson. Kyle Smith and Eduard Atuesta started in central midfield between wingers Ivan Angulo and Nico Rodriguez, with Martin Ojeda and Luis Muriel up top.
Muriel drew a free kick on the right side near the corner of the box in the third minute. Rodriguez took the set piece and blasted a curving effort on goal that Yohei Takaoka punched away. Orlando recycled and it ended up on Marin’s foot outside the area. The Spaniard shot, but the ball was deflected, sailing just wide of the right post for a corner. Vancouver cleared the ensuing set piece.
Ojeda picked out Muriel in front in the sixth minute, but the Colombian couldn’t get any power on his header, and Takaoka scooped it up, ending Orlando’s longest spell of sustained pressure of the half.
Vancouver’s first look at goal came on a Muller shot from outside the area in the 10th minute. Gallese had to make a diving stop. He spilled it, but the Whitecaps were offside on the rebound.
Moments later, the Whitecaps tried one of several direct balls over the defense to Daniel Rios. Jansson did well to get back and break up the play, but his leg buckled and he stayed down. The captain could not continue, and Duncan McGuire checked in, sending Smith to the back line and changing up the midfield, with McGuire up top and Ojeda at right wing.
“It’s a big shock when you lose probably the biggest player in the squad,” Thorhallsson said. “He’s the captain. He leads the team. It’s a big blow, but I’m praying to God that he’s OK.”
“Very disappointed with all this adversity, especially to keep losing players at this moment of the season,” Pareja said.
Gallese made another sprawling save in the 20th minute, getting down to stop a Sebastian Berhalter shot from outside the area.
Vancouver won a free kick two minutes later, but the Lions were able to deal with it. Orlando City then scored on the counter in the 24th minute. Ojeda took a pass from Thorhallsson on the left in transition and sent a ball to McGuire on the right. The big striker headed it down for Thorhallsson to run onto. The Icelandic midfielder took a touch to settle it and slotted past Takaoka to open the scoring.
“I got the ball and played it to Tincho (Ojeda),” Thorhallsson said. “He passed it to Duncan, who heads it to me and just does it really good. And I just take a touch and tried to finish as good as I can. And a happy ending, a goal. It was a really good feeling, actually. I’ve been waiting a long time for this goal.”
Vancouver spent most of the rest of the half in Orlando’s end. The Lions tried to counter multiple times but failed to connect on passes out of the back.
Edier Ocampo cut inside on the right in the 37th minute and fizzed a shot just inches outside the left post. Two minutes later, Gallese came out as Smith was beaten for pace on a ball over the top. Gallese got enough of the ball to slow the play down, shielded it, and picked it up once it entered the area.
Muriel took a pass from Ojeda and scored in the 40th minute, but he was well offside on the play and the flag correctly came up.
The Whitecaps won a few late set pieces but couldn’t pay them off despite having the ball pinging around Orlando’s penalty area. Schlegel and Marin blocked a couple of late shots, and Gallese saved Tate Johnson’s shot off the deflection deep in stoppage time on the last chance of the half.
Vancouver finished the first half with a huge advantage in possession (64.6%-35.4%) and the edge in shots (8-3), shots on target (3-2), corners (5-1), and passing accuracy (88.9%-83.5%). The Lions, however, had the only goal.
The Whitecaps started the second half the way they ended the first, keeping the ball in Orlando’s end for virtually the entire 45 minutes. The Lions periodically relieved the pressure simply by launching the ball down the field, giving it right back, but that was better than the way they turned it over trying to play through the visitors, often failing to string more than two passes together. Orlando had no answers for Vancouver’s press or counterpress.
Orlando City didn’t even attempt a second-half shot, as the Lions couldn’t get the ball into any position of danger through misplaced passes, poor touches, or a lack of composure.
Schlegel conceded the first chance of the second half with a foul just outside the area after Angulo turned the ball over. The defender earned a yellow card for his foul on Emmanuel Sabbi. Berhalter sent the free kick well over the crossbar and Vancouver committed a foul on the set piece anyway.
Smith made a crucial block to deny Rios two minutes later from point-blank range on a good cross in from the left. Marin then got up to challenge Jeevan Badwal in front, allowing Gallese to collect the loose ball in the 51st minute.
Atuesta conceded a free kick in the 65th minute after Angulo was unable to collect the ball at midfield and Vancouver broke in transition. The Colombian midfielder made up for the foul by blocking Berhalter’s free kick attempt.
Ocampo sent in a wicked cross from the right in the 71st minute that hit Gallese’s crossbar. The Whitecaps picked up the loose ball on the left and recycled the attack, with Muller firing just wide from the top of the area.
The only real attacking movement from Orlando in the second half came in the 73rd minute. Muriel took a pass and turned, sending Ojeda in behind the back line. Ojeda, however, took a heavy first touch and the ball skipped away from him, ending what might have become the Lions’ only shot after halftime.
J.C. Ngando sent fired a good shot in the 76th minute that sent Gallese diving for another stop.
The game changed in the 81st minute on a scramble in the box. The Lions looked to survive a ball pinging around in the six. Ngando laid off a pass for Berhalter, who fired off the left post. The ball went past a sliding Ryan Gauld, when Smith tried to fire it up the field. Unfortunately, the ball hit Pierre and ricocheted into the net to tie the match. There was a brief review to see if Vancouver handled the ball before the goal, but the call on the field stood and the goal counted.
Gallese made another save on Ocampo in the 84th minute as Vancouver pushed for a winner. The Whitecaps thought they’d scored it in the second minute of stoppage time. Berhalter fired a shot on the left side toward the near post. Gallese got there to make the diving stop, but he spilled it as he sprawled out of control. The ball nearly crossed the line and the Whitecaps protested. The play went to review and the call on the field stood, as there was no clear video showing the entire ball crossed the line.
It wasn’t a terribly lengthy stoppage for the review, but extra time was added, and that ended up being a bit too much time for the Lions.
A gassed Orlando defense could not close down Muller in the seventh minute of stoppage time and the ex-Bayern Munich star cut past Atuesta and sent a shot from the top of the box just inside the right post and past Gallese to win the match.
“We may be sad we conceded in the last moment of the game, but it’s not that but it’s the whole thing,” Pareja said. “I think in the second half we could have been better, and they were better than us.
The referee allowed the game to restart, and waited about a minute, but the Lions continued to be unable to hold onto possession and the match ended in disappointing fashion for the 23,465 Orlando City fans in attendance.
Vancouver dominated the stat sheet the way it dominated the match, finishing with the advantage in possession (64.8%-35.1%), shots (23-3), shots on target (9-2), corners (6-1), and passing accuracy (88.7%-79.9%).
“They just were very intense throughout the whole game,” Thorhallsson said. “They pressed man to man and just came. It felt really heavy, and they came quickly. Just a really, really good team with good players. It’s also something we need to do better, when teams actually come really high and press us, that we need to be able to be calm on the ball and keep it a little bit better.”
The loss means Orlando City cannot finish in the top four. As a result, the Lions will not have home field for the first-round, best-of-three playoff series and could still end up in the wild card play-in game.
Orlando City will head to Toronto for a Decision Day matchup a week from tonight against Toronto FC.
Orlando City
More Spice or Less? Tyrese Spicer as Starter vs. Substitute
Tyrese Spicer’s performances as an OCSC starter and substitute, and how he ranks as against offensive subs in MLS.
Back in 2015, I worked for a company that assigned me to a project for a company in Trinidad & Tobago, and I spent about half a year traveling back and forth from Orlando to Port of Spain, the capital city. I loved everything about my time in Trinidad & Tobago, and while I promise this will move to soccer shortly and not become a travelogue or a food blog, I have to briefly mention my discovery there of a food called “doubles.”
Doubles are often eaten as a breakfast food but are delicious at any time of the day. Much like with cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, there is a language associated with ordering them. A doubles order usually consists of how many you want and how hot you would like them to be. I do not have a high tolerance for heat, so I often ordered mine with “no pepper,” (tell me you are an American without telling me you are an American), but Trinis generally go with at least slight pepper and often medium or heavy pepper.
All of that discussion of Trinidad & Tobago and pepper brings us to a man who comes from the twin islands and literally has spice in his last name — Tyrese Spicer.
Spicy T was the Man of the Match in our player grades from Orlando City’s most recent MLS game after contributing a goal and an assist. He scored his fourth goal of the MLS season, which ranks second on the team behind Martín Ojeda’s 11. Spicer scored that goal after coming off the bench to replace Tiago, and his bench goal was the seventh for the Lions this season, which ties them for the league lead in goals scored by substitutes:
| Team | Substitute Goals | Total Goals* | Substitute Goal % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando City | 7 | 30 | 23% |
| Cincinnati | 7 | 44 | 16% |
| Seattle | 6 | 20 | 30% |
| Miami | 6 | 44 | 14% |
| Portland | 5 | 32 | 16% |
| Dallas | 5 | 31 | 16% |
| St. Louis | 5 | 23 | 22% |
| Nashville | 5 | 35 | 14% |
*Excludes opposition own goals
All four of Spicer’s goals in MLS play have come as a substitute, and he is tied for the league lead with Cincinnati’s Tom Barlow in that category:
| Player | Team | Substitute Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Tyrese Spicer | Orlando City | 4 |
| Tom Barlow | Cincinnati | 4 |
| Christian Ramirez | Austin | 3 |
| Samuel Sarver | Dallas | 3 |
| Peyton Miller | New England | 3 |
During the entire 2025 MLS season the league leaders in substitute goals scored only four goals off the bench, and Spicer has already reached that tally through Orlando City’s first 18 league games.
Extrapolating those 18 games to the full season would put Spicer on pace for 7.56 goals, and since he has scored all of his goals off the bench, the extrapolation for goals as a substitute would also be for that same amount, which would be the most in MLS since Dejan Joveljić scored eight goals as a substitute for the LA Galaxy in 2022.
A logical question would be: If Spicer is scoring all these goals in limited minutes as a substitute, should Orlando City just make him a starter?
On the surface, it seems like an obvious no.
Put aside the fact that leading scorer Martín Ojeda is out injured but will command a starting spot when he returns, likely at the same left wing position where Spicer usually plays, another fact is that since joining Orlando City in August of 2025, Spicer has played demonstrably better off the bench than as a starter across all competitions (data from Opta’s tracking on fbref.com):
| Role | Minutes Played | Goals | Primary Assists | Goal Contributions per 90 mins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 457 | 2 | 0 | 0.39 |
| Subtitute | 557 | 5 | 4 | 1.45 |
In recent years, Orlando City has benefitted from “supersubs,” as Spicer’s four goals thus far in 2026 marks the fourth consecutive season in which a Lion has scored at least four goals in a season as a substitute. Duncan McGuire started the trend with five in 2023 and added four in 2024. Ramiro Enrique followed with four off the bench in 2025 (and likely would have scored more that had he not transferred in August; I really wish he had stayed. Sigh.), and now Spicer has four in 2026 with many games still to play. McGuire’s five in 2023 is the joint club record with Júlio Baptista, as The Beast lived up to that moniker when coming off the bench in 2016, but Spicer is hot on their heels.
Some players simply perform better off the bench, and Spicer, at least so far, seems to be in that Manu Ginóbili mold of a player with starter-level talent that is better at finishing games than starting them.
Orlando City General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira noted this when the club acquired Spicer from Toronto, saying that the Trinidad & Tobago international player would “bring additional depth and energy” and that “his relentless work rate and ability to stretch the field will give us a much-needed boost and add another dimension to our attack moving forward.”
Spicer’s boosts off the bench have led to two game-winning goals this season, the fourth in the amazing 4-3 comeback victory over Inter Miami in May and the only goal in the 1-0 home victory over Nashville at the end of July.
August is a packed month for Orlando City, with at least eight games on the calendar and possibly nine, depending on how the Lions do in Leagues Cup. We’ll see throughout the rest of August (this article was written before the Leagues Cup game against CF Monterrey, which had Spicer in the starting lineup) if Martín Perelman is locked in to using Spicer as a supersub or gives him additional chances as a starter, as there will need to be some rotation with games every three to four days.
The numbers say that Perelman should keep looking for someone to hold down the left wing for the first portion of the game and bring in Spicer to close, but Orlando City’s poor play on the left side of the field in the first half helped dig a hole it could not climb out of against the Red Bulls, and this is a critical part of the season, so getting positive results is of paramount importance.
I’m looking forward to finding out if Perelman makes the call to go from no pepper to Spicy T as a frequent left wing starter, at least until Ojeda returns. The numbers are against it, as am I, but we shall see what Perelman orders.
Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City
Pasalic Remains in Purple
Marco Pasalic is staying. What does that mean for Orlando City’s season?
At least for the moment, it seems the Marco Pasalic to Hull City transfer is a bust. With the Croatian back in the mix for Orlando City, the team will have two of three Designated Players available. Unfortunately, we’re still waiting for Martin Ojeda to make it back from his injury. In the meantime, the return of the left-footed, Croatian rocket launcher is a good thing, right? Let’s take a look at the arguments for and against, and how it affects the rest of the squad.
More Firepower
Pasalic has the potential to contribute a significant number of goals for Orlando City. We haven’t seen what he can do when on the pitch with Antoine Griezmann, who can create space for Pasalic on the right side of the box. Griezmann can drag defenders to the left, allowing Pasalic more of an opening to unleash his signature top-of-the-box shot. Griezmann or Justin Ellis will be able to provide slick, no-look passes to a hopefully wide-open Pasalic.
Additionally, if Pasalic regains his form, the threat he poses will allow the left side of the attack some more space to move. There’s also the Daryl Dike factor. Once the big man is fully integrated back into the attack, there is a veritable smorgasbord of attacking options for an attack-oriented Martin Perelman to employ. He does seem to have an “all gas, no brakes, who needs defense” approach to tactics. Obviously, that is hyperbole, but not by much.
All of this is contingent on Pasalic resetting his mindset to give 100% to Orlando City. As a professional, I expect he will believe he is going to do so, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy, given he obviously wanted to make a move back to Europe. Recommitting to a team you thought you were leaving is never easy, no matter what anyone says.
Defensive Implications
If Orlando City had sold Pasalic, there would have been an infusion of cash available to help build the roster. I think it unlikely that a new Designated Player could be signed before the secondary window closes. That kind of money could be used on a decent left back, another veteran center back, or help in the defensive midfield. Maybe even all of the above.
Now, the money is tied up and the defense still has so many challenges. I don’t think Pasalic’s offensive production will be able to overcome the goals the defense will give up the rest of the season. Not losing a Designated Player at this point of the season is generally a good thing, especially with Ojeda being injured, though I’m not convinced things are actually better with Pasalic staying. Of course, even if he had been sold, there’s no guarantee that Ricardo Moreira would reinforce the defense in the transfer window.
I’m hopeful that Pasalic rededicates himself to Orlando City and starts to produce some goals for the Lions, because given this defense, the team will need as many goals as possible. Let us know your thoughts on how Pasalic staying plays out. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 8/6/26
Orlando City beats Monterrey, Marco Pasalic reportedly staying in Orlando, Zambia ousted from Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and more.
It’s Thursday, which means we’re celebrating an Orlando City victory. The Lions have been midweek monsters this season and it’s been a nice boost of energy to get through the week. If any of you are performing some sort of ritual on Wednesday nights, please keep it up. Let’s get to the big win and more in today’s links!
Orlando City Beats Monterrey in Leagues Cup
After a lengthy weather delay, Orlando City beat Monterrey 2-1 at home in its first match of this year’s Leagues Cup. The video review system was put through its paces in this match, overturning a Monterrey goal, a Monterrey red card, and a penalty on Orlando’s Robin Jansson in separate instances. Be sure to check out our recap of the win, which included a nice performance from Tyrese Spicer as a starter and the return of Daryl Dike off the bench. The Lions will be back in action on Saturday against Club Leon before wrapping up this phase of the tournament on Wednesday against San Luis.
Marco Pasalic Reportedly Staying in Orlando
There’s been buzz this summer regarding Marco Pasalic being transferred form Orlando City to Hull City, but the move is reportedly not going to happen according to Croatian sports newspaper Sportske Novosti.
Pasalic had 12 goals and five assists in his first MLS season last year after joining Orlando from HNK Rijeka. While the 25-year-old hasn’t quite had the same impact so far this season, he did play for Croatia in this summer’s World Cup and could benefit from the addition of Antoine Griezmann to the offense. Pasalic came off the bench for a late cameo on Wednesday to help see out the win over Monterrey.
Zambia Eliminated From WAFCON Despite Win
Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda scored in Zambia’s 2-1 win against Malawi in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, but it wasn’t enough for Zambia to avoid elimination. Zambia, Malawi, and Nigeria all finished with six points in the group stage, but Zambia was ousted due to the third tiebreaker of goals scored in matches between the three. It’s a rough way to go out for Zambia, which finished with the best overall goal differential in the group. As a result, Zambia will not take part in the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Banda finished the tournament with five goals and will return to a Pride team in desperate need of help on offense.
U.S. Qualifies for 2027 U-20 Men’s World Cup
The United States U-19 Men’s National Team beat Guatemala 3-1 to advance to the semifinals of the Concacaf U-20 Men’s Championship, qualifying for the 2027 U-20 World Cup and 2027 Pan American Games in the process. Guatemala struck first, but the U.S. found an equalizer right before halftime and went on to win the game with a pair of goals in the second half. Orlando City midfielder Colin Guske was a starter in the match as well. The U.S. will take on Costa Rica in the semifinals Friday at the Azteca.
FIFA Backs Gianni Infantino as Pressure Rises
As the soccer world reacts to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s failed scheme to sell stakes in the World Cup, FIFA reaffirmed its support for him at a crisis meeting in Morocco over his presidency. There have been many calls for reform due to Infantino’s actions, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stating he does not have confidence in him and Portuguese legend Luis Figo calling for him to step down. FIFA also denied a report that Infantino offered Morocco hosting for the 2030 World Cup final in exchange for support.
Free Kicks
- Former Lion Nico Lodeiro announced his retirement from professional soccer and Orlando City General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira wished him the best with one of his highlights as a Lion.
- The Columbus Crew added Chilean forward Gonzalo Tapia on loan from Sao Paulo through the 2027 MLS sprint season.
- Eva Olid was announced as the next head coach of Manchester United’s women’s soccer team, replacing former Pride head coach Marc Skinner. She has spent the past five years with Hearts and won the Scottish Women’s Premier League title last season.
- Wrexham signed midfielder Ben Whiteman, who has 200 EFL Championship appearances under his belt and was Preston North End’s captain.
- Mo Salah arrived in Istanbul as it appears he will sign with Trabzonspor after nine seasons with Liverpool. Does this make the Turkish Super Lig a retirement league or does that label only apply when it’s about MLS?
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
More Spice or Less? Tyrese Spicer as Starter vs. Substitute
Pasalic Remains in Purple
Lion Links: 8/6/26
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Final Score 3-2 as Poor Start Sinks Lions
Orlando City vs. Monterrey, Leagues Cup: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
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