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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Final Score 4-2 as Lions a No-Show on Decision Day

It was the nightmare scenario for Orlando City, which fell to ninth after a terrible performance in Toronto and unfavorable results elsewhere.

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2 months ago

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Image of Alex Freeman dribbling the ball up the flank against Toronto FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

A struggling Toronto FC offense scored twice in the first half, continued the blowout in the second half, and ruined Orlando City’s Decision Day in a 4-2 loss for the Lions at BMO Field in Toronto. Djordje Mihailovic scored in each half, with Jonathan Osorio and Deandre Kerr adding goals for the hosts.

It was a shocking performance by Orlando (14-9-11, 53 points), which conceded four times to the league’s second-worst offense as Toronto (6-14-14, 32 points) ran rampant to snap a long winless streak in MLS play. The Lions finish the season in the last postseason spot and will go on the road in what might be its final match of the year the way the team’s offense has been struggling down the stretch.

David Brekalo and Duncan McGuire scored for Orlando City in a losing effort.

“The disappointment is obvious because the performance was not good at all,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “It’s a tough night for sure, because there’s a bunch of things that we didn’t do good. And the way we conceded the goals, the way we managed, and also from me, obviously, responsibility on the movements and preparation. Unfortunately tonight it was not bouncing our way at all.”

Pareja’s lineup featured Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Adrian Marin, Rodrigo Schlegel, Brekalo, and Alex Freeman. Kyle Smith joined Eduard Atuesta in central midfield between wingers Ivan Angulo and Marco Pasalic, with Martin Ojeda and McGuire up top.

The game began poorly for the Lions, who gave away possession cheaply, leading to the opening goal. Orlando City then took some control and started creating chances, but as has been the case far too often, the Lions could not pay those chances off. Toronto blocked several shots, but Orlando’s attackers made that easy by taking big windups and not looking for the pass that would open the defense up completely. When the Lions weren’t getting their shots blocked, they were either missing wide or firing straight at Toronto goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who was only seriously tested twice in the first half.

The opening minutes were sloppy from both teams before the hosts opened the scoring with the game’s first chance. That chance came from an Orlando attack that broke down.

Atuesta got caught high up the field, turning it over and leading to the break. Toronto got numbers forward and worked the ball to Osorio outside the box. The Canadian international had plenty of time to pick out his spot in the corner and made it 1-0 in the seventh minute.

Orlando’s first shot came in the 10th minute as Smith took a big windup outside the box and saw Osorio block his shot.

Smith returned the favor three minutes later, blocking a shot by Kobe Franklin. Schlegel then quickly blocked Kerr’s shot and former Lion Richie Laryea missed the target just wide on the left to end the threat.

Pasalic missed the first of several shots in the game wide in the 17th minute, pulling a shot inches wide of the right post. Two minutes later, he sent one just inches wide of the right post on a second wide-open shot outside the box.

Moments later, Orlando had a penalty shout. McGuire was running onto a ball into the area when he had his arm pulled and went down. Although he perhaps embellished a little, there was a pull and McGuire had no reason not to get to the ball, but Fotis Bazakos let the contact go, and video assistant referee Sorin Stoica did not see anything wrong with the decision.

Angulo took a big, slow windup in the 20th minute from the top of the area, giving Sigur Rosted time to block the shot. Rosted then did the same on the rebound to Atuesta, who took perhaps even longer to get his shot away.

Orlando’s best chance of the first half came in the 27th minute. Ojeda got down the left and smashed a shot on frame that Johnson saved, spilling a big rebound out in front. Atuesta was slow in getting to the rebound and his shot with a gaping open net was blocked by a sliding Laryea. Orlando recycled and Pasalic shot from the right, with Johnson making the save. Atuesta saw Franklin block his shot moments later on the last chance in the sequence.

Angulo uncharacteristically tried a long-range shot in the 29th minute, getting good power on it from distance, but it was right at Johnson, who parried it away. Brekalo headed well wide on a set piece moments later.

Toronto doubled the lead just seconds after that header.

Jose Cifuentes blasted a shot from outside the box and Pasalic put out a hand to protect his face. The Croatian’s arm was the only thing protecting him from perhaps a broken nose on a scorching shot, but Bazakos awarded a free kick anyway, despite rules saying players can protect their head in that situation. Mihailovic paid off the ensuing set piece with an effort that just kept curling, which appeared to fool Gallese, who got a touch to it but couldn’t keep it out.

“Sometimes it’s unexplainable,” Pareja said of the two decisions that could have changed the complexion of the game. “Because the boys were pushing and these calls came in this circumstances also, just after having that many (scoring) options. But it’s the game. I think we need to be conscious about it. It’s not us using excuses.”

In the final moments of the half, Pasalic saw another shot saved and an additional attempt blocked, and Atuesta also had another effort blocked.

At the break, Orlando City held the advantage in possession (51.5%-48.5%), shots (16-7), shots on target (4-2), corners (2-1), and passing accuracy (85.6%-85%). It was Orlando’s lack of lethality, and one controversial call at each end that had the hosts up by two against Orlando’s powerless attack at the break.

“I feel like in the first half we were unlucky with our chances. A lot of them were blocked,” Freeman said. “But also, at the end of the day, it’s also being clinical in the defensive third. I feel like myself, I’ve got to take some accountability for the goals, but I feel like defensively, as a team, we want to be better.”

Mihailovic put the game out of reach just a few minutes into the second half. Orlando gave up another counterattack and Smith got beaten by Theo Corbeanu, who knocked the ball to Mihailovic on his left. The Toronto Designated Player used Brekalo as a screen and sent a shot toward goal Gallese should have stopped, but he got caught leaning the wrong way and it spun off his back leg and in to make it 3-0 to essentially kill the game.

Pasalic fired just over the net in the 52nd minute. A minute later, both Ojeda and McGuire tried bicycle kicks just about a second apart, with Ojeda’s blocked by Rosted and McGuire’s saved by Johnson. The Lions scored off the ensuing corner. Toronto cleared the initial ball out wide to Orlando’s attacking right side. Pasalic collected it and sent a good ball back into the mixer in front of goal. Brekalo timed his run well, stuck out his foot and knocked it in to spoil the shutout in the 54th minute.

Former Toronto winger Tyrese Spicer, who came on in the second half for the Lions, saw his shot blocked by Franklin moments after Brekalo’s goal as the Lions looked for a way back into the match. Johnson saved Ojeda’s shot in the 60th minute and Freeman and Ojeda then missed the net moments later.

Those were costly missed opportunities as Kerr’s goal came a minute later. Orlando City gained possession in its own end but Angulo gave the ball away. Two quick passes later, Gallese was pulling it out of his net. Mihailovic passed to Derrick Etienne Jr., who sent a centering pass in front for an easy finish by a wide-open Kerr, pushing the lead back to three goals at 4-1.

“When you concede four goals, we have to declare that it’s not a good night for us defensively,” Pareja said. “And we can talk about the changes in the lineup that we had to face, whether it’s injuries or the decisions, but that (lack of) consistency tonight probably made us pay, and it was difficult. On the counters we looked weak, and they took advantage of those spaces while we tried to equalize and tried to seek for the goals, and we were not in good spots.”

Things could have gotten worse for Orlando after the fourth goal, as Gallese stopped a shot by Osorio and Atuesta blocked Laryea’s effort.

Johnson stopped Ojeda again in the 68th minute as the Lions continued to get looks at goal but could not do much with them. It was the last shot by either side for almost 15 minutes, with Spicer’s effort in the 82nd blocked by Rosted.

Freeman got to the end line in the 84th and found second-half sub Dagur Dan Thorhallsson to the right of goal. The Icelandic midfielder stabbed a shot wide of the far post from point-blank range. Ojeda then missed the target. Johnson denied Spicer’s effort as time wound down and the game headed to stoppage time.

Orlando finally got a second goal for the first time since Sept. 20 in the second added minute. Freeman did well to thread a ball through the back line for McGuire, who powered his shot inside the right post to make it 4-2.

McGuire’s goal was the last decent chance for either side.

The Lions finished with the advantage in possession (56.4%-43.6%), shots (31-12), shots on target (10-6), corners (8-2), and passing accuracy (86.9%-81.8%). To look at the stat sheet, one would assume Orlando was the team that won by multiple goals, but a lack of clinical finishing on one end and extremely good finishing at the other was the difference on Decision Day.

“We will recover from this moment and we will be ready for that one game on Wednesday,” Pareja said, referencing the wild card match at Chicago in the midweek. “I don’t know any other way than just get back to work trying to train and prepare for our next one game, and trying to find solutions, and trying to keep our minds in a good state as well.”

“Obviously we wanted to clinch it without doing the play-in,” Freeman said. “But, I guess that’s just how it’s going to be, so I guess we’ve got to go into Wednesday and be able to go 100% and win the play-in, and eventually play Philly in the playoffs.”

That’s it for the regular season. The Lions will visit Chicago Wednesday for the wild card game after a disappointing end to what began as a promising 2025 season.

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Orlando City

Schlegel Transfers to Atlas; Smith Says Goodbye to Orlando City

Orlando City bids goodbye to the Argentine defender and agent of chaos, while The Accountant says farewell to the City Beautiful on Instagram.

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7 hours ago

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December 16, 2025

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Image of Rodrigo Schlegel in a goalkeeper kit in Orlando's playoff shootout win over New York City FC in 2020.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City’s back line will look different in 2026 as veterans Rodrigo Schlegel and Kyle Smith are headed elsewhere. The club announced today that Schlegel is headed to to Atlas FC in Liga MX via transfer, while Smith took to Instagram to say goodbye to the City Beautiful and his teammates. 

Screenshot image of Kyle Smith's Instagram announcement saying goodbye to Orlando City.

Schlegel, 28, heads to Mexico after six seasons as a Lion. Smith, 33, was out of contract after the 2025 season, and although the club announced it was negotiating with the versatile defender about a return, he is apparently leaving after spending seven seasons in Orlando purple. The club did not disclose the transfer fee in the transaction sending Schlegel to Mexico.

“Rodrigo has been an incredible part of our history,” Orlando City General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “His commitment, passion, and leadership have left a lasting mark on this club. From his unforgettable role in our first playoff (penalty shootout) win to helping us lift our first trophy in our MLS era, Rodrigo has given everything to Orlando City. We are deeply grateful for all he has done, both on and off the field, and (we) wish him and his family the very best in this next chapter of his career.”

Orlando City signed Schlegel on Dec. 30, 2019, on loan from Argentina top-flight side Racing Club. The Lions picked up the player’s permanent transfer option following the 2020 season and picked up his option for 2022 on Dec. 1, 2021. Schlegel signed a new contract just over a month later, inking a deal through the 2023 season with clup options for 2024 and 2025. Those options were picked up and at some point in 2025 the defender signed a new deal through 2026 with an option for 2027, but it was not announced.

The Remedios de Escalada, Argentina, native appeared in 180 matches (155 starts) with Orlando City across all competitions — playing in the fourth-most games in club history. He scored four goals and added one assist. He scored two of those goals in MLS play, where he earned a reputation as a rugged (and sometimes reckless) defender with tireless energy and a penchant for taking risks to make a play that led him to 34 career yellow cards and four red cards in the MLS regular season, with six more cautions and one additional sending off in his 11 MLS Cup playoff appearances (10 starts).

Schlegel etched his name into club history and folklore in the Lions’ first-ever MLS playoff game, when he donned a goalkeeper’s jersey and gloves and stepped in for Pedro Gallese after the goalkeeper was sent off with a second yellow for leaving his line early during penalties following a 1-1 draw. Schlegel saved Gudmundur Thórarinsson’s penalty to help Orlando City defeat the Pigeons 6-5 on spot kicks and advance to the conference semifinals.

During his career, Schlegel was part of six consecutive playoff teams and helped the club win its first major trophy of the MLS era, when the Lions captured the 2022 U.S. Open Cup championship. He always seemed to be a Plan B player who fell into a starting spot for a significant portion of each season. He never started fewer than seven matches (2020) in a season and saw double-digit starts in five of his six seasons in Orlando, filling in at various times for Antonio Carlos, Robin Jansson, and David Brekalo.

Former Orlando City coach James O’Connor brought Kyle Smith to Orlando after winning back-to-back USL titles with him at Louisville City. Smith signed on Dec. 21, 2018. He easily outlasted O’Connor in Orlando, signing a second deal through the 2022 season with a club option for 2023 on March 29, 2021. The club signed Smith to a new one-year deal with an option for 2024 on Dec. 5, 2022, before his second deal was complete. That option year was picked up, and Smith was out of contract after the 2024 campaign, but Orlando signed the versatile fullback/center back/midfielder to a new one-year contract through 2025 on Dec. 13, 2024. The Lions announced they were in negotiations to re-sign Smith after the 2025 season, but the Cincinnati native’s Instagram post seems to indicate that will not happen.

Smith departs with a high rank in the club’s all-time lists of appearances (second, with 216), starts (tied for sixth, with 122), and minutes (fifth, with 11,116). He made 178 of those appearances and 102 of those starts in the MLS regular season, with an additional 10 playoff appearances and two postseason starts. Smith posted four goals and nine assists in the regular season but did not have a postseason goal contribution. He leaves Orlando having produced a total of five goals and 12 assists across all competitions.

What It Means for Orlando City

Both defenders were popular among the fans, so it’s a bit of a shock to lose both in the same off-season. Smith jerseys may be spotted in the stands at Inter&Co Stadium for years to come, while Schlegel may deserve a statue for what he did in that penalty shootout vs. NYCFC.

However, after Orlando failed to secure a clean sheet after June, it’s little surprise that changes are happening at the back. Schlegel made $500,000 in base salary and just over $600,000 in total guaranteed compensation in 2025, while Smith hauled in $270,000 in base salary and $318,000 in total guaranteed compensation. That clears nearly a million bucks off Orlando City’s books, and it will be interesting to see how that — plus any profit from Schlegel’s transfer — is used to shore up the back line.

Moreira will want to put his own stamp on the roster, and with the departures of Gallese, Schlegel, and Smith, there will obviously be a different look in the defensive end. At the moment, Brekalo and Jansson would seem to be the starting center backs, with Alex Freeman on the right and Adrian Marin on the right.

That said, Moreira could have something more ambitious in the works. Another center back has to be on the off-season shopping list with Homegrown Thomas Williams also recently leaving the club. Orlando City would do well to bring in one or two athletic center backs to push Jansson and Brekalo for playing time. Another left back is also necessary, as Smith would often deputize as the first-choice backup left back, although Marin backed up Brekalo in that spot in 2025 while Schlegel was in the middle. Tahir Reid-Brown may get a good look in preseason camp, but left back is a position of need.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/16/25

Orlando City close to new goalkeeper, Michael Bradley lands big coaching job, MLS transfer news, and more.

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17 hours ago

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December 16, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning, everyone. I have no idea how we’re just a little over a week away from Christmas, but somehow it’s right around the corner. Hell, the MLS SuperDraft is just two days away, and that frankly seems absurd. Nonetheless, we have an absolute glut of news to sort through today, so let’s jump into today’s links.

Orlando City Closing on Carlos Coronel

Orlando City will reportedly have its new starting goalkeeper soon. On Monday, Tom Bogert stated that the Lions ae finishing up a deal to sign free agent shot stopper Carlos Coronel, formerly of the New York Red Bulls. The 28-year-old Paraguayan international has been one of the best goalkeepers in the league during the last two seasons, and landing him is a great move on paper for OCSC. Mr. Scoops also noted that the team is still finishing up deals to sign Tiago and Luis Otavio.

New Coach for New York

The New York Red Bulls announced on Monday morning that the club has hired Michael Bradley to be its next head coach. Bradley had been the head coach of New York Red Bulls II for the last six months and now takes over the top job from Sandro Schwarz, who departed in October after the Red Bulls missed the playoffs. This will be the 38-year-old Bradley’s first senior head coaching job, although he did spend time with Norwegian side Stabaek as an assistant. The Red Bulls will need to sign a new starting goalkeeper and also have an open Designated Player slot, while Eric Maxim Choupo-Mouting and Emil Forsbeg fill the other two DP positions.

MLS Transfer Roundup

The MLS news doesn’t stop there though, because we have a couple items of MLS transfer business to go over. We begin with Inter Miami, as the Herons have announced the signing of free agent fullback Sergio Reguilon. The Spanish defender joins the team on a deal through 2027 with an option year for 2028. We then move to the Western Conference, where FC Dallas has signed Ran Binyamin from Hapoel Tel Aviv. The 21-year-old is under contract through the 2028-2029 season and has options for the 2029-2030, and 2030-2031 seasons. We then move to the Vancouver Whitecaps, as the MLS Cup runners-up signed defender Nikola Djordjevic from Vancouver Whitecaps 2. The 23-year-old fullback has a deal through the 2026 season, with option years for 2027 and 2028. We finish with the LA Galaxy, which acquired Jakob Glesnes and homegrown priority for Jamir Johnson from the Philadelphia Union. In exchange, the Galaxy sent the Union $1.1 million in guaranteed General Allocation Money with up to another $1.1 million in conditional GAM going to Philly if certain incentives are hit.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of American players taking part in matches during the working week, and domestic cup action is the prevailing theme. Ricardo Pepi, Sergino Dest, and PSV Eindhoven host GVVV Veenedaal in the second round of the KNVB Cup on Tuesday, while Antonee Robinson and Fulham travel to face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday. Thursday sees Christian Pulisic and AC Milan take on Napoli in the Italian SuperCup semifinals, before things finish on Friday with Gio Reyna, Joe Scally, and Borussia Monchengladbach playing Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga action.

Free Kicks

  • The installation of new grass has been completed at Inter&Co Stadium.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/15/25

Former Lion Mauricio Pereyra retires, Orlando City assistant coach Fabian Bazan departs the club, Americans abroad, and more.

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2 days ago

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December 15, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you in Florida. I’ve been busy at work as we get close to Christmas and covered some high school bowling and basketball over the past week. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Mauricio Pereyra Retires

Orlando City posted on social media over the weekend that former Orlando City captain and midfielder Mauricio Pereyra has retired from professional soccer.

Pereyra spent five seasons with Orlando City after joining the club from FC Krasnodar in 2019, scoring seven goals and adding 29 assists in 136 appearances across all competitions. The 35-year-old recently played for his former club, Nacional, in Uruguay. He also spent time at Lanus, and we here at The Mane Land wish him all the best in his retirement.

Orlando City Assistant Coach Fabian Bazan Departs After Six Seasons

Orlando City and Assistant Coach of Fitness and Performance Fabian Bazan have mutually agreed to part ways after six seasons. Orlando City announced the news Saturday. Bazan joined Head Coach Oscar Pareja’s coaching staff prior to the 2020 season after working with him at previous clubs since 2015. During his tenure, Bazan was part of Orlando City’s coaching staff during its successful run, winning the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, qualifying for two Concacaf Champions Cup tournaments, and making six consecutive MLS Cup playoff appearances.

Americans Abroad

Plenty of Americans were in action in Europe over the weekend. Christian Pulisic played 73 minutes for AC Milan in a 2-2 draw against Sassuolo, while Weston McKennie played a full 90 minutes as Juventus beat Bologna 1-0. Antonee Robinson made his return to the starting XI for Fulham and played a full 90 minutes as his side defeated Burnley 3-1 on the road. Two Americans squared off in Ligue 1 as Tim Weah and Marseille faced Folarin Balogun and AS Monaco Sunday. Both players played a full 90 minutes as Marseille edged Monaco 1-0. Ricardo Pepi became the first USMNT player to score in four straight appearances in all competitions in the Eredivisie since Aron Johannsson did it in 2013-2014, as PSV Eindhoven defeated Heracles Almelo 4-3. Tyler Adams and AFC Bournemouth will face Manchester United in Premier League action later today.

Free Kicks

  • A biopic film focusing on Orlando Pride forward Marta’s soccer journey is reportedly in development.
  • In local college soccer news, the Rollins College Tars fell 2-0 to Midwestern State in the NCAA Division II men’s soccer national championship. Meanwhile, the Florida Tech Panthers defeated Franklin Pierce 3-0 to win the NCAA Division II women’s soccer national championship over the weekend.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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