Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Five Takeaways

Orlando City wrapped up its regular season with a rough 4-2 loss on the road to Toronto FC. It was far from the result the Lions needed on Decision Day and a disappointing performance against a team that did not make the playoffs. Despite getting starters back from international duty for this match, the Lions made mistakes and paid the price for them.

Here are my five takeaways from the match.

Toronto Picked the Lions Apart

The Lions were torn apart by a Toronto offense that only scored 33 goals prior to this match. The Reds scored twice in each half, making it look easy at times against an Orlando defense that looked out of sorts no matter how it tried to stop the bleeding. Eduard Atuesta and Ivan Angulo couldn’t hold onto the ball and the back line was a revolving door of players that was often stretched thin by Toronto. Pedro Gallese also had a bad night, as he was unable to stop Toronto’s first two goals scored from outside the box, although both may wind up as Goal of the Matchday nominees. His failed attempt at saving the third goal was a moment to forget though. The absence of Robin Jansson was definitely felt and Orlando has now conceded a whopping six goals in the short time since its captain’s injury last weekend.

Orlando Denied by Toronto’s Block Party

The offense had a hard time breaking through, although not for a lack of trying. Orlando racked up an obscene 31 shots and 12 of those shots were blocked by the opposition. While Toronto’s defense deserves credit for hustling to get in the way of Orlando’s shots, the Lions tended to take too long trying to set up their shots, particularly in frantic scenarios where just putting the ball on frame quickly could’ve done damage. Designated Players Marco Pasalic and Martin Ojeda combined for 12 shots and there were some great chances for them to get on the scoresheet, but neither quite delivered the finished product. Pasalic’s cross on David Brekalo’s goal and the team play on Duncan McGuire’s goal were bright spots, but the Lions ultimately failed to keep pace when it came to scoring.

Slow Starts Sucker Punched the Lions

Orlando’s Decision Day got off to a rough start, with Jonathan Osorio scoring in just the seventh minute of the game. The Lions trailed for the rest of the game after that point, but at least they seemed to bring some more urgency in the attack after that opening goal. A flurry of attacks throughout the first half didn’t lead to a goal, but it looked like the Lions were at least capable of clawing their way back. Tyrese Spicer’s substitution at the half for Adrian Marin sparked some hope, but the Lions unfortunately conceded a third goal only a few minutes after halftime. The Lions responded well once again, this time getting on the scoresheet, but the momentum didn’t last and a fourth goal by Toronto soon after Brekalo’s made the gulf too wide for Orlando to overcome. Better starts in both halves could’ve done wonders for the Lions in a match it needed a result from. It shouldn’t take conceding a goal to seemingly wake the team up a bit and it was an inconsistent performance by Orlando.

Cesar Araujo Made His Return

Midfielder Cesar Araujo made his first appearance for the Lions since August, coming off the bench in the second half. He brought a bit more stability to an Orlando midfield that desperately needed it due to injuries and an off night by Atuesta. It was nice to see him back in action after dealing with a back injury and these were important minutes for him as he gets back to full fitness. While he didn’t flip the game on its head, his inclusion was a silver lining and the Lions will need him if they want to make a serious run in the postseason.

Referee Decisions Played a Role

There were a pair of pivotal moments in the first half involving decisions by referee Fotis Bazakos that arguably determined the flow of the game. McGuire was pulled down by his arm while powering into the box with the ball in a moment that could’ve resulted in a penalty. Bazakos didn’t see enough in it for it to warrant a penalty and neither did video assistant referee Sorin Stoica. The more impactful call came in the 33rd minute when a foul was called on Marco Pasalic for a handball while blocking a shot by Jose Cifuentes right outside the box. Pasalic’s hand was only in the way of the shot to protect his face in what is a pretty natural precaution when a ball is being fired at your face. Toronto then scored off the ensuing free kick and it begs the question of what Pasalic is expected to do in that situation. While neither of these decisions were why Orlando lost the game, they were notable moments that could have shifted momentum.

Those are my takeaways from the rough road loss. As a result of this match and others across the league on Decision Day, the Lions will be back in action on Wednesday for a wild card match against the Chicago Fire. Hopefully the Lions will put together a better performance in that match.

Make sure to let us know your thoughts from this match in the comments below!