Top 10 Moments of 2025: Luis Muriel’s Hat Trick Powers Lions to Leagues Cup Knockout Rounds

As we count down to the new year of 2026 — which will be Orlando City’s 12th in MLS, the Orlando Pride’s 11th in the NWSL, and OCB’s fourth in MLS NEXT Pro — and say goodbye to 2025, it’s time to look back at the club’s 10 best moments of the year as selected by The Mane Land staff via vote.

Orlando City needed a result heading into the final league phase match of the 2025 Leagues Cup. The Lions threw away a late lead against Pumas UNAM and then lost the ensuing penalty shootout, so even though they bounced back and beat Atlas 3-1 on the second matchday of the tournament, they needed to go out and get three points against one of their tougher opponents of the league phase when Necaxa visited on Aug. 6.

Oscar Pareja’s lads in purple responded with an emphatic 5-1 win over the Liga MX side, powered by Luis Muriel’s first hat trick for the club, two more goals by Martin Ojeda, and a comprehensive performance by the full squad. It was both an individual moment and a team win worthy of our No. 9 spot in this year’s list of the club’s highest highs.

Only three points would do. Orlando City needed to win and get help to advance in Leagues Cup. Necaxa, like the Lions, entered the final matchday of the competition’s league phase with a win and a shootout loss, but the Liga MX side was trying to climb up its own side of the table as Orlando hoped to finish in the top four to advance.

The game began as a bit of a back-and-forth affair, with the teams alternating possession without creating anything in the opening minutes. Despite Muriel putting his personal stamp on the match, the opening goal was one of Orlando City’s best of the year at the quarter-hour mark. Alex Freeman came forward in transition and found a wide-open Ojeda waving frantically for the ball. Freeman’s cross found Ojeda, who took it in the air, smashing a stunning volley shot past a frozen goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

Ojeda’s rocket was one of the best goals in club history, but it only set the tone for everything that followed, and what followed shortly thereafter was the best 11 minutes of Muriel’s Orlando City career to date, as the Colombian fired home the club’s fifth hat trick of the MLS era in just an 11-minute span starting in the 35th minute.

The first goal of Muriel’s barrage came courtesy of a gorgeous cross from Cesar Araujo on the right. The Colombian got his head to it and powered it past goalkeeper Ezequiel Unsain into the upper right corner to make it 2-0.

Just two minutes later, it was Ivan Angulo’s turn to send a good cross into the area. Muriel found space between the center backs, who somehow forgot he was there. Angulo’s cross was well-placed, and Muriel headed it down and past Unsain to make it 3-0 in the 37th minute.

Muriel completed his hat trick in the first minute of stoppage time. Ojeda bombed forward down the middle of the pitch in transition and gave the Colombian a perfect pass on the left side. Muriel took his shot with his first touch, sending a right-footed curling effort inside the right post to make it 4-0, capping a sensational first-half performance.

Ojeda completed his brace early in the second half to make it 5-0, finishing another good entry ball from Angulo. Alex Pena spoiled the clean sheet in the 71st minute, but the damage was done. Ojeda had a spectacular game, but it was Muriel’s outburst in that 11-minute stretch late in the first half that put the game away.

The four-goal win was just enough to push the Lions into the top four in the MLS bracket in the league phase of the competition. Tied on points with Portland and Columbus, it was Orlando City’s goal differential that helped the team advance.

The Lions went on to reach the tournament’s final four for the first time, but sadly came away without one of the three coveted Champions Cup spots. Nevertheless, Muriel’s rampage against Necaxa was an exciting chapter in the story of the 2025 season, making it worthy of one of the coveted slots in our top 10 moments of the year.

Previous Top Moments of 2025

10. Orlando City clinches a playoff berth for a sixth consecutive season on Alex Freeman’s late game-tying goal.