Orlando City snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew Saturday night in front of 20,018 fans at Inter.co Stadium. Harvey Sarajian and Antoine Griezmann staked the Lions to a 2-1 halftime lead, Brais Mendez leveled the match early in the second half, and Ivan Angulo struck in the 89th minute after Maxime Crepeau kept Orlando in the game with a string of saves.

Here are my player grades from the win.

Starters

GK, Maxime Crepeau, 8.5 (MotM) — Crepeau was the reason Orlando was still level late in the game. He finished with a club single-game record 12 saves, many of them coming after his teammates gave the ball away in their own third. He kicked away a close-range Josef Martinez shot in the first half, and his biggest stop came in the 89th minute, when he rushed out to turn away Gonzalo Tapia’s shot from the left side of the box. The Lions broke the other way and scored the winner seconds later. Taha Habroune was left alone in the middle on the first goal, and on the equalizer Crepeau left his line and Mendez dribbled past him, though the breakdown started well in front of him. His distribution was the weak point, but Columbus pressed aggressively all night, so he can’t be faulted too much for it. He completed 63% of his 27 passes and six of 16 long balls, and he added one clearance.

D, Vinicius Nogueira, 5 — In his first Orlando City start, the newest Brazilian was booked in the third minute for a foul on Mohamed Farsi, which left him playing with a bit of caution for the rest of his time on the pitch. He conceded a free kick from distance on the left before the break and was replaced by Zakaria Taifi early in the second half. He completed 90.5% of his 21 passes, with one unsuccessful cross, one unsuccessful long ball, two tackles, and two fouls. It was a decent, if not spectacular, showing for the defender.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — Jansson was booked midway through the first half when he cut across Santiago Rodriguez just outside the box, giving Columbus a free kick in a dangerous spot. Along with Brekalo, he was too slow to react on the Crew’s second goal. He did plenty of cleanup work, though, blocking two Rodriguez shots and getting in the way of a cross when Brekalo was out of position, and he led the team with five clearances. He completed 87.2% of his 39 passes but neither of his two long balls, with one key pass, one tackle, and three fouls.

D, David Brekalo, 5 — Brekalo spent much of the night pushed too far forward or a step slow to react. He picked up a yellow card late in the first half for taking down a Crew attacker after a turnover, and Columbus exploited the space behind him more than once, including in the buildup to the Crew’s second goal. He was tidy in possession, completing 90.7% of his 43 passes and one of two long balls, and he finished with four clearances, one tackle, and one interception, but he also committed three fouls before Justin Ellis replaced him late.

D, Ivan Angulo, 8 — Angulo had a hand in all three goals. He broke down the right and found Griezmann to start the opener (earning a secondary assist), won the free kick that Griezmann curled in for the second goal, and finished Martin Ojeda’s pass with his left foot from the center of the box to win it on a counterattack, giving him a goal in five straight league matches. The one minor blemish came on a botched clearance that Columbus worked back across for a dangerous Tapia shot that Crepeau saved. He completed 87.5% of his 40 passes and three of three long balls but didn’t connect on either of his two crosses, and he added two key passes, one shot on target, two tackles, and one interception.

MF, Harvey Sarajian, 7 — Sarajian gave Orlando the ideal start, finishing Griezmann’s pass from the center of the box in the first minute. He got into good positions several times and, with slightly sharper finishing, could have scored a hat trick before halftime. Schulte stopped his first-time shot from close range, his backheel off Ojeda’s low cross slid just past the right post, and another effort went just wide of the same post. His turnover in the buildup to Brekalo’s yellow card was his lone misstep. He completed 76.9% of his 13 passes, with one key pass and four shots, two on target, before Bernardo Rhein replaced him at halftime.

MF, Wilder Cartagena, 7 — Cartagena was the most reliable piece of Orlando’s midfield. He led the team with four tackles, blocked an Anass Zaroury shot right after the restart, and added one clearance. Late in the game, he showed his versatility by sliding back to the right center back spot after Brekalo came off. He kept the ball moving, completing 90.6% of a team-high 53 passes and four of five long balls, and he was fouled three times. He brought his usual bite to a side that has sorely needed it, and held up well against a Columbus team that excels at both winning possession and advancing the ball aggressively.

MF, Eduard Atuesta, 4.5 — Atuesta’s passing numbers look tidy, but his giveaways came in dangerous areas. He lost the ball in Orlando’s defensive third in first-half stoppage time, forcing Crepeau to deal with the recycled ball, and again early in the second half, when Mendez’s shot required another Crepeau save. He was also slow in possession on more than one occasion. He drew a yellow card on Habroune, completed 94.4% of his 18 passes, and had one unsuccessful cross, one tackle, one interception, one clearance, and two fouls before Luis Otavio replaced him.

MF, Marco Pasalic, 6 — Pasalic was one of the few Lions who tracked Habroune’s run on the Crew’s first goal and tried to alert his teammates, but he was well behind the Columbus runner. He lost the ball in his own third twice in the first half, with the second resulting in a Columbus shot and a Crepeau save. He came close to extending the lead early in the second half, when his shot from outside the box hit the crossbar, and moments later he fired at Patrick Schulte from a tight angle. He also blocked a Dylan Chambost shot and was booked before Daryl Dike replaced him. He completed 79% of his 19 passes and two of three long balls, with two shots (one on target), one tackle, one clearance, and two fouls, and he was dispossessed twice.

F, Martin Ojeda, 7 — Ojeda’s wait to pass Facundo Torres as the club’s all-time leading scorer continues as his goal streak ended, but he delivered the pass for Angulo’s winner to earn an assist. He shot just wide of the near post early after a Griezmann layoff, sent in the low cross for Sarajian’s backheel, and couldn’t put the rebound of Pasalic’s crossbar effort on target. His giveaway in Orlando’s own third just before halftime nearly proved costly, though Martinez was offside when Crepeau stopped him. He completed 91.4% of his 35 passes, two of four crosses, and both of his two long balls, with two key passes, five shots (two on target), and one tackle.

F, Antoine Griezmann, 8.5 — Griezmann had a hand in both first-half goals, was part of the buildup to the third, and was the Lions’ creative engine all night. He laid the ball across for Sarajian’s opener in the first minute and then curled his free kick from the right in off the far post to restore the lead. He set up Sarajian for a close-range chance later in the half and finished with a game-high eight key passes. He completed 84.6% of his 39 passes, two of two crosses, and one of two long balls, with three shots, one on target, one tackle, and two clearances, and he was fouled three times. Griezmann could easily have been the Man of the Match, but 12 saves, including some spectacular ones, put Crepeau over the top.

Substitutes

MF/D, Bernardo Rhein (46′), 5 — Rhein replaced Sarajian at halftime and played on the left side of Orlando’s back line. He gave the ball away in his own third shortly after the restart, leading to a Crew corner, and he later tried to play Dike in behind before sending his own shot wide of the right post. He completed 87.5% of his 16 passes and his only long ball, with one off-target shot, and his foul in stoppage time gave Columbus a free kick.

D, Zakaria Taifi (54′), 5 — Taifi came on for Nogueira, who had been playing on a yellow card, which moved Rhein from left wing to left back and Angulo from right back to left wing. His best moment came when he rose for a back-post cross from Angulo but headed it over the bar. He completed 88.9% of his nine passes and two of three long balls with one unsuccessful cross, one shot, one tackle, and two clearances.

MF, Luis Otavio (62′), 5 — Otavio replaced Atuesta and avoided costly giveaways, though a couple of his passes went astray when he wasn’t under pressure. He completed 88.9% of his 18 passes and added one tackle, one interception, and one clearance.

F, Daryl Dike (62′), 5.5 — Dike came on for Pasalic and contributed some holdup play and defensive work. His best chance came late, when his header off a recycled corner forced a save from Schulte. However, perhaps his most impactful play was to draw the defense’s attention, allowing Angulo tons of space in the box to run onto Ojeda’s pass and score the winner. Dike completed 87.5% of his eight passes, won two aerial duels, and added one clearance.

F, Justin Ellis (83′), N/A — Ellis replaced Brekalo for the final stretch in his return from international duty with the United States Men’s National Team. He took two shots from outside the box, with one effort blocked and the other going over the bar. He completed 60% of his five passes. He wasn’t on the field long enough to receive a fair grade.

American soccer offers players more than one path to the professional game. Alongside academy development, the college game gives players an opportunity to develop before beginning their professional careers. For those who make that jump, reserve teams can provide an important bridge between college soccer and the demands of Major League Soccer.

Orlando City has a player who has successfully followed that path. Harvey Sarajian was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft out of Wake Forest. He began the season with Orlando City B, making occasional appearances with the first team. But as the season has progressed, he’s earned a larger role with the senior side.

From the start of the year, Sarajian was a focal point for the Young Lions. He made 16 appearances, starting all 16 games, and only missed time with OCB when he was on the bench for the first team. His seven goals were tied with Gustavo Caraballo and Issah Haruna for second on the team, one behind Pedro Leao. His six assists were also second on the team, one behind Haruna. He produced those numbers while playing fewer games than the players around him.

Sarajian’s production with OCB showed that he could make an impact at the professional level, but the value of the developmental side extended beyond his statistics. Regular starts gave him the opportunity to gain experience, build consistency, and continue adjusting to the demands of the professional game. For a player coming out of college, that environment can provide an important step between the college game and the expectations of MLS.

His transition to the first team, however, was gradual. Sarajian made two first-team appearances through April and was an unused substitute on three occasions. He made additional appearances in three consecutive July games, but didn’t play more than 11 minutes until the Leagues Cup loss to Club León on Aug. 8, when he replaced Tyrese Spicer in the 66th minute.

Over the past few weeks, Sarajian has earned even more time with the first team. He played 31 minutes against Minnesota United on Aug. 29, followed by 36 minutes against the Philadelphia Union on Sept. 26. Those opportunities came before he earned his first start Saturday night against the Columbus Crew.

The 21-year-old attacker took advantage of his opportunity against Columbus, scoring just 45 seconds into the game. The goal provided an immediate return on the patience that had defined his path to the starting lineup and marked another step forward in his transition from the developmental side to MLS.

Interim head coach Martin Perelman explained that the coaching staff wanted to make sure Sarajian was ready to contribute before giving him a larger role.

“Harvey’s doing his own process. But, for us, from outside as a coaching staff, we try to detect when a player is capable to play, when he can match up with a plan and everything we want to do. For us, today was the moment for him,” Perelman said after the Columbus game. “We are very happy that he scored. We are very happy, not only for Harvey, but every player that develops himself. We are happy. It’s very important for us.”

Sarajian credited the coaching staffs at both levels for helping him progress without rushing the process.

“It’s awesome to show that my hard work and patience are showing off,” he said. “I want to say that I think it’s a lot of credit to the coaches on the OCB side and the first team side for integrating me and slowly developing me and making me take my time to get to where I want to be. So I’m super grateful for that.”

Sarajian’s progression illustrates why the college route to MLS can be valuable even when a player doesn’t immediately earn a place in the first team. Being selected in the SuperDraft is only the beginning. For young players coming out of college, the transition to the professional game can take time, and OCB provides an opportunity to gain experience against professional competition while continuing to develop.

That opportunity can benefit both the player and the first team. Sarajian was able to play a regular role with the Young Lions, contributing goals and assists while adjusting to the professional game. Meanwhile, Orlando City could evaluate his development and gradually introduce him to the demands of MLS. His progression from 16 starts with OCB to his first MLS start against Columbus shows how a developmental team can help bridge the gap between college soccer and the first team.

Not every college player will follow the same path or reach the same level, but Sarajian’s season demonstrates that a lack of immediate first-team minutes doesn’t mean a draft pick can’t contribute. 

OCB gave him a place to develop, and when the first-team coaching staff determined he was ready, he was able to make the most of his opportunity. His goal against Columbus was the latest payoff in a process that began long before he found the net in his first start.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you all had a great holiday weekend down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work covering high school volleyball and soccer while catching up on season 4 of Ted Lasso. Our beloved Lions were in action over the weekend, and we’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Beat Columbus Crew

Orlando City defeated the Columbus Crew 3-2 on Saturday at Inter.co Stadium, snapping a 2-2 stalemate just before stoppage time. Harvey Sarajian scored the opener for the Lions early in the first half before Columbus equalized minutes later. Antoine Griezmann’s goal put Orlando back in front before the break. In the second half, Braias Mendez tied the match for Columbus. But Ivan Angulo scored the late winner for Orlando to seal a crucial three points at home. The win snapped the Lions’ three-match losing streak across all competitions. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau made 12 saves, setting a new club single-match record. Griezmann has scored 10 goals this season across all competitions and has played a key role in Orlando’s turnaround, making a strong case for the 2026 MLS Newcomer of the Year Award. Orlando City will have a quick turnaround, with its next match on the road on Wednesday against Toronto FC.

USWNT Falls to Spain in Friendly

The U.S. Women’s National Team fell 2-0 to Spain at Audi Field on Saturday in Washington, D.C. Orlando Pride defender Oihane was on the bench for Spain but did not play in the match. Pati Guijarro and Eva Navarro scored for Spain early in the first half to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. In the second half, the USWNT had a chance to get back into the match, and Sophia Wilson thought she’d scored to pull one back, but the goal was disallowed for offside following video review. Later in the match, Lily Yohannes missed a penalty kick, leaving it at the perfect height for Spain goalkeeper Adriana Nanclares to make a diving save. Spain held on for a clean sheet and the win. The USWNT will face Spain again on Tuesday at Subaru Park in Chester, PA.

Pride Players on International Duty

Multiple Orlando Pride players represented their national teams during the international break. Two Pride players faced off in a friendly between Jamaica forward Solai Washington and Mexico forward Jacquie Ovalle on Friday. Ovalle scored for Mexico, and Washington scored her first international goal for Jamaica in a 4-3 win against Mexico. The two teams will battle again on Tuesday in a friendly.

On Saturday, midfielder Angelina scored for Brazil in a 3-1 friendly win against Argentina. Brazil will face Argentina again on Tuesday. Midfielder Ally Lemos started for the U.S. Women’s U-23 squad in a 5-0 win against the Dominican Republic in a friendly.

Forward Sanne Lekven, who is playing for the Norway Women’s U-23 Team, will face England later today. Forward Barbra Banda and Zambia will take on Uganda on Tuesday in Africa’s second round of the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Americans Abroad

Let’s catch up on Americans in action abroad in Europe. Former Lion Alex Freeman started and played a full 90 minutes for Villarreal in a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid on Saturday. Brenden Aaronson came off the bench and played 19 minutes for Leeds United in a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal. Sebastian Berhalter and Aidan Morris both played for Middlesbrough in a 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the EFL Championship. Johnny Cardoso played a full 90 minutes for Atletico Madrid in a 2-1 win against Deportivo Alaves. On Sunday, Christian Pulisic started and played 78 minutes for AC Milan in a 1-1 draw against Sassuolo in Serie A. Bryan Reynolds had two assists for Stade Rennes in a 4-1 win against Auxerre in Ligue 1.

Free Kicks

• Orlando Pride forward Seven Castain, who is on loan at Dallas Trinity, scored a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Brooklyn FC in the USL Super League.

• FC Cincinnati has reportedly signed former Philadelphia Union midfielder Jose Martinez, who previously played for Brazilian club Corinthians.

• Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears has reportedly been traded to the Denver Summit in exchange for $1.2 million in intra-league funds.

• The Portuguese Football Federation has provisionally suspended Cristiano Ronaldo after opening a disciplinary case following his walkout from the national team camp over a dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus.
• Corinthians has reportedly hired Clarence Seedorf as manager after losing seven consecutive league matches.
• United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated he will release details of his meetings with senior Manchester City officials after criticism of his comments following the English Premier League’s finding that the club breached financial regulations two weeks ago.

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