News

Late Goal Sinks Lions in Toronto

toronto recap

TORONTO (May 18, 2018) ā€“ Orlando City SC (6-4-1, 19 points) played a close match against reigning MLS Cup champion Toronto FC (3-6-1, 10 points) but lost 2-1 on Friday at BMO Field. Cristian Higuita scored his second goal of 2018 and Uri Rosell made his first start of the season.


ā€œPleased with the organization, pleased with the level of work. I thought we were defensively very, very sound tonight,ā€ Lions head coach Jason Kreis said. ā€œReally unfortunate that we give away a goal late to lose what I thought was an earned one point. It means that next weekend is a big, big game for us. We have to get all three points at home.ā€


The Lions and Reds traded half-chances through the first hour but Toronto opened the scoring in the 63rd minute when Jay Chapman knocked in Tosaint Rickettā€™s rebound off the post.


City equalized 10 minutes later thanks to a dazzling 35-yard run into the box by Mohamed El-Munir. The Libyan left back dribbled through several defenders before chipping a rabona cross for Chris Mueller, who laid it down for JosuƩ ColmƔn. The 19-year-old passed it to Higuita for his first assist as a Lion.


Toronto took the lead for good when Ryan Telfer drilled a shot on the volley in the 87th minute.


The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, May 26, to host the Chicago Fire at 7:30 p.m. ET.


Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.


Match Notes

  • M Cristian Higuita scored his second goal of the season, which is a career-high. Both of Higuitaā€™s goals have come in Cityā€™s last two road games.
  • M Josue ColmĆ”n earned his first career MLS assist on Higuitaā€™s goal. M Chris Mueller earned his second career assist on the goal.
  • GK Joe Bendik made his 78th career MLS start for City, passing F
  • Cyle Larin for the most in Club history.
  • M Uri Rosell made his first start of the season.
  • M Dillon Powers made his season debut.
  • Orlando Cityā€™s five fouls were a season-low. Cityā€™s seven fouls suffered are also a season-low.
  • The loss is Orlando Cityā€™s first to a reigning MLS Cup champion. The Lions defeated LA Galaxy in 2015, Portland Timbers in 2016 and drew Seattle Sounders in 2017.
  • The Lions were without M Yoshimar YotĆŗn (yellow card accumulation) and F Dom Dwyer (lower body injury).


Scoring Summary:
TOR - Jay Chapman 63ā€™
ORL - Cristian Higuita (JosuĆ© ColmĆ”n, Chris Mueller) 73ā€™
TOR - Ryan Telfer (Auro) 87ā€™


Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Will Johnson (Yellow Card) 84ā€™


Lineups/Substitutions:

Toronto FC - GK Alex Bono, D Chris Mavinga, Eriq Zavaleta, Gregory van der Wiel, Auro, M ā“’ Michael Bradley, Jay Chapman (Marco Delgado 64ā€™), Ryan Telfer, Victor VĆ”zquez, Jonathan Osorio (Liam Fraser 90+4ā€™), F Jordan Hamilton (Tosaint Ricketts 60ā€™)


Substitutes Not Used: GK Clint Irwin, D Jason Hernandez, M Ager Aketxe, Mariano MiƱo


Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Mohamed El-Munir, Amro Tarek, Lamine SanĆ©, Will Johnson, M Cristian Higuita, Uri Rosell (Dillon Powers 89ā€™), Justin Meram, ā“’ Sacha Kljestan, Chris Mueller (Richie Laryea 83ā€™), F StĆ©fano Pinho (JosuĆ© ColmĆ”n 64ā€™)


Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards, Jr., D Chris Schuler, RJ Allen, M Tony Rocha


Details of the Game:
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: May 18, 2018
Attendance: 28,009


Stats:

Possession:
TOR - 48.5 %
ORL - 51.5 %


Shots:
TOR - 14
ORL - 10


Saves:
TOR - 4
ORL - 3


Fouls:
TOR - 7
ORL - 5


Corners:
TOR - 7
ORL - 3