Lions Fall to LA Galaxy 4-3

CARSON, Calif. (July 29, 2018) – Orlando City SC (7-14-1, 22 points) lost 4-3 to the LA Galaxy (10-7-5, 35 points) on Sunday at StubHub Center. Cristian Higuita and Dom Dwyer scored for City.

“It definitely hurts but when you look at the quality of play you can take a lot from the first-half performance,” Lions head coach James O’Connor said. “We expect to be better. You can’t come away, score three goals and not get anything out of the game. The level of the performance at times, the quality of the football at times is really, really good. But again, it becomes irrelevant when you don’t win the game.”

The Lions opened the scoring when Higuita finished from 10 yards out after combining with Sacha Kljestan. It was his career-high fourth MLS goal of the season and Kljestan’s sixth assist, tying Yoshimar Yotún for the team lead.

LA responded with a goal from Giovani dos Santos in the 39th minute.

The Lions retook the lead in the 44th minute on an own-goal from Galaxy defender Michael Ciani. It was City’s first own-goal in favor since May 2016.

Dom Dwyer scored his ninth goal of the season on a clever play from Mohamed El-Munir in the 54th minute to make it 3-2 but the Galaxy took all three points riding a second-half hat-trick from Zlatan Ibrahimović.

The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 4, to host the New England Revolution.

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

Match Notes

• D Scott Sutter made his first MLS start since June 30.
• M Cristian Higuita extended his career-high with his fourth goal of the season on M Sacha Kljestan’s sixth MLS assist of 2018.
• F Dom Dwyer scored his ninth goal of 2018 and his 70th career MLS regular-season goal.
• M Tony Rocha and D Mohamed El-Munir each earned their second assists of 2018.
• GK Earl Edwards, Jr. made a career-high six saves.
  Orlando City scored an own-goal in favor for the first time since May 15, 2016 (Jimmy Medranda at SKC)
• Orlando City scored the opening goal for the fifth time this season and the third time in four games.
• Former Lions M Servando Carrasco came on in the 68th minute for LA. Carrasco made 62 appearances for Orlando City across all competitions from 2015 to 2017.
  

Scoring Summary:
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Sacha Kljestan) 18’
LA - Giovani dos Santos (Zlatan Ibrahimović, Dave Romney) 39’
ORL - Michael Ciani (OG) 44’
LA - Zlatan Ibrahimović (Giovani dos Santos) 47’
ORL - Dom Dwyer (Mohamed El-Munir, Tony Rocha) 54’
LA - Zlatan Ibrahimović (Ola Kamara) 67’
LA - Zlatan Ibrahimović 71’

Misconduct Summary:
LA - Michael Ciani (Yellow Card) 8’
ORL - Tony Rocha (Yellow Card) 48’
LA - Zlatan Ibrahimovic 72’

Lineups/Substitutions:

LA Galaxy - GK David Bingham, D Jorgen Skjelvik, Michael Ciani, Dave Romney, M ⓒ Ashley Cole, Jonathan dos Santos, Perry Kitchen (Sebastian Lletget 57’), Chris Pontius (Sheanon Williams 90+2’), F Giovani dos Santos (Servando Carrasco 68’), Ola Kamara, Zlatan Ibrahimović

Substitutes Not Used: GK Justin vom Steeg, D Daniel Steres, M Emmanuel Boateng, F Ariel Lassiter

Orlando City SC - GK Earl Edwards, Jr., D PC, Amro Tarek, Chris Schuler, Scott Sutter (Josué Colmán 84’), M Cristian Higuita (Will Johnson 74’), Tony Rocha, Mohamed El-Munir (Stéfano Pinho 79’), ⓒ Sacha Kljestan, Yoshimar Yotún, F Dom Dwyer

Substitutes Not Used: GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, M Cam Lindley, F Chris Mueller

Details of the Game:
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: July 29, 2018
Attendance: 24,941

Stats:

Possession:
LA - 54.9 %
ORL - 45.1 %

Shots:
LA - 23
ORL - 19

Saves:
LA - 3
ORL - 6

Fouls:
LA - 9
ORL - 10

Corners:
LA - 5
ORL - 7