CARSON, Calif. (Aug. 31, 2025) – Orlando City SC’s Leagues Cup 2025 run ended with a 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy in the Third Place Match on Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. The Lions finished the tournament in fourth place, marking their best-ever finish in Leagues Cup history.
Marco Reus opened the scoring for the hosts in the ninth minute of play, a lead the Galaxy would hold until the 60th minute when Martín Ojeda volleyed home after combining with Luis Muriel and Ivan Angulo in the box. The goal was Ojeda’s fourth of the tournament and 18th across all competitions in 2025. It also marked his seventh goal contribution in Leagues Cup 2025, leading all players ahead of the Final on Sunday night.
LA regained their advantage just seven minutes later after forcing a turnover in Orlando’s half and freeing Joseph Paintsil to fire a low, driven shot from just outside the 18-yard box into the back of the net.
Following the upcoming international break, Orlando City will next return to MLS action as it travels to take on D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday, Sept. 13. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“I want to first congratulate our players and their effort. It has been a difficult challenge following this schedule and today, probably in the first half, we felt that low energy in the start of the game. But the boys found their way to bounce back and get that energy back and their willingness and I thought we were that team that we used to be and we tied the game and we had a couple of actions that we could have scored. But what happened is that we get wide open, as well, in transition and the Galaxy, as well, have a few chances, so the game was open for both, us tying the game or they finding the second one, that is what happened. So, proud of our players, proud of them and the job that they have done on just bringing us to these stages. Now we’re going to rest and bounce back in the league. We have a job to do and we will get back to it.”
Scoring Summary:
9’ Marco Reus (Gabriel Pec) – LA 1, ORL 0
60’ Martín Ojeda (Luis Muriel) – ORL 1, LA 1
67’ Joseph Paintsil (John Nelson) – LA 2, ORL 1
Match Notes
- Midfielder Martín Ojeda scored his fourth goal of the tournament and team-leading 18th goal across all competitions. Ojeda now has seven goal contributions in Leagues Cup 2025, leading all players in the tournament at the end of the Third Place match.
- Ojeda’s goal also tied former Designated Player Facundo Torres for the all-time club record of 72 goal contributions across all competitions.
- Forward Luis Muriel provided the assist on the Ojeda tally, his first of the tournament and eighth in 2025 across all competitions.
- Following red cards in their last match against Inter Miami CF, both defenders David Brekalo and Robin Jansson missed the match due to suspension.
- The match marked Orlando City’s third in Carson this calendar year, the most of any season in club history. The Lions have now played the Galaxy twice at Dignity Health Sports Park in 2025, once in MLS action and once in Leagues Cup 2025, and Deportivo Toluca once.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made two changes to the Starting XI after the side’s last match against Inter Miami CF, with Adrián Marín and Kyle Smith returning to the starting lineup.
