COLUMBUS, Ohio (Oct. 27, 2021) - Orlando City SC (12-9-11, 47 points) dropped a 3-2 decision on Wednesday night, falling to 2020 MLS Cup winner Columbus Crew (11-13-8, 41 points) at Lower.com Field.
Orlando City looked to make a late-game push to level things, after defender Robin Jansson scored his third of the season in second-half stoppage time to make things 3-2 but the visitors could not find the equalizer. Daryl Dike recorded the Lions’ first goal of the night, a 52nd-minute penalty kick, good for the forward’s eighth goal of the season.
In the 74th minute of the match, Jansson became the Club’s all-time leader in minutes by a field player with 7,693, passing former midfielder Cristian Higuita.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“I think it is a really painful result, for sure. We’re carrying, in the last few games, some heaviness that we needed to shake off in that first half. I think the boys were fighting to try to dominate the game from the beginning but after those two goals that we conceded the energy got lower and Columbus started getting more enthusiasm with the game. Half of the first half we did not react well. Second half I think the subs helped us to bring some energy for the team, tried to give us hope with that first [Benji Michel] goal and be back in the game with that moment. But the third [Columbus] goal was difficult to swallow. Difficult to react after that one. We have to refocus again. With the proximity of these games, there’s not much time to feel sorry for ourselves. We have to move on and try to focus on Nashville.”
Scoring Recap:
20’ Miguel Berry (Lucas Zelarayán) - CLB 1, ORL 0
Columbus took the lead in the 20th minute when Lucas Zelarayán finding the head of Miguel Berry in the box.
31’ Derrick Etienne Jr. (Lucas Zelarayán) - CLB 2, ORL 0
The home side doubled its lead just past the half hour mark, with Zelarayán finding Derrick Etienne Jr. on the far post on a corner kick that just got beyond the outstretched punch of Pedro Gallese.
52’ Daryl Dike (PK) - CLB 2, ORL 1
Forward Daryl Dike pulled one back for the Lions early in the second half from the penalty spot. After his first attempt was denied, Dike got another chance due to goalkeeper movement and made no mistake on the second go with a driven shot to the same spot.
61’ Lucas Zelarayán (Steven Moreira) - CLB 3, ORL 1
Columbus regained the two-goal advantage in the 61st minute, with Lucas Zelarayán getting his goal on the night, a long-distance shot to the far corner.
90+2’ Robin Jansson (Tesho Akindele) - CLB 3, ORL 2
Jansson capped off the scoring on the night, a late stoppage-time goal off a cross from Tesho Akindele, but the Lions could not complete the comeback in the nine minutes of injury time.
Match Notes:
- Daryl Dike’s goal in the 53rd minute equaled his total goals from 2020 (8). The goal extended Dike’s current run of form, having a goal contribution in six of the Club’s last seven matches.
- Dike’s penalty marked the eighth goal awarded to the Lions this season, the most the side has ever won in a single campaign. It was Orlando’s fifth conversion on the season, tied for most in a year with the 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons.
- In hitting the 74th minute of the match, defender Robin Jansson set the Club record for most all-time minutes for an outfield player (7,693), passing former midfielder Cristian Higuita (7,692).
- Assisting on Dike’s goal, Tesho Akindele notched his sixth helper of the season, which sits as the second highest on the team and only one behind Club leaders Mauricio Pereyra and Nani’s seven.
- With the start, Mauricio Pereyra earned his 50th start in purple.
- Oscar Pareja made three changes to his starting lineup on Wednesday night, with Kyle Smith, Antonio Carlos and Sebastián Méndez in the XI.
Next Match: The Lions return to the comforts of Exploria Stadium for their final home match of the regular season, set to host Nashville SC at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 31.
