CARSON, Calif. (March 29, 2025) – Orlando City SC (3-2-1, 10 points) defeated the LA Galaxy (0-4-2, 2 points) at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night thanks to two unanswered goals in the second half. The win serves as the Lions first road win of the season and the team is now unbeaten in its last three matches.
The Lions leveled the match after Eduard Atuesta was taken down in the box and earned a penalty kick. Martín Ojeda stepped up to the spot and slotted home the penalty which served as his fourth goal of the season.
City found the winner in the 90th minute thanks to a Luis Muriel free kick from well outside the box. Muriel took a long run up, got the shot on goal and the ball managed to find its way into the back of the net after the LA Galaxy goalkeeper got a hand to it. The goal counted as Muriel’s third goal of the season and his first game-winning goal of the 2025 campaign.
The Lions next head north to Chester, Pa. for a rematch from the 2025 Home Opener next Saturday, April 5, against the Philadelphia Union on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The match is set to kick off from Subaru Park at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
14’ Christian Ramírez (Miki Yamane, Edwin Cerrillo) – LA 1, ORL 0
The hosts opened the scoring in the match after a period of sustained pressure when Edwin Cerrillo fed a ball out to the right wing for Miki Yamane. Yamane broke behind the defense towards the endline and calmly sent a low cross to Christian Ramírez at the near post. Ramírez got his foot on it and tucked a slow ball just inside the post for the opener.
76’ Martín Ojeda (Penalty Kick) – ORL 1, LA 1
The visitors found the equalizer in the second half after a barage of attacking play from the Lions. Eduard Atuesta found himself inside the box and as he was trying to get away from a Galaxy defender, was taken down and given a penalty kick. Martín Ojeda stepped up to the penalty spot and made no mistake with the finish.
90’ Luis Muriel – ORL 2, LA 1
Orlando found the winner right before second half stoppage time after they were awarded a free kick from beyond the box. Luis Muriel was the only one over the free kick and had a long run up before smashing the ball on target. Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy was able to get a hand on it, but the shot proved to be too powerful as the ball slipped out of McCarthy’s hands and over the goal line for the game-winner.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“The way they believed in the game the whole time. I thought we had a difficult start, but they had the willingness to change the game and to dominate the game and also to continue to the end was something that made us feel very optimistic. It was a great performance against a great team, and I really think we played well. We used our spaced very well and I saw a lot of personality from a majority of our players.”
Match Notes
- Martín Ojeda scored his fourth goal of the season with his strike from the penalty spot, marking his 17th all-time.
- Luis Muriel scored his third goal of the 2025 campaign and recorded his first game-winning goal of the season, tallying his eighth all-time.
- The Lions picked up their third win in a row against the Galaxy under Head Coach Oscar Pareja
- The match marked the 200th MLS game in charge of the Lions for Head Coach Oscar Pareja, the most by far of any Orlando City manager in Club history.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made one change to the Starting XI after his side’s last match against D.C. United, with goalkeeper Pedro Gallese returning to the lineup.
