Orlando City struggled to beat LAFC despite playing well against one of the league’s best teams. They missed chances to score, including a missed penalty, and ended up losing 3-1 to LAFC due to two late goals. This overshadowed Martin Ojeda’s first goal of the season. The Lions lost their fifth home game this season and dropped to 14th place in the Eastern Conference.
The main issue for Orlando was missed opportunities, as they only managed one shot on target out of 19 attempts. The team showed good energy but struggled to execute in the attacking zone. Key players like Pedro Gallese and David Brekalo were unavailable due to international duty, so the starting lineup had to be adjusted. Mason Stajduhar was in goal, with changes in defense and midfield.
Both teams started cautiously, with Orlando having more control in the first 30 minutes. They missed several chances to score, while LAFC had their own opportunities. LAFC took the lead just before halftime with a penalty, and Orlando missed a penalty of their own shortly after. This was a missed opportunity for Facundo Torres, who had never missed a penalty before in his career.
After the missed penalty, LAFC started to dominate possession but struggled to create clear chances. Bouanga had some attempts but missed the target. LAFC took the lead with a penalty before halftime and secured the win with two late goals.
Orlando had some chances but couldn’t capitalize, ultimately losing the game. They have a quick turnaround to face Charlotte FC next.
