Orlando City vs Club Leon Leagues Cup Match Review

Group play of the Leagues Cup continued last night as Orlando took on Club Leon in Orlando, Florida. This is the first time the two clubs have played each other. 

Orlando City made a few changes to their starting XI. Crepeau was between the pipes with Rhein, Jansson, Lago, Tariff providing the defense of the back four. In the middle of the pitch it was Spicer, Otavio, Cartagena and Angulo while Pasalic and Griezmann played up front. 

This was the first match for Pasalic in over a year which had to make Orlando fans excited to see. 

On the opposite side, García was in goal, with Vegas, Guevara, Romana and Moreno making up the back line. León's midfield was a five-man group consisting of Rodríguez, Echeverría, Santos, Beltrán and Cortizo, with Arcila serving as the lone striker.

Orlando had the first real chance in just the 5th minute when Griezmann got free at the top of the box but his shot was stopped by a diving Moreno, who got right in front of his attempt. It was a great chance, but Griezmann had to settle the ball and couldn’t get it off as fast as he would have liked. 

Club Leon looked like they might take the lead in the 28th minute when Arcila got through the defense and had a one-on-one with keeper Crepeau who would get an arm to the shot and deflect it away. The ball wasn’t cleared but the ensuing chance by Santos went well over the bar. The save kept the game scoreless. 

Club Leon got another good chance when they took a shot just outside the 6 yard box but once again Crepeau came up big with not just one stop but also the following chance. He was determined not to let anything in.

Orlando would finally break through in the 38th minute.

The goal started with a counterattack around midfield. Otávio played a high ball forward to Griezmann, who moved it on to Spicer. Spicer then found Pašalić, who got the shot away and past a diving García to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead.

It had to have been a special moment for Pasalic to score in his return to the pitch for the first time in over a year. 

Club Leon came close in the 41st minute to getting an equalizer when they got multiple shots off. The first was pushed out by Crepeau and the ensuing corner would have a ball go just high. Club Leon had another opportunity right before half but Crepeau made the stop and keep the Orlando lead at 1-0 before the half. 

Club Leon came out attacking in the second half with two good chances in the first four minutes of the second half. 

It would be the 54th minute when they leveled the match at 1-1. A set piece from Cortizo would find Guevara in the box for the header and slip just into the back of the net. 

Club Leon wouldn’t stop there. 

In the 68th minute they thought they had another goal but Echeverria was ruled offsides on the goal.

Three minutes later though, Club Leon would get their second goal and take a 2-1 lead. After stopping an Orlando attack from Dorsey they played a lot of quick passes getting the ball up field quickly. Arcila got the ball at the top of the 18 yard box and fired it past a diving Crepeau, making it a 2-1 lead for Club Leon.

Orlando had one of its biggest talking points of the night in the 84th minute.

Ellis played a great through ball to Sarajian who would be hit from behind and pulled down inside the box. No call was made, and the referee waved play on. 

After the match, the play was brought up to a couple players on what happened and their thoughts were on the play, with both saying they didn’t understand the call. Even noting a language barrier did make it hard to get any questions, during and after the match, answered. 

Club Leon would come close on an ensuing corner in the 85th minute but the header hit the post. The ensuring chaos plays would find Crepeau instead of the goal, keeping it a close 2-1 game. 

This match had everything: from a feel good story with Pasalic scoring in his first game back in over a year, another strong performance by Crepeau to keep Orlando in the match all night, and plenty of questions and frustrations for fans and players alike surrounding the controversial play late in the game.

Orlando City though doesn’t have time to sit on this one, though. They will need to regroup as they face San Luis on Wednesday, August 12th. With three points so far, Orlando needs a win to keep their hopes of advancing alive.