Toronto FC (6W-8L-11T, 29 points) fell to a 3-0 road loss against Orlando City SC (10W-11L-4T, 34 points) at Inter.co Stadium on Saturday night.
TFC Head Coach Robin Fraser made three changes from the side that started in Wednesday’s dramatic 2-1 win over Nashville SC with Jackson Gilman, Alonso Coello and Lewis Morgan making way for Matheus Pereira, Markus Cimermancic and Theo Corbeanu.
Both sides carved out chances in an evenly contested opening 45 minutes in the Sunshine State, with TFC coming close to breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute when Derrick Etienne Jr.’s volley from Theo Corbeanu’s cross was denied by Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.
Orlando came close themselves a minute later, but goalkeeper Luka Gavran came up big with a close-range save to deny Antoine Griezmann.
The hosts appeared to take the lead in the 32nd minute when a set-piece delivery from Griezmann resulted in an own goal, but an in-stadium video review ruled out the effort for an offside in the build-up involving Luis Otávio.
Orlando found the breakthrough in first-half stoppage time, with Griezmann volleying home Zakaria Taifi’s cross to put the hosts in front.
The Lions were then awarded a penalty moments later after Martín Ojeda went down following a challenge from Gavran, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
Following the restart, the Reds pushed forward in search of an equalizer for much of the second half, with Markus Cimermancic, Josh Sargent and Niklas Dorsch each going close to restoring parity.
Alonso Coello, Nicksoen Gomis, Malik Henry, Emilio Aristizábal and Raheem Edwards were all introduced off the bench for the visitors during the second half.
Orlando City doubled their advantage when substitute Harvey Sarajian finished off a pass from fellow substitute Daryl Dike in the 82nd minute.
TFC continued to push for a response, with Sargent striking the crossbar before Edwards’ volley was saved by Crépeau in stoppage time.
The Lions added a third in the closing moments when Iván Angulo found the net with a left-footed finish to seal the 3-0 result for Orlando in the Sunshine State.
Toronto FC continue on their travels with the club’s first-ever road trip to face St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday, September 19. Kick-off from Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally in English and Spanish on Apple TV.
LINEUPS
ORLANDO CITY SC – Maxime Crépeau; Zakaria Taifi, David Brekalo, Iago Teodoro, Iván Angulo; Marco Pašalić (Harvey Sarajian 80’), Luis Otávio, Joran Gerbet (Wilder Cartagena 46’), Tyrese Spicer (Bernardo Rhein 64’); Martín Ojeda (C) (Daryl Dike 65’), Antoine Griezmann (Justin Ellis 70’)
Substitutes Not Used: Javier Otero, Robin Jansson, Tiago Souza, Eduard Atuesta
TORONTO FC – Luka Gavran; Richie Laryea (C), Walker Zimmerman, Benjamín Kuscevic (Raheem Edwards 80’), Matheus Pereira (Nicksoen Gomis 65’); Markus Cimermancic (Emilio Aristizábal 71’), Niklas Dorsch, Theo Corbeanu (Alonso Coello 46’), Dániel Sallói, Derrick Etienne Jr. (Malik Henry 65’); Josh Sargent
Substitutes Not Used: William Yarbrough, Zane Monlouis, Kobe Franklin, Jackson Gilman
