Cesar Araujo and Alex Freeman scored first-half goals, leading Orlando City to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Toronto FC on Saturday night.
Martin Ojeda and Dagur Thorhallsson added second-half goals for the Lions, who picked up three points for the first time this season (1-1-0, 3 points).
Sigurd Rosted and Deybi Flores responded for Toronto, which lost for the first time this season (0-1-1, 1 point).
Ojeda took a through ball from Araujo, outran defender Zane Monlouis and stepped around keeper Sean Johnson to put his strike in for his 11th career MLS goal, giving Orlando a 3-0 lead in the 63rd minute.
Rosted headed in a Federico Bernardeschi corner kick in the 72nd minute, getting Toronto on the board.
Thorhallsson subbed on in the 80th minute and immediately made an impact, putting a left-footed strike past Johnson in the 81st minute to give the Lions a 4-1 lead.
Toronto cut Orlando’s lead in half in the 86th minute as Flores put a right-footed strike from just outside the box under the arm of diving keeper Pedro Gallase.
Toronto controlled the first-half possession, but Orlando had a 2-0 lead following the opening 45 minutes.
The Lions scored twice in two minutes.
Orlando was awarded a free kick after Jonathan Osorio fouled Marco Pasalic.
On the ensuing free kick from just outside the area, Araujo put his strike past a diving Johnson.
Freeman doubled the Lions’ lead in the 35th minute, putting his left-footed strike past Johnson for his first MLS goal.
Reds midfielder Richie Larayea subbed off due to injury in the 22nd minute and was replaced by Zane Monlouis, who made his MLS debut after signing a two-year contract last month.
Saturday was the first of the teams’ two regular-season meetings. The Lions travel to Toronto on Oct. 18 to conclude the season series.
–Field Level Media
