Joseph Paintsill scored his fourth goal of the Leagues Cup in the 67th minute to lift the LA Galaxy to a 2-1 victory over visiting Orlando City in Sunday’s third-place match.
Marco Reus added his third goal of the tournament earlier for the Galaxy, who qualified for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup with the victory.
It will be the Galaxy’s second consecutive appearance in the event following a nine-year drought. They secured a bye to the round of 16 in 2025 via their 2024 MLS Cup title and reached the quarterfinals, but are all but mathematically eliminated from 2025 playoff contention.
Martin Ojeda leveled with his fourth goal of the tournament in the 60th minute for Orlando. The Lions, who currently sit eighth in the Supporters’ Shield and fifth in the Eastern Conference, can still earn a third consecutive Concacaf berth via their regular season finish or by winning MLS Cup.
Paintsil put LA in front for the second time after helping pressure Orlando into a turnover.
John Nelson was first to reach the loose ball and quickly played it square to Paintsil, who let it run across his body before sending a low shot from beyond the 18-yard box that beat Pedro Gallese to the bottom right corner.
Paintsil nearly added a second the 82nd minute with an effort that struck the crossbar, and Miki Yamane’s rebound attempt was denied by Gallese’s fabulous reaction save.
Orlando’s best looks at a late second leveler came through the air, with Ojeda flashing one effort wide of the right post and Alex Freeman sending another directly at goalkeeper Novak Micovic.
Reus put the Galaxy in front in the ninth minute.
Yamane began the attack when he used his pace to elude an Orlando defender near midfield before spraying a ball to Gabriel Pec down the right.
Pec beat another defender off the dribble, then sent in a low cross into the run of Reus, who powered a one-touch effort past Gallese.
Ojeda pulled Orlando level after a period of sustained possession in LA’s end.
Eventually Iván Angulo played a cross from the byline on the left toward Luis Muriel, who redirected it with an outstretched leg to Ojeda near the six-yard box. Ojeda reacted superbly, hammering an instinctive half volley past Micovic from close range.
–Field Level Media
