Visiting Orlando City SC fell into a wild-card spot after a 4-2 defeat to Toronto FC on Saturday night. A brace from designated player Djordje Mihailovic helped TFC to their first win at home since June 28.
Visiting fans surely had their eyes on simultaneous matches as Orlando’s fortunes turned for the worse. The Lions (14-9-11, 53 points) were leapfrogged in the standings by the Columbus Crew, who won their final match over the New York Red Bulls. TFC (6-14-14, 32 points) will be pleased not to finish last among their Canadian counterparts, edging out CF Montreal by four points.
Fresh off an international break where he remained on the bench for Canada, Jonathan Osorio wound up on the end of a crisp piece of passing play, receiving the ball outside Orlando’s box. The captain’s left-booted blast curled past Gallese and into the top-left corner in the seventh minute to give Toronto an early lead.
Mihailovic provided the highlight of the match off a free kick from just outside the penalty box, placing his shot just inside the near post to evade the gloves of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese in the 34th minute to put Toronto up 2-0.
The effort came as a result of a controversial handball call where Orlando’s Marco Pasalic appeared to raise his arm only to avoid being struck in the head. Mihailovic nabbed a second in the 48th minute, sliding onto the end of an overhit Theo Corbeanu cross.
Committing men forward, defender David Brekalo was able to pull one back for the Lions in the 54th minute, evading a backtracking Deandre Kerr. Kerr, in turn, restored the three-goal margin with a strike of his own in the 61st minute. Duncan McGuire added a consolation goal in extra time.
Orlando City will travel to take on the Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference wild-card match on Nov. 22. This defeat extends their winless run away from home, which dates all the way back to July 25
–Field Level Media
