In a match defined by two vastly different halves, Orlando City SC produced a stirring comeback to defeat the Columbus Crew 3-1 at Lower.com Field on Saturday night. Despite being outplayed for much of the contest, the Lions surged in the final half-hour, led by Ramiro Enrique’s brace and a clinching goal from Martín Ojeda. The victory marked Columbus’ first home loss of the 2025 MLS season and handed Orlando a second consecutive road win, revitalizing their campaign following a four-game winless streak.
From the opening whistle, Columbus dominated. The Crew peppered Orlando’s defense with early chances — Diego Rossi tested Pedro Gallese twice in the opening minutes, and Jacen Russell-Rowe fired wide as Orlando struggled to clear their lines. The Lions were pinned deep and unable to maintain possession, repeatedly losing the ball under pressure.
Columbus finished the half leading nearly every statistical category: 62% possession, 10 shots to Orlando’s 4, and 4 corners to none. Yet the scoreboard remained unchanged at halftime, thanks in large part to Gallese’s sharp goalkeeping and some wasteful finishing by the Crew.
Orlando manager Oscar Pareja acknowledged the issues: “We couldn’t retain the ball in the first half… Columbus created a lot of trouble, especially on our left side. The worst thing was we couldn’t compete for the ball.”
The second half picked up where the first left off, with Columbus continuing to press. The breakthrough came in the 66th minute when Marco Pasalic was judged to have handled a cross in the box, resulting in a penalty that Rossi calmly converted to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
That goal could have sealed Orlando’s fate, but instead, it ignited their best football of the night.
Only six minutes later, a potential turning point was denied when Ivan Angulo appeared to be dragged down in the Crew’s penalty area — a non-call that infuriated the Orlando bench. Despite the frustration, the visitors didn’t wilt.
In the 76th minute, Angulo sent in a pinpoint cross to Enrique, who expertly headed in the equalizer. Just three minutes later, Angulo and Ojeda combined beautifully again, with the winger slipping a pass across the box for Enrique to tap home his second.
Orlando wasn’t finished. As Columbus pushed for an equalizer in stoppage time, fullback Alex Freeman led a counterattack and threaded a diagonal pass to Ojeda, who hammered home his 13th goal of the season to cap the 3-1 win.
Ojeda, who notched a goal and two assists, continued a remarkable run of form. With goal contributions in 10 consecutive matches, he has now tallied 25 total this season, surpassing former captain Nani for the most in a single campaign for the club. His influence, particularly in high-stakes moments, underlines his importance as a Designated Player.
“He doesn’t need the spotlight,” said Pareja. “What you get from Martín is effort, talent, and sacrifice.”
Ramiro Enrique once again haunted Columbus, bringing his tally to five goals and an assist in just five appearances against the Crew — four of those off the bench. His knack for delivering in clutch moments is becoming a defining trait.
“Ramiro came into the game with so much energy,” said Angulo. “He changed the match.”
Statistically, Columbus outperformed Orlando in nearly every metric: 60.8% possession, 18 shots to 10, and a 9-1 corner advantage. But the Lions were more clinical and capitalized on their few opportunities — a hallmark of resilient, playoff-bound teams.
Pareja praised his squad’s response: “The discipline, the willingness to do the task, the tactical respect for the game — it was a very important and well-deserved win.”
The match served as the final fixture before the MLS Leagues Cup break. Orlando City will now shift focus to an international clash against Liga MX side Pumas on Wednesday night, while Columbus regroups after suffering just their second home defeat of the season.
Orlando City’s performance illustrates the intangible value of grit and character in a sport often defined by possession and precision. While the Crew dominated much of the night, they couldn’t put the game out of reach — and that allowed the Lions to capitalize in a furious final 30 minutes.
More broadly, this win could be a season-defining moment for Orlando. For a team recently mired in a slump, back-to-back road victories against top competition — especially one as balanced and explosive as Columbus — signal that this group may be rounding into form at the right time.
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