Orlando bounced back in dramatic fashion Saturday. After getting beat by Philadelphia 4-2 in their 2025 MLS opener, the Lions turned the tables and beat Toronto FC by the same score.
The game featured some amazing moments, starting with César Araújo scoring in the 32nd minute with a beautiful free kick to the top left corner. This was something Cesar had practiced during the week and after practice sessions. You could see his confidence returning after being roughed up by Philadelphia last week.
Just three minutes later, Alexander Freeman, the 20-year-old defender who was selected as Man of the Match, scored his first MLS goal. The young man who played last year for Orlando City's B team was filled with emotion after the game.
"It's a dream. When I scored I didn't know what to do. I'm glad my family was here to watch me score," Freeman said after the match. When asked about being named Man of the Match, he was genuinely surprised.
"My mentality is to play my best and help my team any way I can," he said. His goal is to "be good defensively and be a threat in the final third." Freeman also mentioned how proud Coach Oscar Pareja was, describing him as a "father figure."
Orlando kept pushing and got its third goal from Martín Ojeda in the 63rd minute. He finished from a difficult angle on the right with a great pass from César Araújo on a fast break. Ojeda has been stepping up to fill the offensive void left when Facundo Torres departed.
Just when it looked like Orlando would cruise to victory, Toronto made adjustments in the 65th minute and those substitutions energized their players, and Toronto scored when Sigurd Rosted headed in a cross from Federico Bernardeschi following a corner in the 72nd minute.
With the score at 3-1, Dagur Thórhallsson came in for Ojeda in the 80th minute. The Icelandic midfielder wasted no time making an impact, scoring just one minute later from a Luis Muriel through ball, that led to a scream of competition in what Coach Pareja calls "competencia sana" (healthy competition).
Toronto played hard until the end. Deybi Flores scored dramatically from 25 yards in the 86th minute, finding the bottom right corner with a shot that Pedro Gallese couldn't reach.
A special milestone was reached in this game as Iván Angulo celebrated his 100th appearance for Orlando City.
"I am very happy to get 100 games for this institution like Orlando and to continue playing here," Angulo said after the match.
Pareja described it as a "much more complete performance" while acknowledging he wasn't happy with conceding two goals. He had high praise for Freeman, saying he "showed great maturity in his debut" and that "he's ready to be one of the best fullbacks for his country."
The match also featured 16-year-old Gustavo Caraballo making his debut, becoming the youngest player ever for Orlando. As Pareja said, "He has earned it, just like Alex Freeman has earned it."
Orlando plays the next two weekends in New York, visiting NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls, before returning home on March 22 to host DC United.
It's worth noting that the Lions are still missing Robin Jansson, their Swedish defensive anchor. Once he returns, he will help Rodrigo Schlegel in the back line and significantly strengthen the team.
