Colombian’s 89th-minute winner keeps the Lions in a playoff spot with six matches left
Iván Angulo saved his best for last. With the score tied 2-2 and the clock nearly gone, the Colombian winger finished a fast break in the 89th minute to give Orlando City SC a 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew on a soggy Inter.Co Stadium pitch Saturday.
Following a crucial save by Maxime Crépeau, Martín Ojeda carried the ball forward on the counter and slipped it to Angulo in the center of the box. Angulo took one controlled touch and drove a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte into the bottom right corner.
The goal capped a complete performance. Angulo played the full 90 minutes and stayed involved throughout. He drew two free kicks on the right wing in the first 20 minutes, set up a shot for Marco Pasalic in the 54th minute and created a header for Zakaria Taifi in the 79th before scoring the winner himself.
Orlando started fast. Harvey Sarajian scored inside the first minute off an Antoine Griezmann assist, and Taha Habroune answered for Columbus six minutes later. Griezmann put Orlando back in front in the 16th minute, curling a left-footed free kick into the top left corner. Columbus tied it again in the 53rd when Brais Méndez finished a through ball from Habroune.
Columbus kept pushing for a go-ahead goal after the equalizer, but Crépeau stood in the way. The Orlando goalkeeper finished with 12 saves, and the Lions caught a break in the 82nd minute when Gonzalo Tapia’s shot from outside the box hit the left post. Interim head coach Martín Perelman turned to his bench throughout the second half, bringing on Bernardo Rhein at halftime, Taifi in the 52nd minute, and Daryl Dike and Luis Otávio in the 62nd.
The win matters in the standings. Orlando (11-13-4) sits seventh in the Eastern Conference with 37 points, holding the last direct playoff spot. The New York Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati trail by one point, and Cincinnati has a game in hand.
That makes the coming week important. Orlando travels to Toronto FC on Wednesday, Oct. 14, then hosts D.C. United at Inter.co Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17. Toronto sits 11th with 32 points and D.C. United 12th with 30. Six points from those two matches would give Orlando some breathing room before a tough finish against New York City FC, Chicago, Charlotte and New England.
Defense remains Orlando’s biggest concern. The Lions have allowed 66 goals, the most among the East’s top nine teams, which leaves little room for mistakes.
