Orlando City’s CONCACAF Champions League run has come to an end after a dramatic and eventful end to the Lions’ game against Tigres that finished in a 1-1 draw. Tigres advanced to the next round on the away goal rule.
Despite seven saves from Pedro Gallese (15 through both legs) Orlando were beaten by Sebastián Córdova’s strike in the 21st minute, which gave the visitors the advantage on away goals. The Lions would have needed to score two goals in order to advance due to that rule.
The second half would show more for the Lions as they pushed for a goal, but they would not find it until just before stoppage time. Off a corner from Facundo Torres, Ercan Kara would pounce on a loose ball and bicycle kick it into an open goal, giving the Lions a lifeline.
As the game crept into stoppage time, Tigres continued to slow down the game through the five added minutes, spending most of it time wasting with injuries. On the final corner of the game, the ball fell right to substitute Duncan McGuire who fired his shot over the goal, ending the game.
Right as the final whistle blew, Orlando Head Coach Oscar Pareja confronted head referee Said Martinez about the stoppage time, which resulted in the Honduran ref showing Pareja a red card.
The card boiled over into a scuffle between the teams, boiling over into the locker rooms after the teams left the field.
“We scored in the 89th minute and between 89th and 97th, there were four minutes and 50 seconds that they did not play the game, they didn’t allow us to play the game,” said Pareja. “Whether it was because the goalkeeper wasn’t playing, not restarting, substitutions, and even the celebration of the goal, so they need to understand that.
“They give five minutes but they are wasting time, and they need to add more time,” he added. “We are respectful, and I want to say again, but we’re not stupid, we’re not… we’re competing, and they need to realize that.”
Orlando will now head right back to League play as they prepare to host Charlotte FC on Saturday night. That game will kick off at 7:30 P.M. on MLS League Pass.
How the Lions lined up
Orlando City XI: Pedro Gallese; Luca Petrasso (Rafael Santos, 64′), Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, Mikey Halliday; Cesar Araujo, Mauricio Pereyra (Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, 76′), Ivan Angulo (Ercan Kara, 76′); Facundo Torres, Martin Ojeda (Gaston Gonzalez, 76′); Ramiro Enrique (Duncan McGuire 70′)
Unused substitutes: Mason Stajduhar, Felipe, Shak Mohammed, Wilder Cartagena, Kyle Smith, Antonio Carlos, Abdi Salim
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