Coming off earning its first win of the season, the LA Galaxy looked to carry the momentum into Orlando and try to get its season back on track.
However, it turned out to be a tall task for a team to travel 3,000 miles to Central Florida to pick up a rare road win, and Orlando City turned out to be a rude host. Orlando shook off a disallowed goal in the first half to get a first half strike from Ercan Kara and a second half goal from Facundo Torres were all Orlando City needed to get past the Galaxy 2-0 at Exploria Stadium.
“I think we just can’t overlook any opponent in this league,” Galaxy midfielder Mark Delgado said. “Every match is tough. Every team is going to try to press us and try to get us to make a mistake. But we have to have that confidence and trust in one another that we’ll get the job done and we’ll get our parts done and with that will come results.”
Orlando was aggressive from the start. Orlando thought they had found the back net in the 33rd minute, as Ivan Angulo crossed into the penalty area, Torres touched the ball to Cesar Araujo, who chested the ball down and fired the shot past keeper Jonathan Klinsmann near post. The Galaxy however claimed Torres touched the ball at his hand area, and VAR apparently agreed, as referee Jon Freemon got the call for Video Review, and it was confirmed that Araujo brought the ball down with his hands, and the goal was waived off.
Orlando however wasn’t fazed, and got that first strike five minutes later. Antonio Carlos sprung Michael Halliday down the right side with a ball over the Galaxy defense. Halliday chased the ball near the end line, took a touch, crossed into the penalty area and Kara touched a ball past Klinsmann into the far post net. Orlando took the lead into halftime, then doubled up in the 57th minute, as Kara touched a ball to Martin Ojeda, who then dribbled forward, played Torres into the box and Torres slotted a shot past Klinsmann into the back net.
“We need to improve,” Galaxy striker Chicharito Hernandez said. “We need to improve a lot and I think we need to find determination. We need to find motivation inside ourselves and then hopefully we can make that be contagious with every one of our teammates.”
The Galaxy will try to bounce back next Saturday, as they host the Colorado Rapids.
