Orlando City SC 0-0 Toluca (6-5 on penalties)
Leagues Cup Quarterfinal - Dignity Field, Los Angeles, CA
Pedro Gallese proved why he's called "El Pulpo" (The Octopus), using every one of his metaphorical eight arms to save two penalties and convert the decisive spot-kick as Orlando City advanced to their first-ever Leagues Cup semifinal with a dramatic 6-5 shootout victory over Mexican giants Toluca at Dignity Field in Los Angeles.
The historic victory extends the Lions' unbeaten streak to eight consecutive games across all competitions and puts them one win away from securing a top-three tournament finish, which would guarantee their spot in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. For a franchise that has never reached this stage of the Leagues Cup, the moment carried extra weight—especially doing it 2,500 miles from home against one of Mexico's most successful clubs.
The cross-country trip to Los Angeles created challenges for both teams, as Head Coach Oscar Pareja acknowledged after the match. "The game played here in LA caused us some troubles with the traveling coming from the Southeast coast and crossing the country," Pareja explained. "Our purpose with the group, and I think the boys did great, is that we didn't have that conflict. We didn't want to have that excuse. It was hard as well for Toluca traveling here. It was a competition that was neutral for both teams."
That neutrality played out in a tense, tactical 90 minutes where neither team could find a breakthrough. Toluca controlled possession at 51.4% and peppered the Orlando goal with 15 shot attempts to the Lions' four, but Gallese and his defense stood firm. The Mexican side's physical approach resulted in 17 fouls as they tried to break down Orlando's disciplined defensive structure. Eduard Atuesta, Rodrigo Schlegel, and David Brekalo all saw yellow for the Lions, while Federico Pereira collected Toluca's lone caution.
Despite earning 10 corner kicks to Orlando's five, Toluca couldn't capitalize on their set-piece dominance. The Lions' backline, anchored by Robin Jansson and Rodrigo Schlegel, frustrated every attacking move in a match that seemed destined for penalties from the start. Both goalkeepers made just one save each during regulation—a statistic that tells the story of two teams more concerned with not losing than winning outright.
The penalty shootout provided all the drama the previous 90 minutes lacked. After Alexis Vega opened for Toluca and Martín Ojeda responded, both teams traded successful conversions through multiple rounds. Robin Jansson, Alexander Freeman, Kyle Smith, and Joran Gerbet all found the net for Orlando, matched strike for strike by Federico Pereira, Robert Morales, Jesús Gallardo, and Franco Romero for Toluca.
The turning point came when Ramiro Enrique's penalty sailed wide for Orlando, but Gallese immediately made amends by denying Nicolás Castro. When the Peruvian keeper then saved Juan Domínguez's attempt, it set up his moment of glory. Stepping up with ice in his veins, Gallese calmly slotted home to send the traveling Orlando contingent into raptures on the West Coast. Apparently, tentacles work just as well for taking penalties as they do for saving them.
The victory sets up a mouth-watering Florida Clásico semifinal against Inter Miami, likely on August 27 in Fort Lauderdale. Miami will be without head coach Javier Mascherano, who saw red during their quarterfinal victory over Tigres, adding another layer of intrigue to a rivalry that both teams desperately wanted.
Yet the path to potential glory comes with significant challenges. Orlando faces a brutal schedule ahead: an MLS match at Nashville SC on August 23, the semifinal in Miami on August 27, then back home to host Vancouver on August 30. It's the kind of fixture congestion that tests squad depth and managerial acumen.
Pareja is already planning his rotation strategy. "We tried to measure some minutes for the boys that have had a lot of volume in the last few games and traveling," he noted. "Hopefully we can recover soon because we have an important game on Saturday as well. Now thinking about that semifinal and trying to measure it with how can we rotate and take care of the boys? The good thing is that it is easy when you get results to do that and it is much, much better."
With Orlando sitting fourth in MLS standings and now in the Leagues Cup semifinals, the coaching staff must carefully balance their dual ambitions. Players who've been waiting for opportunities will need to step up, while regular starters may see limited minutes to manage fatigue. It's a high-class problem to have, but a problem nonetheless.
The question now becomes whether Orlando can maintain this momentum through the demanding schedule ahead. In a tournament where Mexican teams were expected to dominate, the Lions have shown that defensive discipline, mental fortitude, and a goalkeeper with supernatural penalty-stopping abilities can overcome any statistical disadvantage.
As Joe Namath famously said, "If you aren't going all the way, why go at all?" For Orlando City, a franchise that has never lifted a major trophy, this could be their moment. They've already made history by reaching the semifinals—why stop now?
Gallese's heroics have given Orlando City a chance to dream bigger than ever before. With the veteran goalkeeper between the posts and a team riding an eight-game unbeaten streak, the Lions are proving that when it matters most, they have the character to deliver. The Florida Clásico awaits, and with it, the opportunity to turn a historic run into something truly legendary.
