Iván Angulo delivered the decisive blow in the 89th minute as Orlando City SC edged Columbus Crew 3–2 in a dramatic Major League Soccer fixture at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, October 10.
Orlando led twice through Harvey Sarajian’s first-minute opener and Antoine Griezmann’s 16th-minute free-kick, but Columbus answered through Taha Habroune in the seventh minute and Brais Méndez in the 53rd. With a draw looming, Angulo struck to secure all three points for the hosts.
A frantic opening in Orlando
Sarajian needed less than a minute to put Orlando ahead, finding the net in the first minute and immediately setting the tone for an eventful evening. The Crew’s response was swift: Habroune equalized in the seventh minute, leaving the sides level after a breathless opening spell.
Griezmann restored Orlando’s advantage in the 16th minute with a free-kick, providing the set-piece breakthrough that separated the teams at halftime. Three goals inside the opening 16 minutes had established the contest’s rhythm, but Orlando held their 2–1 lead through the remainder of the first half.
Méndez brings Columbus back into contention
Columbus erased the deficit again shortly after the interval. Méndez’s 53rd-minute goal made it 2–2, setting up a tense final stretch with both sides still in contention for victory.
The visitors carried a substantial attacking threat across the match. Columbus registered 27 shots to Orlando’s 20, put 15 attempts on target compared with the hosts’ eight, and earned 11 corners to Orlando’s two. The Crew also held 52.7 percent of possession, yet those advantages did not translate into the decisive goal.
Angulo has the final word
A share of the points remained a plausible outcome until Angulo intervened in the 89th minute. His winner put Orlando ahead for the third time, and this time Columbus could not find an equalizer before the final whistle.
For Orlando, it was a victory built on making their decisive moments count: an immediate breakthrough, Griezmann’s free-kick and Angulo’s late intervention. For Columbus, twice recovering from behind and producing more attempts was not enough to leave Florida with a point.
Next fixtures
Both clubs return to MLS action on Wednesday, October 14. Orlando City face Toronto FC, while Columbus Crew take on Charlotte FC, with both fixtures scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PDT.
