ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 9, 2024) – Orlando City SC and Cruz Azul played to a 0-0 draw on Friday night at Inter&Co Stadium in the Leagues Cup 2024 Round of 32. Following 90 minutes of scoreless play, the Lions ultimately dropped the end-of-regulation shootout 5-4 and the team’s Leagues Cup run came to an end.
Facundo Torres led all players with four shots on the night, including a near go-ahead goal in the 59th minute but his attempt sailed just wide of an open far-side netting. Pedro Gallese ended the night with six saves, including a late-game fingertip stop to help send things to penalties.
The Lions will now turn their attention back to the MLS regular season, with two weeks until the team’s next match. Orlando City will travel to Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 24, before returning home to the City Beautiful for a match on Aug. 31 against Nashville.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“I thought the boys performed very well. I think we played against a very good team that brought in a very good match as well. [Cruz Azul] were intense from the first minute and the level of the technical part and the level of the tactics, that was first level, and we were up to it. We leave the competition without losing and that’s the pain that we have and obviously we’re sad, but we played very well. I saw the Orlando City that we want to see. We’re sad but we’re proud.”
Match Notes:
- Friday’s shootout loss marked the first time in Club history that the team lost in penalties, now 10-1 all-time dating to the team’s USL era.
- Entering as a second-half substitute, Luca Petrasso made his first Orlando City appearance of the year.
- The Leagues Cup Round of 32 meeting marked the first-ever meeting between City and Cruz Azul.
- With the draw in regulation, the Lions have now played eight consecutive games without a loss.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made one change to his starting lineup from his side’s last match against Atlético San Luis, with Rafael Santos returning to the starting XI.
