Toronto FC (0W-1L-1T, 1 point) fell to a 4-2 loss to Orlando City SC (1W-1L-0T, 3 points) at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Saturday night.
First Half:
Toronto FC Head Coach Robin Fraser named an unchanged starting XI to face Orlando from the team that drew 2-2 against D.C. United in the club’s MLS season opener last weekend.
The Reds were enforced into a substitution in the 22nd minute when Richie Laryea was replaced by new signing Zane Monlouis due to an injury picked up in the opening exchanges in Florida.
After a relatively calm and cautious opening half hour of action, the hosts took the lead when Uruguayan midfielder César Araújo curled home a direct free-kick in the 33rd minute.
Orlando City doubled their advantage two minutes later when American defender Alex Freeman ran onto a long pass from Kyle Smith and found the net with a powerful, left-footed finish.
Second Half:
The Lions made it 3-0 when César Araújo found Martin Ojeda’s run through the middle and the Argentinian playmaker cooly slotted home in the 63rd minute
Seeking a second-half response, the Reds made a triple substitution in the 65th minute introducing Tyrese Spicer, Matty Longstaff and new signing Ola Brynhildsen off the bench, replacing Markus Cimermancic, Henry Wingo and Alonso Coello.
Moments later, Toronto FC opened their account on the night when Federico Bernardeschi’s in-swinging corner was headed home by Sigurd Rosted. The 72nd minute goal marked the Norwegian defender’s first goal for the club since joining in February 2023 and Bernardeschi’s first assist of the 2025 campaign.
Orlando City added a fourth goal when substitutes Luis Muriel and Dagur Thorhallsson combined in the 81st minute, with the Icelandic midfielder firing into the bottom-left corner in the 81st minute.
The Reds pulled another goal back when Deybi Flores unleashed an unstoppable effort from distance to reduce the deficit to two. The 86th minute strike marked the Honduran midfielder’s first goal of the 2025 campaign.
The second-half comeback, however, ultimately fell short as Orlando City held on for the 4-2 result to secure their first victory of the 2025 season.
Next up, Toronto FC hit the road for the third consecutive weekend to square off against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, March 8. Kick-off from TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and on TSN5 in Canada.
LINEUPS
ORLANDO CITY SC – Pedro Gallese; Alex Freeman, Kyle Smith, Rodrigo Schlegel (C), Rafael Santos; Cesar Araujo, Eduard Atuesta, Marco Pašalić (Luis Muriel 65’), Martin Ojeda (Dagur Thorhallsson 80’), Ivan Angulo (Joran Gerbet 90+7’); Ramiro Enrique (Gustavo Caraballo 90+7’)
Substitutes Not Used: Javier Otero, Thomas Williams, Zakaria Taifi, Shakur Mohammed, Colin Guske
TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Richie Laryea (Zane Monlouis 22’), Sigurd Rosted, Kevin Long, Henry Wingo (Matty Longstaff 65’); Federico Bernardeschi, Alonso Coello (Ola Brynhildsen 65’), Deybi Flores, Markus Cimermancic (Tyrese Spicer 65’); Jonathan Osorio (C), Theo Corbeanu
Substitutes Not Used: Luka Gavran, Kobe Franklin, Lazar Stefanovic, Kosi Thompson, Deandre Kerr
MEDIA NOTES:
Ola Brynhildsen made his Toronto FC debut after entering
