Orlando City is still breathing in the Leagues Cup, and much of that comes down to one name: Martín Ojeda. With a standout performance at Inter&Co Stadium, the Argentine was decisive in the 3-1 win over Atlas de Guadalajara, securing three points that keep Óscar Pareja’s team firmly in the hunt for a spot in the knockout stage. Ojeda scored, provided an assist, and broke the club’s single-season record for goal contributions.
Early goal and control of the game
Óscar Pareja’s side came out with intensity. Just nine minutes in, Iván Angulo seized an opportunity inside the box and finished to open the scoring, netting his first goal of the year and his first in the Leagues Cup. The lead gave Orlando confidence to control possession and limit the opponent’s attacking chances. The Mexican side struggled to create anything clear and finished the first half without posing any real threat.
Quick response and sealing it in stoppage time
After the break, Atlas pushed forward more and found the equalizer in the 50th minute, when Matías Cóccaro exploited a gap in the defense to score. Orlando’s response came almost immediately. Alex Freeman broke down the right flank and sent a low cross into the box. Ojeda, perfectly positioned, slotted it home. And let’s be honest, soccer fans — this wasn’t just any goal. With it, the Argentine reached 28 direct goal contributions for the season, surpassing Facundo Torres’ mark of 27 and standing alone as the club’s all-time leader in that category.
Atlas tried to mount a comeback, but Orlando stayed in control and waited for the right moment to put the game away. That moment came at the very last gasp. Twelve minutes into stoppage time, Marco Pašalić latched onto a precise pass from Ojeda and fired it in to make it 3-1. Besides sealing the win, the goal made history as the latest ever scored by the club in an official match.
Group situation
With the victory, Orlando City sits in fifth place with four points and remains in real contention for the Leagues Cup knockout stage. Atlas, on the other hand, is eliminated with no points, left only to play for pride in their final match. With one group-stage game left, Orlando will need a strong result to lock in their qualification.