Orlando City SC head into their third phase one match of the 2025 Leagues Cup full of confidence. A hard-fought game two win over Atlas (3-1) gave us a much-needed boost and keeps our qualification hopes alive! 💪🏽 But our fate isn’t fully in our hands and we still need favourable results elsewhere.
After eliminating Atlas, we now face Necaxa – a side equally hungry for a win in this tightly contested phase one. With both sides still fighting for a knockout spot, every point and goal carries extra weight. Tensions will be high, but Orlando can count on key players like Robin Jansson and Martín Ojeda, who remain available despite some late fracas against Atlas. This is a must-win, make-or-break match, so get ready for an intense battle!
Last time out
Last Saturday, Orlando City SC took a 1-0 lead for the fourth straight home game. But this time, we saw it through, beating Atlas 3-1 at Inter&Co Stadium. Rallying after a shaky second-half start, the win keeps our hopes of reaching the 2025 Leagues Cup quarter-finals alive. Iván Angulo opened the scoring on 9 minutes, curling home his first goal since October 2024. But after Matías Cóccaro levelled just after the break, the game hung in the balance. Fortunately, Alex Freeman and Marco Pašalić swung the momentum from the bench. On 57 minutes, Freeman spotted Martín Ojeda who rifled home our second (2-1). And then deep in stoppage time, Pašalić sealed the win with his trusty left foot (3-1). It was yet another huge performance from Ojeda. With a goal and assist on the night, Tincho has now tallied a club-record 29 goal contributions (14 goals, 15 assists) this season – surpassing Facundo Torres’ 2024 total of 27. Extending his club-record goal contribution streak to 12 straight matches (6 goals, 11 assists), Ojeda is currently fifth on our all-time goalscoring list (27 goals) – just one behind Duncan McGuire (28) in fourth. Tensions flared in stoppage time when Matías Cóccaro was sent off for raising his hands to Robin Jansson in a mass confrontation. This capped off a game-long feud that began with a first-half DOGSO claim. Jansson and Ojeda only received yellows, so they will both be available to face Necaxa in game three.
What’s at stake this time?
After game two of phase one, Orlando City SC (4 points) currently sit 7th in the 18-team MLS standings. Seattle Sounders (6) top the table, with Portland Timbers (6), Inter Miami (5), and Minnesota United (4) making up the current top four. LA Galaxy (4), Columbus Crew (4), FC Cincinnati (4), and New York Red Bulls (4) all hope to qualify too. A regulation win over Necaxa would take us to 7 points. But that might not be enough to reach the top four and qualify for the quarter-finals. This underlines just how razor-thin the margins for error are, especially considering we haven’t lost over 90 minutes yet. But Marco Pašalić’s late stoppage time goal against Atlas could prove pivotal in this tight race, since we now have a goal difference of +2. To secure a top four qualification spot, we need a regulation win over Necaxa, a strong goal difference, and a bit of luck with other results. Necaxa come into this game on 4 points, with a +2 goal differential. After a 3-1 win over Atlanta United in game one, they nearly made another statement in game two. Leading Inter Miami 1-2 at Chase Stadium, Jordi Alba’s 92nd-minute equaliser forced penalties, where The Herons stayed perfect, winning 5-4 in the shootout. Currently 6th in the 18-team Liga MX table, Necaxa can also only max out on 7 points – so they’ll be going all out for victory, just like us. Every goal and every point counts, so the stage is set for a thrilling showdown. While excitement builds, one player who won’t be involved is new boy Tyrese Spicer. Unfortunately, the Soca Warrior joined us too late to be included in our 30-man tournament squad.
Opposition danger men
🇦🇷 Tomás Badaloni (3 goals, 0 assists – 2025 Leagues Cup)
🇲🇽 Pável Pérez (2 goals, 0 assists – 2025 Liga MX Apertura)
🇦🇷 Agustín Palavecino (1 goal, 1 assist – 2025 Liga MX Apertura)
New opposition faces
🇦🇷 Fernando Gago (head coach)
🇲🇽 Cristian Calderón (on loan from Club América)
🇲🇽 Franco Rossano (on loan from Club América U-21)
🇪🇸 Raúl Sánchez (Castellón)
🇦🇷 Tomás Jacob (Newell’s Old Boys)
Injuries
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇫🇷 Joran Gerbet (thigh) – out
🇺🇸 Duncan McGuire (shoulder) – out
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
None
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Orlando City SC vs Necaxa
Head-to-head stats
- This is the first time the clubs have faced each other
- Orlando have faced Mexican opposition 10 times in competitive matches – Orlando 2, Draws 6, Liga MX 2
- Orlando have taken a 1-0 lead in their last 4 consecutive home fixtures
- Martín Ojeda has scored or assisted in Orlando’s last 12 fixtures (6 goals, 11 assists)
- Tomás Badaloni has scored in both of Necaxa’s 2025 Leagues Cup fixtures so far (3 goals)
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Necaxa will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:00 (GMT) on Thursday, August 7.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC’s 2025 Leagues Cup fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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