Luis Muriel scored on a 90th-minute free kick that should’ve been a routine save for John McCarthy, and visiting Orlando City rallied for a 2-1 victory over the struggling LA Galaxy on Saturday night.
Muriel’s match-winner came 14 minutes after Martin Ojeda pulled the visitors level from the penalty spot.
Ojeda’s fourth goal of the season and Muriel’s third helped Orlando (3-2-1, 10 points) win back-to-back matches for the first time this season and score multiple goals for the fifth time.
Christian Ramirez scored his third goal in as many games for the Galaxy (0-4-2, 2 points), who had drawn two straight after losing their first three, a record-worst start for a defending MLS Cup champion.
But McCarthy’s error was his second in as many weeks for LA after spilling a shot leading to Kelvin Yeboah’s opener in last week’s 2-2 draw at Minnesota United.
This one felt worse given the context.
The Galaxy appeared to be holding on for a point after seeing Ojeda’s bid for a second goal strike the crossbar and Duncan McGuire’s effort roll wide of the post.
Instead, after Dagur Thorhallsson won a free kick about 35 yards from goal, Muriel struck a dipping effort over the defensive wall, but low enough and centered enough on goal that McCarthy should’ve dealt with it easily.
Instead, McCarthy appeared to mistime his leap, and when he reached up toward the ball, he failed to catch it or push it from danger. Instead, it deflected limply over the goal line.
Eduard Atuesta earned the game-tying penalty by inducing Miki Yamane into a foul right at the left edge of the penalty area. Ojeda converted for his fourth goal of the season to go with three assists for Orlando, which leads MLS with 15 goals this season.
The Galaxy were dominant for about the first hour, and went deservedly in front on a well-worked attack in the 14th minute.
Edwin Cerillo sprayed the ball wide right outside the box to Yamane, who drove in a low cross at the near post. Ramirez met it there, fractions ahead of his defender, for a one-time finish that was one of only two shots on target for the Galaxy all game.
–Field Level Media
