A 96th-minute penalty-kick goal lifted Orlando City SC to a 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew SC on Sunday afternoon at Orlando City Stadium, as the Black & Gold return to MAPFRE Stadium on Oct. 28 with an opportunity to clinch a spot in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs against Minnesota United FC.
Federico Higuainopened the game's scoring with a free-kick goal in the 54th minute. Following a foul suffered byPedro Santos just outside the box, Higuain delivered a bending strike over Orlando's three-man wall and just inside the near post. The tally marked Pipa's sixth of the season and 54th of his career.
Orlando (8-21-4, 28 pts) responded via penalty kick just three minutes later following a handball in the box.
With a 6-5 shots advantage for Columbus in the opening 45 minutes, the Lions flipped the switch with 11 second-half shots, compared to just two from Crew SC (13-11-9, 48 pts).
Zack Steffentotaled a match-high five saves, including a pair of spectacular diving stops.
"Nope." - @zackstef_23#CrewSC | #ORLvCLBpic.twitter.com/Eku6M07XMN
ā Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) October 21, 2018
Tied at 1-1 entering stoppage time, Orlando was granted a second penalty kick following a foul in the box. Sacha Kljestan stepped up to the spot and went right, as Steffen dove opposite.
Next, Crew SC hosts Minnesota United FC in the regular-season finale on Sunday, October 28 in a 4:30 p.m. kickoff at MAPFRE Stadium. Columbus continues to control its own postseason destiny as a win will send the Black & Gold into the MLS Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
LINEUPS
MATCH STATS
POST-MATCH NOTES
- Midfielder Federico Higuain scored a goal in todayās match against Orlando City SC. His strike came in the 54th minute, as the Argentine took a free kick from outside the 18-yard box and sent it over the wall and past the Lionsā goalkeeper. This was Higuainās sixth goal of the 2018 MLS regular season to go along with his team-high eight assists. This year, the midfielder has made 29 regular-season appearances (26 starts). Since joining the club in 2012, the Argentine has made 178 appearances (170 starts) and is the only player in Crew SC history to reach the 50-50 club, having tallied 54 goals and 57 assists.
- Midfielder Wil Trapp attempted a team-high 83 passes in todayās match against Orlando City SC. In addition to finishing the match with a passing accuracy of 86.7 percent, Trapp also registered a team-high 96 touches. This season, Trapp has made 29 MLS regular-season appearances (28 starts) for Crew SC, scoring one goal and providing one assist. In addition, Trapp has made seven starts for the U.S. Menās National Team in 2018, captaining the Stars and Stripes on all seven occasions.
- Gaston Sauro and Milton Valenzuela both registered five tackles in todayās match against Orlando City SC, more than any other players for either teams. The match marked Sauroās fourth regular-season start (fifth appearance) and Valenzuelaās 27th regular-season start (28th appearance) of 2018.
- With todayās result against Orlando City SC, Crew SCās record on the season moves to 13-11-9. Next up, Crew SC hosts Minnesota United FC at MAPFRE Stadium on Sunday, October 28 at 4:30 PM ET.
