Columbus Crew 1–3 Orlando City SC: Ramiro Enrique Brace Lifts Lions to Comeback Win at Lower.com Field

By Alonso Contreras

In a match that started as a midfield stalemate and ended in a flurry of goals, Orlando City SC pulled off a commanding 3–1 comeback victory against Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field. Ramiro Enrique was the standout, scoring twice in three minutes during a late second-half burst, while Martín Ojeda sealed the result deep into stoppage time.

First Half: Goalless Despite Early Chances

The match opened with Columbus applying early pressure. In the 1st minute, Diego Rossi narrowly missed a header from the center of the box, and minutes later had a shot saved by Pedro Gallese. Darlington Nagbe also tested Orlando’s defensive shape with a blocked shot in the 8th minute.

Orlando's most threatening chance came in the 21st minute when Luis Muriel forced a solid save from Patrick Schulte after a powerful left-footed effort from close range. Ojeda and Pašalić followed up with shots from distance, but both were handled by the Crew's defense.

Despite both sides combining for 16 first-half shot attempts, neither could break the deadlock. The first half closed at 0–0 with Columbus edging possession and passing accuracy, while Orlando’s pace on the counter hinted at trouble to come.

Second Half: Penalty Sparks Life Before Orlando Blitz

66' – Goal (Columbus Crew)The breakthrough came just past the hour mark when Columbus was awarded a penalty following a foul in the box. Diego Rossi stepped up confidently and buried his shot to the bottom left corner with a 77% xG finish, putting the Crew ahead 1–0.

Orlando’s response was immediate and lethal.

76' – Goal (Orlando City)Ramiro Enrique leveled the match with a glancing header from the center of the box, redirecting Iván Angulo's pinpoint delivery past Schulte. The xG of 15% didn’t reflect the danger of the service or Enrique’s clinical finish.

79' – Goal (Orlando City)Just three minutes later, Enrique was at it again. This time, a well-orchestrated move involving Angulo and Ojeda left Columbus’s backline exposed. Enrique calmly slotted a low right-footed shot from close range (97% xG), turning the match on its head: 2–1 to the Lions.

Columbus tried to respond with urgency. Ibrahim Aliyu and Steven Moreira both registered shots from distance, but Gallese was alert and in top form. David Brekalo and César Araújo blocked two more promising attacks in the dying moments.

90'+6 – Goal (Orlando City)The icing on the cake came in stoppage time. Martín Ojeda received a diagonal ball from Freeman on the left wing, cut inside, and fired a precise low strike into the far corner to seal a 3–1 away win for Orlando. The goal carried a 15% xG value and silenced the home crowd.

Tactical Takeaways

• Orlando’s Midfield Engine: Iván Angulo was central to Orlando's turnaround, registering two assists and stretching Columbus’s midfield with aggressive forward runs.

• Defensive Resilience: David Brekalo and Robin Jansson both came up with key blocks and interceptions, especially in the final 15 minutes.

• Columbus’s Wastefulness: Despite 20 total shots and dominant possession (59%), the Crew failed to convert their momentum into high-percentage chances after the penalty goal.

Key Stats

Statistic	Columbus Crew	Orlando City SC
Possession	59%	41%
Total Shots	20	16
Shots on Target	6	7
Big Chances Created	1	3
xG (Expected Goals)	1.76	2.27
Corners	10	3
Saves	4	5

Man of the Match: Ramiro Enrique (Orlando City)

The Argentine forward delivered when it mattered most. His brace within three minutes shifted the momentum completely and showcased his instinctive finishing in front of goal. His movement, positioning, and link-up with Angulo were a nightmare for the Crew defense.