Both teams displayed a closely matched performance, with Orlando relying on the speed of its wingers and Columbus showcasing the talents of Colombian Cucho Hernandez and Uruguayan Diego Rossi.
Wilder Cartagena, a pivotal presence in midfield, effectively disrupted plays, while Rodrigo Schlegel's experience proved crucial in thwarting Columbus' offensive attempts, preventing potential goals.
Pedro Gallese made a crucial intervention by confidently coming out to cut a challenging ball in the air, preventing the visiting team from opening the scoring.
The first half was marked by intense battles for midfield dominance. In a standout moment, Angulo orchestrated a brilliant escape, threading a pass between three defenders to Facundo Torres, whose left-footed shot narrowly missed the target.
Orlando City focused its attack on the wings, utilizing the full-backs Dagur and Rafael Santos.
In the initial phase of the match, Columbus asserted its superiority with compact lines and a cohesive game involving its key players. Orlando, relying on individual brilliance, notably goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, found themselves dependent on his standout performances throughout the first 45 minutes.
As the match progressed into the second half, Columbus maintained an aggressive stance. Within the first minute, a perilous play on the left wing by Rafael Santos prompted a response from Orlando's center-back, Robin Jansson, who fortuitously deflected the ball for a corner kick.
The midfield battle intensified with robust plays. Despite a momentary loss by Duncan, Columbus's counterattack was nullified as he raced 70 meters to recover the ball, thwarting a potential scoring opportunity.
Columbus, after creating numerous chances within the box, began exploring shots from outside the box, reflecting a shift in their strategic approach.
With central defender Rodrigo Schlegel receiving a red card due to accumulated yellow cards, Columbus pressed aggressively, but Orlando successfully defended. In the final moments, a pass from Facundo in the last minute set up DP Martin Ojeda for a left-footed shot that narrowly missed, almost securing the winning goal for Orlando.
The match extended into extra time with Orlando down to 10 men. In the third minute of extra time, Columbus seized the lead after an overflow on the left wing, with Pedro Gallese making initial contact but unable to prevent the rebound, resulting in a 1-0 score for away team.
Despite Orlando's attempts to equalize, including a close call from Kyle Smith, Columbus secured victory in the first extra time with a 1-0 lead.
As the second extra time commenced, Orlando aggressively pursued the visitor's goal. Ramiro's right-footed shot posed a threat, but Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made a crucial save. However, Columbus managed to score their second goal, which they did by Cucho Hernandez, ultimately advancing to the conference final against their state rival FC Cincinnati.
For Orlando City, FIFA's impact was evident, affecting their otherwise impressive run and contributing to the unfavorable result on this night.
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