Orlando strikes late to beat Columbus in thriller

Updated: Sep 16, 2023, 10:41 pm

Ramiro Enrique scored twice in the last 11 minutes as host Orlando City SC rallied from a two-goal hole to pull out a 4-3 victory against the Columbus Crew in a wild match Saturday night.

Enrique tied the score in the 86th minute and then provided the winning tally in the seventh minute of extra time. He had only two goals this season entering the match.

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The teams combined to score five goals in the final 34 minutes.

Facundo Torres posted the second Orlando City goal in the 73rd minute after Columbus had two goals in the first 23 minutes of the second half. Martin Ojeda had the first Orlando City goal.

Orland City (14-6-8, 50 points) strengthened its positioning for the playoffs.

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Enrique powered his way between players to get into a spot to post the tying goal from the middle of the box before securing the winner moments later.

Julian Gressel scored his first Major League Soccer goal of the season, while Diego Rossi and Cucho Hernandez also had goals for the Crew (13-9-6, 45 points).

Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was credited with seven saves.

Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made three saves for the Crew.

Gressel, the 2017 Rookie of the Year in the MLS, is a 29-year-old midfielder who was playing in his fifth game of the season. He's with his fourth MLS team.

Gressel scored in the 16th minute from just outside the goal line. Hernandez assisted on the goal, popping the ball over Gallese to Gressel, who was waiting on the right side for what was an uncontested put-away.

Ojeda's goal came about three minutes into the second half. He was in the box and beat Shulte. Ivan Angulo was credited with an assist by delivering a cross that made it through traffic to reach Ojeda.

Ojeda's sixth goal of the season was his second in the past three MLS games.