Orlando City was unable to defeat Inter Miami in their semifinal on Wednesday night in Fort Lauderdale, but that doesn’t mean the Lions’ Leagues Cup campaign is over.
They’ll face the host L.A. Galaxy in a third-place showdown on Sunday afternoon with a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on the line.
“It’s been fun. It’s been good,” Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja said about his side’s experience in the tournament. “The commitment our club has in any competition, that’s why we are here committed again for the next match.”
These two sides last faced each other in March, with Orlando winning 2-1 on the road. The Lions have won three consecutive matches against the Galaxy, dating to 2019, and hold an all-time record of 5-3-0 against their West Coast rivals.
The Galaxy are having one of their worst seasons in club history, currently sitting in last place in the MLS West. Because the Leagues Cup is their only chance at earning continental qualification, they will be extra motivated to win this one.
Meanwhile, Orlando City is winless in its last three matches, including a 5-1 defeat to Nashville SC and a disappointing 3-1 loss to Inter Miami. They will be shorthanded with the loss of Robin Jansson and David Brekalo because both defenders received red cards in the most recent match.
This leaves Orlando’s defense shorthanded, with Kyle Smith and Adrián Marín the most likely candidates to fill the void. Both players looked rough against Nashville.
The Lions will need to keep an eye on Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil, who has scored three goals in five Leagues Cup games. Gabriel Pec is another potent scoring threat, leading the team with nine goals in all competitions, alongside Marco Reus, who has been in excellent form in his second season in MLS.
Originally Published: August 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM EDT