• Final stats

With a match against a 10th-place team, Orlando City SC was hoping to recover from a loss to Atlanta United FC from May 13. Even if Toronto FC didn’t have forwards Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore, the Lions weren’t going to take the Canadian side lightly.

Despite their best efforts, however, Orlando City (6-4-1, 19 points) lost its second-straight match 2-1 to TFC (3-6-1, 10 points) at BMO Field on May 18. City are now 1-7-1 in the all-time series against Toronto.

“[Losing two in a row after winning six in a row] can mentally mess with a team if you allow it to mess with a team,” Lions coach Jason Kreis said after the match, per the club. “Again, we didn’t think as negatively about ourselves over the first three matches of the season, as most people did. We didn’t think as positively of ourselves through the six-match win streak, as some people did.

“We’re not going to get down on ourselves that we lost two in a row. Just continue to chug along and stay focused on continuing to improve.”

Toronto found its winner in the 87th minute. City Left back Mohamed El-Munir chased TFC right back Auro Alvaro da Cruz Junior to the right corner and erroneously stabbed at the ball. That allowed Auro to make his way around El-Munir down the end line and to cross it far post to a waiting Ryan Telfer.

Telfer, then, volleyed the game-winning shot past goalkeeper Joe Bendik, who couldn’t drop to his right fast enough.

“We’re disappointed because of the end result, but I think the performance was pretty good,” Lions midfielder Sacha Kljestan said after the match, per the club. “I think we did a better job of trying to control the game today… I don’t think we created enough chances tonight, but I think, in possession, we were a little bit better than we have been on the road, so far.”

One of the positive chances that City produced resulted in midfielder Cristian Higuita’s second goal of the season. The Colombian equalized in the 73rd minute thanks to a tiresome effort by El-Munir.

Trailing 1-0, El-Munir drove the ball into traffic and into the left part of the box. As the defense consumed him, he slid to recover a takeaway effort and then reversed the ball behind him for a cross a few yards in front of the 6-yard box. It initially bounced off a falling Chris Mueller to midfielder Josué Colmán, who laid it off to Higuita for a strike to the near, bottom corner.

“It was a great goal,” Higuita said, translated from Spanish, after the match, per the club. “I would have loved for it to result in a win, but it’s a goal that gives me even more confidence. So, I’m going to keep working to continue to perform well and get results.”

TFC’s match-opening goal was delayed by one of Orlando City’s post, but, seconds later, midfielder Jay Chapman gave the home side its lead.

In the 63rd minute, midfielder Michael Bradley slipped the ball past midfielder Oriol “Uri” Rosell. The pass found midfielder Víctor Vázquez, who then led forward Tosaint Ricketts into the box past center back Lamine Sané. Ricketts’ ensuing shot banged off the far post to Chapman, who then one-timed the ball on the open net.

City were averaging 2.8 goals per game in their six-game win streak but have since scored just one goal in each of their last two losses. Against Toronto, their attack suffered in the absence of forward Dom Dwyer, the Lions’ leader in goals with six. Dwyer did not travel with the Lions and is nursing a lower-body injury.

In Dwyer’s stead, forward Stéfano Pinho started at the top of Kreis’ attack. Pinho scored his first Orlando City goal in the Lions’ season opening draw with D.C. United, but, after recording one shot (zero on-goal), he was replaced by Colmán in the 64th minute.

“We missed [Dwyer’s] hold-up play tonight, for sure,” Kljestan said. “There’s a reason why Dom is our highest-paid player and why he is leading our team in goals. So, yes, we miss him on a night like tonight. Hopefully he gets healthy, and we get him back with the team soon.”

In total, the Lions produced 10 shots (five on-goal) and three corners, despite holding 51.7 percent of possession against TFC.

Who’s Next?

Orlando City return home for one game, facing Chicago Fire SC before embarking on a three-game road trip. Chicago has, so far, worked to seventh place in the Eastern Conference, recording a 3-5-2 record with 11 points.

For more on the Lions, as they prepare for a pivotal home match, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.