When Orlando City captain Nani was ejected from Wednesday night’s match against the Columbus Crew, the Lions had two options — bend or break.
The team hadn’t faced a comparable challenge all season. The Lions were down a player against one of the top teams in the league with half an hour left to play. When the Crew scored an equalizer within minutes, it seemed Orlando City was floundering toward a loss or a draw at best.
Instead, the team pulled the game back into its control in a decisive, determined 2-1 victory. The match clinched a spot for the Lions among the top four of the Eastern Conference.