Orlando City had high hopes going into Thursday night’s Leagues Cup quarterfinal match against Santos Laguna. Oscar Pareja started close to a first-choice lineup and the Lions started the match on the front foot, looking to get that all-important first goal which always looms so large in international competitions. Unfortunately, a sliding block off the line prevented a dream start and the Lions couldn’t quite find a way to get the ball in the net for the next half hour, despite creating some decent chances.
That came back to haunt the men in purple at the half-hour mark when Juan Ferney Otero sent a ball skipping in front of Mason Stajduhar that the young goalkeeper got a hand to but couldn’t prevent from going in.