By Alex Thierry
After a weather delay, Orlando City weathered relentless pressure from CF Monterrey—including three disallowed goals and a penalty overturned by VAR—to begin its Leagues Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Monterrey thought it had taken an early lead, but the goal was ruled out after video review. After that, Orlando City opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a first-time finish by FIFA World Cup champion Antoine Griezmann.
Without regular starters, Matías Almeyda’s squad struggled to create clear chances in and around Orlando City’s box during the first half. Monterrey had another goal ruled offside early in the second half, and Maxime Crépeau, Canada’s national team goalkeeper, was vital to keeping Rayados off the scoreboard at a pivotal moment of the game.
As Monterrey pushed for an equalizer, Orlando City found space on the counterattack, resulting in a penalty converted by Tyrese Spicer in the 60th minute. Down by two goals, Monterrey’s head coach called reinforcements from the bench, adding Jesús Corona, Hugo Cuypers, Lucas Ocampos, and Diego Rossi.
However, Monterrey continued to see its attacks denied and couldn’t find a way back into the match, finishing the night with three goals ruled offside and a penalty overturned by VAR. Orlando City, meanwhile, was closer to extending its lead, taking advantage of the open spaces.
The referee added nine minutes of stoppage time, and Lucas Ocampos delivered a cross that Hugo Cuypers converted with a header eight minutes into additional time, but this proved too little, too late, and Monterrey left Inter.co Stadium with no points and little margin for error heading into its meeting with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.