Orlando City took a first-half lead but could not hold it, falling 2-1 to Club León on Saturday at Inter.co Stadium.
The loss dropped Orlando City to 1-1-0 with three points in Leagues Cup Phase One action before an announced attendance of 12,021. The Lions defeated Monterrey 2-1 in their first Cup match Wednesday. León improved to 2-0-0 with six points.
“We were trying to compete in the best way as possible in trying to win, and we couldn’t,” Orlando interim head coach Martín Perelman said. “So, especially when we are at home, we suffer the defeat.”
Marco Pašalić opened the scoring in the 38th minute. Tyrese Spicer played him in on the counter, and Pašalić’s low left-footed shot from outside the box deflected off Iván Rodríguez and into the net. The assist gave Spicer six goal contributions in his last four matches across all competitions.
Pašalić had not played since the May 23 match against FC Cincinnati before representing Croatia at the World Cup.
León equalized in the 54th minute off a Jordi Cortizo free kick. Juan Guevara beat Griffin Dorsey in the air and headed it past Maxime Crépeau.
Daniel Arcila put León ahead in the 72nd minute. Iván Moreno played him in behind Bernardo Rhein, who had pushed too far forward, and Arcila curled his shot past Crépeau. The Canada keeper made eight saves as León had 10 shots on target.
“We did the effort. The players did everything,” Perelman added. “They gave everything they had on the field. It wasn’t enough, unfortunately. No excuses.”
Orlando City thought it had earned a chance to draw level when forward Harvey Sarajian was brought down right on the edge of the box in the 84th minute. The referee did not call a foul, however, and Orlando City pressed for an equalizer over the final minutes but could not find one.
“(Justin) Ellis played the ball through. I’m through. I felt contact to the back, and in my opinion, that was a call,” said Sarajian. “But the referee didn’t agree, so it is what it is.”
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann controls the ball during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Leon player Bryan Colula Alarcon (3) shoves Orlando player Marco Pasalic (87) during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Iago (57) heads the ball off a corner kickduring the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players are pictured with kids before the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players Marco Pasalic (87) and Antoine Griezmann (7) celebrate after a Pasalic goal during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau leaps to stop a goal attempt during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Club Leon head coach Javier Gandolfi, left, and Orlando City head coach Martin Perelman greet before the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann tries to kick the ball toward the net during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando fans cheer during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Leon players argue with the game official during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau leaps to stop a goal attempt during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The Mexican national anthem is performed before the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Marco Pasalic (87) kicks the ball during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Marco Pasalic (87) celebrates after a goal during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Tyrese Spicer leaps to control the ball during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Tyrese Spicer (14) kicks at goal during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando fans cheer in the purple smoke after a goal during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando head coach Martin Perelman is pictured before the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando City’s Marco Pasalic, left, scores in the first half against Club Leon on Saturday at during Leagues Cup soccer action at Inter.co Stadium. Club Leon won 2-1. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
An Orlando fan cheers during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players celebrate with Marco Pasalic (87) after he scored a goal during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players pose before the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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Orlando player Antoine Griezmann controls the ball during the Club Leon at Orlando City Soccer Leagues Cup match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando City hosts Atlético de San Luis on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in its final Phase One match. Orlando City sits sixth in the MLS side of the Leagues Cup standings with three points, and a regulation win would move the team to six.
Only the top four MLS teams advance to the knockout round. Even with a victory, Orlando City would need several results elsewhere to go its way and would also need to make up ground in goal differential to advance.
The Lions return to MLS play Aug. 15 when they host FC Cincinnati.