Mental work wanes late for Orlando City at D.C. United | OneFootball

The focus was still there. But D.C. United mustered a stronger focus in the final stoppage time for 3-2 win over Orlando City SC.

In stoppage time, D.C. United had the match with Orlando City SC knotted 2-2. Then defender Keisuke Kurokawa sent a corner kick to the back post.

It was impossibly crowded in the penalty box. But D.C. forward Jacob Murrell got his forehead on the ball, directing it back toward the center of the Lions’ net as he fell to the pitch. As the ball volleyed, in front of the net, D.C. defender Kye Rowles had mustered a career-level of focus and concentration.

He relayed the ball with another header. Working the left side of the net, Lions goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau picked up the ball, waving his arms. But the keeper was on the left. Rowles had sent the ball toward the lower right. It was the 3-2 winning score, assisted by Murrell.

So Orlando City players and coaches haven’t yet emerged from their tunnel. Yet, their performance that resulted in this loss revealed just a bit of light in the distance. That means there’s an end of the tunnel.

D.C. United v Charlotte FC: Round Of 16 - 2025 U.S. Open Cup Championship | Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/USSF/GettyImages

The easiest place to find hope for Orlando is in the score. The players are scoring goals – and it’s not just one or two squad members. Homegrown forward Justin Ellis scored his first MLS goal off a rebound in the 57th minute.

Ten minutes later, striker Tyrese Spicer scored his first 2026 MLS goal – his second across all competitions, assisted by Adrian Marin and Robin Jansson.

That made the score 2-1 after a 10th-minute score by Jackson Hopkins, assisted by Kurokawa.

But the trouble came during the final seven minutes of the match. That’s when D.C. turned up their concentration, but the Lions didn’t.

In the 84th minute, D.C. forward Louis Munteanu scored his first goal for his team, assisted by Nikola Markovic and Jared Stroud. It was his third shot on target out of five total. Rowles put them ahead at the end.

There are more wins this season for Orlando City SC. Mental preparation, leading to tactical discipline, will guide them there. But they must stay on the path the mental work leads for the entire match. That’s where the points are.