Second-half hex hits Lions against Leon in Leagues Cup | OneFootball

It’s the Leagues Cup for Orlando City SC. So it’s the best of times and the worst of times. Too bad the worst part is the 2-1 loss to Club Leon.

Club Leon took the second Leagues Cup match from Orlando City SC 2-1. The best parts of the Lions roster were working. But the Leon squad stepped up just a bit further than the Lions’ expectations for the match.

Before the game, Orlando City planned to position Ivan Angulo on a wing to snag an assist. That assist would place him third all-time on the club with 40 assists across all competitions.

Meanwhile, no one worried about Tyrese Spicer playing the other wing. Spicer is on a campaign to rack up goal contributions. He kept his campaign going with a vengeance in this match.

Spicer saw a chance to open the scoring in the 38th minute when he spotted striker Marco Pasalic headed toward the goal. Pasalic converted the chance, and Spicer posted his fourth assist across all competitions.

It was Pasalic’s first start since May 15 during the 2026 World Cup. It was the only score during the first half, and Pasalic’s only participation as he sat with knee discomfort during the second.

Pasalic’s goal is his third across all competitions and 18th since joining the club in 2025.

Spicer’s fourth assist across all contributions gives him six goal contributions over Orlando City’s last four matches across all competitions.

Orlando City SC v Leon - Leagues Cup Phase One | Julio Aguilar/GettyImages

So what went wrong in the second half?

Just because it’s the Leagues Cup and not MLS doesn’t mean Orlando City players and coaches aren’t clear of the old second-half hex.

In the 54th minute, Leon’s Juan Guevera scored the equalizer, combining with Jordi Cortizo. Then, in the 72nd minute, Daniel Arcila got an assist from Ivan Moreno for a second score. The Lions had no answer for either of the goals.

The hex has hit Orlando City every season. The fix to release the team from the problem is the same every season. Drilling on focus, concentration, and matching the opponent’s speed fixes the difficulty every time.

Tyrese Spicer has those qualities – especially focus – and contributes to goals regularly to prove it. Now the rest of the squad has to get it. It’ll ensure wins in the Leagues Cup and beyond.