Orlando City STUN Toluca behind Pedro Gallese's PK heroics | OneFootball

By Jaime Uribarri

Orlando City largely relied on their high-powered offense to reach the Leagues Cup 2025 quarterfinals.

On Wednesday, they needed goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to take their biggest step yet in the tournament.

The veteran Peruvian international was the Lions' hero in their 6-5 penalty shootout win over reigning LIGA MX champions Toluca following a 0-0 draw, making two massive saves and scoring the decisive PK goal to set up a semifinal showdown at Florida Derby rivals Inter Miami CF next Wednesday (8:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+).

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El Pulpo to the rescue

Behind standout performances from Designated Players Martín Ojeda (3g/3a), Luis Muriel (3g/0a) and Marco Pašalić (1g/0a), Orlando scored nine goals in their first three Leagues Cup games – including a 5-1 rout of Necaxa in their Phase One finale.

Wednesday’s quarterfinal against Toluca was a completely different story, as the Lions mustered just one shot on goal through 90 scoreless minutes at the LA Galaxy’s Dignity Health Sports Park.

But once penalties rolled around, Gallese took over.

Both teams were a perfect five-for-five before El Pulpo denied Nicolás Castro from the spot. Ramiro Enrique failed to ice the game, setting the stage for Gallese’s biggest moment yet.

After stopping Juan Pablo Domínguez’s effort, the Peruvian took Iván Angulo’s assigned kick and secured Orlando’s semifinal berth himself.

“I had confidence in myself, and I told Iván that I’d take it,” Gallese revealed to MLS Season Pass in Spanish about his semifinal-clinching PK.

WATCH: Pedro Gallese heroics help Orlando slay LIGA MX champs Toluca

Beating LIGA MX's best

For Gallese, the stakes involved were more than enough motivation for him to step up to the spot with all the pressure on.

“We had to advance, one way or the other,” he said of Orlando’s third straight win against Mexican opposition, none more formidable than the reigning Apertura winners.

“There’s a lot of rivalry between MLS and LIGA MX, but we’re playing well and we wanted to advance to the next round.”

"Today, we’ve beaten the Mexican champions," noted head coach Oscar Pareja, "and we’re proud of that."

Inter Miami await

Up next is a semifinal visit to Inter Miami. Both sides met less than two weeks ago at Inter&Co Stadium, where the Lions cruised to a 4-1 win to take the regular-season series by a 7-1 aggregate scoreline.

“Miami will always be tough. It’s a Clásico,” Gallese warned. “If we want to be champions, we have to beat everyone.”

Pareja echoed that sentiment, highlighting the danger Lionel Messi and Co. present despite the Lions’ Clásico del Sol dominance in 2025.

“We know the weight Miami have with Leo and all of them, it causes a lot of tension, they’re very good,” Pareja said. “But for our part, we’re going to prepare like we always do.”

For Gallese, Orlando’s victory over the LIGA MX champs proves they can not only compete with the best, but also vie for silverware.

“We need a title. We had US Open Cup in 2022, but we need more,” Gallese said. “This team has grown a lot. We’re playing at an important level right now, and we want more."

HIGHLIGHTS: Toluca FC vs. Orlando City | August 20, 2025