Orlando City at Deportivo Toluca FC (Leagues Cup)
When: Wednesday, 8:50 p.m.
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (subscription required)
Here are five storylines to watch for Wednesday's match as the Lions play Toluca:
Designated Dominance
Orlando City’s Designated Players are enjoying a remarkable run of form, contributing more to the scoresheet than any other DP trio in Major League Soccer, save for one. Leading the way is Martín Ojeda, who has been the most productive of the trio, tallying 14 goals and 14 assists for a total of 28 goal contributions in regular season play. Luis Muriel has been a consistent presence in the attack, recording 15 goal contributions with eight goals and seven assists, while Marco Pašalić has added to the firepower with 11 goals and four assists, bringing his total to 15. Altogether, the three have combined for an impressive 58 goal contributions, more than any other group of Designated Players in the league. The next closest challengers are Western Conference foes San Diego FC, whose DPs have totaled 46 goal contributions to date.
Never Hunt Alone
Orlando City heads into Wednesday night’s Leagues Cup 2025 quarterfinal against Deportivo Toluca on a remarkable run of form. The Lions extended their winning streak to four games across both regular-season play and all competitions with a commanding 3-1 victory over Western Conference side Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. Over their last seven matches, Orlando City holds a 6-0-1 record and has netted 21 goals, 15 of which have come in their last four outings. Saturday’s win also marked a milestone for Head Coach Oscar Pareja, who earned his 100th victory across all competitions with Orlando City. This achievement makes Orlando the first club where Pareja has reached the century mark in wins.
Martín for MVP
With an assist in last weekend’s dominant 3-1 win over Western Conference side Sporting Kansas City, midfielder Martín Ojeda brought his 2025 MLS goal contributions total to 28, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists. The performance brought his total goal contributions this season to 35 across all competitions, 17 goals and 18 assists, extending the club record he previously broke, which was set by former Designated Player Facundo Torres in 2024. Earlier this season, Ojeda also surpassed former captain Nani for the club’s MLS single-season goal contributions record. He has now recorded a goal contribution in 15 consecutive matches across all competitions, a club-record streak during which he’s tallied nine goals and 14 assists. Over his last 41 MLS regular season starts, Ojeda has amassed 17 goals and 25 assists, firmly establishing himself as one of the league’s most dynamic and productive playmakers.
All on the Line
Wednesday night’s Leagues Cup 2025 quarterfinal promises to be a pivotal clash between Orlando City (MLS) and Deportivo Toluca (Liga MX). The stakes are high, with the winner advancing to the semifinals and earning two potential paths to qualify for next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, either by reaching the final or winning the third-place match. If Orlando City prevails, they’ll face the winner of the other quarterfinal between intrastate rivals Inter Miami CF and familiar Champions Cup foes Tigres UANL of Liga MX.
Spicing Things Up
Forward Tyrese Spicer, recently acquired via trade from Canadian side Toronto FC, made an impressive first start for Orlando City in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City. Spicer wasted no time making an impact, scoring his first goal for the club just one minute and 10 seconds into the match, the fastest goal ever scored by a player in their first start for Orlando City. The Lions have now found the back of the net within the first 15 minutes in each of their last five matches, continuing their trend of fast starts.
Milestone Tracker:
-Martín Ojeda now has a goal contribution in 15 consecutive matches, extending the previous club record he set
-Ojeda is one goal contribution away from matching Facundo Torres’ Orlando City career record of 72 in all competitions
