Orlando City earns hard-fought draw in Columbus

Mario Pasalic's early goal was canceled out late as Orlando City battled to a 1-1 road tie with the Columbus Crew

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:39am

A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, clashing colors that breaks down a soccer match into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes, conveying the intensity of the action on the field.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the gritty battle between Orlando City and the Columbus Crew, reflecting the hard-fought nature of their 1-1 draw.Today in Orlando

Orlando City earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw on the road against the Columbus Crew. Mario Pasalic scored early to give Orlando the lead, but the Crew equalized late in the match. Despite being outshot, Orlando's players put in a gritty effort to earn the point and steady the ship after two previous heavy defeats.

Why it matters

This result could mark a turning point for Orlando City, who have struggled recently. The draw on the road against a tough Columbus team shows the squad's resilience and ability to grind out results, which will be crucial as they look to climb the table and make a push for the playoffs.

The details

In the 16th minute, Orlando City took the lead through a goal by midfielder Mario Pasalic. However, the Crew equalized late in the second half to earn a share of the points. Although Orlando was outshot 18-9, they defended stoutly and goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made several key saves to preserve the draw.

  • On April 13, 2026, Orlando City earned the 1-1 draw against the Columbus Crew.

The players

Mario Pasalic

An Orlando City midfielder who scored the opening goal for his team.

Martin Perelman

The head coach of Orlando City, who praised his team's effort despite the late equalizer.

Pedro Gallese

The Orlando City goalkeeper who made several important saves to preserve the draw.

Columbus Crew

The opponent that Orlando City earned the 1-1 draw against on the road.

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What they’re saying

“We must move on quickly from this result and focus on our next match. The team showed great fight and determination today.”

— Mario Pasalic, Orlando City Midfielder

“I'm proud of the effort our players put in today. They battled hard against a tough opponent and earned an important point on the road.”

— Martin Perelman, Orlando City Head Coach

What’s next

Orlando City will look to build on this result as they prepare for their next match against a conference rival.

The takeaway

This hard-fought draw on the road against the Columbus Crew demonstrates Orlando City's resilience and ability to grind out results, which will be crucial as they aim to climb the table and secure a playoff spot.