Luca Orellano Leads a Never Say Die Attitude from FC Cincinnati as They Hit Historic Milestone and Win in a New Way

May 26, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release

TORONTO – Only four clubs have won seven games in a row since 2000. FC Cincinnati, needing every ounce of energy from every player on the roster, became that fourth team, coming back from a losing position or dropping points four times on Saturday night at BMO Field to defeat Toronto FC 4-3.

Everyone played a role. Sergio Santos and Yamil Asad (both substitutes) combined for the game-winning goal in the 90+3 minute. DeAndre Yedlin came on for Bret Halsey, both of whom were strong in defensive and offensive assignments. With three strikers out injured, the teenage duo of Kevin Kelsy and Gerardo ‘Dado’ Valenzuela made significant impacts as Kelsy scored, and a drawn foul from Valenzuela opened the space for FCC to score its first goal.

And, of course, there was Luciano Acosta, who had two assists in a night that felt like the spotlight shifted briefly off of him and onto his Argentine compatriot. (Which speaks to just how great Acosta has been in that a two-assist night is considered ‘uneventful’).

It was Luca Orellano, though, who stole the show in Toronto. Three times, Orellano didn’t give up on a play that ultimately earned FCC a goal. When watching back at each highlight, one would understand how someone might stop playing or give up based on how the play was going, but that extra effort proved to make all the difference.

The first time came when Orellano picked up a loose pass that was played as advantage after Valenzuela was fouled at the top of the box. You’d hardly blame Orellano for halting play to take advantage of the dangerous free-kick opportunity, but instead, he finishes the play out and scores the goal.

The second time, the Argentine wingback turned on the jets to race past TFC’s young attacker Tyrese Spicer (the first overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, for context) after the Torontonian too casually chased back to try and collect a heavy touch. Orellano could have pulled up when it looked like the race for the ball was going to be close, but he pushed forward, won the ball, and put a shot on target that Kelsy was there to clean up the finish after an initial save.

The third, much like the first, sees Orellano play through a given advantage to score his second goal of the night. In this case, Sergio Santos had already been awarded a penalty kick based on the referee’s signals, and maybe the stats might suggest that the PK is more of a sure thing than the attempt Orellano…