Orlando must stop conceding costly goals, says Perelman

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman has urged his side to stop conceding goals “that cost us too much” in their fight for the play-off places.

Orlando are seventh in the Eastern Conference with five regular-season games to go following a 3-3 draw with Toronto FC on Wednesday.

Martin Ojeda, Antoine Griezmann and Daryl Dike scored against Toronto, but Orlando conceded an 89th-minute equaliser to Matheus Pereira.

Only Sporting Kansas City (72) have conceded more goals in MLS this season than Orlando (69), who have shipped 13 goals in their last four matches.

Perelman believes their draw with Toronto highlighted their need for defensive improvements, as they prepare to take on D.C. United next.

“I think at the end of the day, we concede goals that cost us too much and force mistakes,” said the interim boss.

“Maybe we need to improve there, but as well, it’s true that the team dominated the game and in normal situations we would win.

“It was a point. It’s not what we wanted because we wanted to win. Things to improve like always, but at the same time, great effort from the players, personality to play there.

“The effort was there, the performance, as well, and that’s it. It’s a point on the road. Now we continue on our journey until the end.”

D.C. United are 12th in the East, but just five points behind upcoming opponents Orlando, and with a game in hand.

Rene Weiler’s side defeated the New York Red Bulls 2-1 last time out as Tai Baribo starred with a goal and an assist to end their four-game winless run.

Griezmann had a goal and an assist in Orlando City’s draw at Toronto on Wednesday and now has 16 goal contributions (10 goals, six assists) in 13 matches in MLS.

Griezmann has been involved in at least one goal in 11 of those 13 matches, including the last nine in a row.

Unprecedented impact  https://t.co/fv78SwiY2g

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) October 15, 2026

Baribo scored his 15th goal of the regular season in D.C. United’s win over NYRB on Wednesday, nine more than any other player for the club this year.

Only Raul Diaz Arce (23 in 1996), Roy Lassiter (18 in 1998) and Luciano Emilio (20 in 2006) scored more in their first MLS season with D.C.

Orlando’s 3–3 draw with Toronto marked their 22nd consecutive match with a goal in all competitions, setting a new club record ahead of a 21-game streak in 2025.

The Lions have not been shut out since a 2-0 defeat at CF Montreal on May 9.

D.C., meanwhile, are winless in six straight away matches in all competitions (D4 L2), last winning on the road on May 3 at New York City FC. United have managed just five wins in 31 away matches in all competitions since the start of 2025 (D11 L15).

However, they ended a four-match winless run against Orlando (D1 L3) with a 3–2 home victory on April 25. United can even the all-time series with a win in this match, as Orlando have won 10 of the 23 meetings in all competitions to D.C.’s nine wins (D4).

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