Orlando City ends nine-game skid with win over Toronto FC

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:29 am

Chris Schuler and Dom Dwyer scored as Orlando City held on to end a nine-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday.

Orlando City had not won since defeating Real Salt Lake 3-1 on May 6.

The Lions didn't make it easy on themselves because Toronto's Nick Hagglund made it 2-1 in the fourth minute of stoppage time on nearly the last play of the match.

Toronto has four losses and two ties in the past six games.

Schuler, in his fourth start of the season, opened the scoring in the 34th minute with his first goal. Dwyer took the initial shot from 30 yards that goalkeeper Alex Bono could not handle.

The ball bounced high to Schuler for the put-back header. The Lions had not scored first since April 21 against San Jose and led 1-0 for only the third time this season.

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Dwyer had a strike from 22 yards for a 2-0 lead in the 48th minute on his eighth goal.

Surprise starter Earl Edwards Jr. made four saves for his first MLS win.

Orlando City coach James O'Connor, in his second match since replacing Jason Kreis, benched Joe Bendik and gave Edwards his first start of the season and the second of his career. The first was a disaster. He made one save in a 6-1 loss at Philadelphia on Oct. 22, 2017.

Orlando City has been a team of streaks. The Lions opened the season winless in three, then won six straight before the skid that ended Saturday.

Each team has non-league games on Wednesday. Orlando City is at Philadelphia in a quarterfinal game of the U.S. Open Cup. Toronto plays at the Ottawa Fury in a Canadian Championship match.