The shootout between Orlando City and New York City FC resulted in one of the most absurd scenes in sports history on Saturday.
As Lions led 4-3 in penalties, Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made a save that could have ended the game.
But the restart showed that the goalkeeper had moved too fast and the referee therefore awarded him a second yellow card (he had received one during extra time), which earned him an expulsion.
Orlando therefore tried to send his backup goalkeeper Brian Rowe into the fray, but the Floridians had already passed their five changes.
So it was defender Rodrigo Schlegel who jumped into the fray for the goalkeeper position. After allowing two goals, the Orlando player made an important save in front of Gudmundur Thórarinsson.
Benji Michel finally delivered his own with the goal of victory!
See the completely insane sequence in the video above.
A match that Rodrigo Schlegel will remember
Major League Soccer’s first playoff round began with a wild 2-1 win for Orlando City SC over New York City FC on Saturday on Florida soil.
It was at the end of a shooting session fertile in twists and turns that the Orlando training won. Despite the victory, goalkeeper Pedro Gallese of the Florida team was sent off following a second yellow card for illegally leaving his position during the shootout. This is how Rodrigo Schlegel, a defender sent to the net, had to stop an opponent, Gudmundur Thórarinsson, to get the win.
A red card awarded to Ruan, at 87e minute, first seemed to have sounded the beginning of the end for Orlando, in regulation time. The Brazilian then responded to a blow from an opponent by taking out the studs.
It was by playing 11 against 10 that the NYCFC entered overtime, but it was the penalty shots that finally decided the two teams. In an unimaginable scenario, seven players from each club had to run. The Florida side looked to be heading for victory when Maximiliano Moralez sent the ball over the crossbar, but Orlando’s fifth shooter Nani was blocked. This is how it continued with, as unexpected hero, the now famous Rodrigo Schlegel.
At the start of the match, Nani gave Orlando the lead in the fifth minute, converting a penalty shot. He was given the opportunity as Swedish NYCFC back Anton Tinnerholm inadvertently touched the ball with his hand in the penalty area.
The New York team had responded quickly, however, when, in the eighth minute, Maxime Chanot hit the target following a corner kick.
On the side of Columbus, the suspense was also there at the end of the match and the Crew came out of it with a victory of 3 to 2 over the Red Bulls of New York.
Brian White, at the 90e minute of play, reduced the gap to just one net and the Red Bulls could believe it again. The local team held on, however, with their three unanswered goals.
Pedro Santos (on penalty), Darlington Nagbe and Gyasi Zardes scored for the Crew, while young Caden Clark replied for New York.
