Watch: Unbelievable finish sees Orlando top NYCFC in surreal shootout
Orlando City and New York City FC won't forget this one anytime soon.
The two teams were involved in one of the most surreal penalty shootouts in MLS history on Saturday, with the Lions surviving an incredible sequence of events to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The contest, which finished 1-1 after extra time, appeared destined for a straightforward Orlando victory after goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made what looked to be the decisive save from Valentin Castellanos' spot-kick. After a review, Gallese was adjudged to have jumped off his line early and was shown a second yellow card for the infraction.
After much confusion about his replacement, defender Rodrigo Schlegel stepped in between the sticks.
The shootout went to sudden death, and after a heroic save from Schlegel - and even more confusion about the final result - Benji Michel slotted home the winning effort to give the Lions a 6-5 victory on penalties.
Penalty kick madness. 👀 pic.twitter.com/avYiLD2LhH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 21, 2020
"I never had such an experience during an important game like that," Nani said after the match."I must say, it doesn't look good for the league and for the spectacle of the football."
Orlando will now face either top-ranked Philadelphia or the New England Revolution in the next round on Nov. 29.
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— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) November 21, 2020
Orlando captain Nani and Maxime Chanot exchanged goals within the opening 10 minutes at the Exploria Stadium, but neither side could find the net again until the shootout.