It’s time to turn the page, Lions! After a mature and dominant 2-0 home win over Charlotte FC last Sunday, Orlando City SC have put themselves on the brink of advancing in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Now visiting Charlotte FC in game two of the Round One Best-of-3 Series, Oscar Pareja’s men have the chance to clinch progression with a win at Bank of America Stadium. This isn’t just another match; it’s a pivotal moment for a squad that’s shown resilience, determination, and a clear desire to right the wrongs of past playoff campaigns.
Having only ever contested one MLS Wild Card match (2023) before, game one was Charlotte FC’s first playoff game proper, with the Lions capitalising on their home advantage. For me, our performance was nothing short of a statement. Facundo Torres broke Orlando City SC’s club record for single-season goals (19) with a brilliant opener, and Martín Ojeda added a second to seal a victory that showcased Orlando City SC’s hunger and grit. Despite last Sunday’s success, the team knows the job isn’t finished yet. It’s all about the next challenge.
As we prepare for this crucial clash, the atmosphere in Charlotte will be electric, and the stakes are high. In fact, it will actually be Charlotte, North Carolina’s first major playoff game in any sport since 2016. A City win in game two not only sends us through to the Eastern Conference Semi-Final stage but also allows us to build on the momentum we’ve generated in the playoffs thus far. With our eyes set on avoiding a third game, the message is clear: finish the job and show that we mean business!
Despite their struggles in game one, let’s not forget that Charlotte FC are capable of rising to the occasion, particularly on their home turf at the 74,867 capacity Bank of America Stadium where the Upper Bowl will be open. The Crown will be eager to bounce back, but with the confidence taken from our last outing and the support of our loyal travelling fans, we have every reason to believe we can finish the job. It’s time for Orlando City SC to show the league that they’re not just a contender but a true force to be reckoned with. Vamos Orlando!
Last time out / head-to-head
Last Sunday, Orlando City SC started their 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs journey with a determined, almost faultless performance at Inter&Co Stadium, defeating Charlotte FC 2-0 in game one of the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
Since this was The Crown’s first true playoff game with Orlando City SC enjoying home advantage, the Lions were favourites, although only slightly heading into the fixture.
On the night, Oscar Pareja made just one change to his lineup, reinstating midfield anchor Wilder Cartagena in place of Felipe Martins after Cartagena’s one-game suspension served on 2024 MLS Decision Day.
For the visitors, former Lion Júnior Urso made only his eleventh start of the MLS season for Charlotte FC on his second return to Inter&Co Stadium as an opponent.
Eager to start well, the Lions wasted no time setting a high tempo.
With five shots in the first 20 minutes, Oscar Pareja’s side showed a reassuring intent, though disappointingly, none of these attempts were on target.
Relentlessly pressing centre back duo Adilson Malanda and Andrew Privett throughout the first-half, Ramiro Enrique typified Orlando City SC‘s hustle and hunger.
Holding the lowest average possession in MLS this year (44.6%), Charlotte FC found themselves defending far more than Dean Smith would’ve liked.
But this was a testament to Orlando City SC’s aggressive start, continually pressing and never giving the visitors any time to settle.
On 19 minutes, Liel Abada made a dangerous run into Orlando City SC’s half.
However, Iván Angulo sprinted back, catching up with Abada before dispossessing the former Celtic player.
It was truly a brilliant defensive effort from the Colombian, who would go on to deliver an elite-level performance, only pipped by Facundo Torres who took the “Star of the Match” honours.
Despite Orlando City SC’s encouraging start, Charlotte FC caused another scare on 22 minutes.
But Pedro Gallese crucially saved Liel Abada’s strike, with Rodrigo Schlegel lawfully doing just enough to prevent the Israeli winger from getting a clean finish.
However, Orlando City SC’s persistence, intensity, and aggressiveness finally paid off on 32 minutes.
Collecting the ball tucked inside, Iván Angulo showcased his elite dribbling skills to bait Brandt Bronico, Júnior Urso, and Pep Biel into a tackle.
Cleverly manoeuvring away from the Charlotte FC trio, the Colombian left them spinning before showing great awareness to recycle the ball out to Rafael Santos, who was charging down the left wing.
Overlapping down the left wing as he loves to do, the Brazilian whipped a dangerous cross into the heart of Charlotte FC’s penalty area.
Adilson Malanda appeared to have cleared the cross from danger with a header, but the ball landed right to that man Facundo Torres.
Coming in clutch, El Cuervo cushioned Malanda’s headed clearance with his knee before launching the ball off the underside of Kristijan Kahlina’s crossbar and into the net (1-0).
Pulling off a really difficult finish, it was a historic moment for Torres, not only marking his first-ever goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs but also setting a new club record with 19 goals in a single season.
Surpassing Cyle Larin’s long-standing single-season record of 18 goals set in 2015, Facu’s record-breaking goal further cemented his status as surely the greatest Orlando City SC player of all-time.
I mean, I think he is now, right?
Especially after becoming our all-time leading goalscorer (45) across all competitions against Philadelphia Union on October 2.
Not to mention almost single-handedly helping Orlando City SC win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – our first major honour as an MLS club.
El Cuervo really enjoys facing The Crown!
His opener marked his fourth career goal against Charlotte FC and his third goal in each of the three head-to-heads this season.
This goal reinforced Orlando City SC’s dominance in the first-half, and the Lions’ lead felt well-deserved as they continued to unsettle the visitors.
On 38 minutes, Orlando City SC came close to doubling their lead.
After Wilder Cartagena cleverly assisted Ramiro Enrique, who made a dangerous run into the Charlotte FC box, Enrique’s shot deflected off Kristijan Kahlina’s trailing left leg before striking the Croatian’s left-hand post.
Just inches away from a valuable two-goal lead, Enrique was a real live-wire, just as he’s been throughout the entire second half of 2024.
Not giving Adilson Malanda or Andrew Privett a moment’s peace, Enrique’s raw pace and desire to run in behind had Charlotte FC regularly pinned back.
To demonstrate Orlando City SC’s intensity, by half-time, the Lions led Charlotte FC 6-0 on corners, with 66% possession to The Crown’s 34%.
Our superiority was clear, but we still only held a slender one-goal advantage, aware that a single moment could change the course of the game.
At half-time, former Lion Sacha Kljestan described Charlotte FC’s performance as “too passive” during his Apple TV punditry, and it was hard to disagree.
The visitors seemed to be letting the occasion pass them by, although Orlando City SC deserved credit for making Charlotte FC look average.
Right from the second-half whistle, Orlando City SC maintained control, pushing forward with composure and discipline.
Despite our one-goal lead, Orlando City SC pressed for a second ‘killer’ goal to seal the match.
On 52 minutes, Iván Angulo initiated a sharp attack with a pinpoint cross into Charlotte FC’s box, though Tim Ream calmly nodded the ball back into Kristijan Kahlina’s clutches.
Just two minutes later, Martín Ojeda displayed remarkable determination, making a lung-busting run down the left wing, leaving Adilson Malanda behind before charging into the Charlotte FC penalty area.
Glancing up, Tincho expertly spotted Facundo Torres, who was carelessly left unmarked right inside the box.
Striking one-time on his favoured left foot, Facu agonisingly fired his close-range shot right at Kristijan Kahlina.
Don’t get me wrong – Kahlina is deservedly a 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year finalist – but Facu knows he should’ve buried this gilt-edged chance!
It was a big miss, especially at this time in the game.
Sensing the need to respond quickly, Charlotte FC intensified their pressure, earning four corners by the hour mark.
With Orlando City SC’s defence needing to remain resolute, Wilder Cartagena was busy putting out fires in central midfield.
Displaying grit all evening, the tireless Peruvian picked up a customary yellow card – his eighth caution of the MLS season – on 63 minutes, just moments after Liel Abada narrowly chipped an effort over Pedro Gallese’s crossbar.
Two minutes earlier, Oscar Pareja subbed off Ramiro Enrique after his selfless shift up top, with Duncan McGuire introduced to inject fresh energy into Orlando City SC’s attack.
A fantastic calibre of substitute to introduce off the bench, McGuire kept Orlando City SC’s threats alive, especially on 64 minutes when he nodded a ball back across the Charlotte FC box for Rodrigo Schlegel.
Strange seeing Schlegel so high up the pitch in open play, the Argentine didn’t make clean contact, hitting his shot into the turf with Kristijan Kahlina easily collecting his grounded effort.
Putting in a shift for the ages, Iván Angulo’s relentless work rate was simply incredible!
On 67 minutes, he sprinted back at breakneck speed to intercept Liel Abada’s advance, dispossessing the Israel international winger for the second time in the match.
Like taking candy from a baby!
Throughout the game, Angulo stifled Charlotte FC’s momentum with crucial defensive recoveries, demonstrating his prowess at both ends of the pitch.
It’s no wonder why Oscar Pareja loves and relies on him so much.
While Facundo Torres took the “Star of the Match” honours, Angulo was my Man of the Match, all day long!
There was a heart-stopping moment on 70 minutes though.
Just a minute after replacing Karol Świderski, substitute Patrick Agyemang wasted no time getting into the action.
Beating Robin Jansson to a header inside City’s penalty area, the 23-year-old fortunately directed his attempt straight at Pedro Gallese, who gratefully secured the ball with both gloves.
From here, things got even better for the Lions on 76 minutes, thanks to another outstanding team effort.
Surging down the left wing with his incredible roadrunner pace, Iván Angulo delivered a perfectly timed pass into Martín Ojeda.
Tincho then finished brilliantly, sending a low near post strike past Kristijan Kahlina for his first-ever goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs, extending the Lions’ lead (2-0).
Just two minutes earlier, during my play-by-play commentary on Twitter, I questioned whether Papi should withdraw Ojeda for Nicolás Lodeiro, as Tincho appeared to be visibly fatigued.
But what do I know?
Doubling Orlando City SC’s advantage, Martín Ojeda’s goal made the scoreline more reflective of City’s dominance throughout the evening.
Ojeda is another player who loves facing Charlotte FC having scored in three of the last five MLS head-to-heads (3 goals).
Looking back, Martín Ojeda’s goal was a crucial moment in the match that effectively demoralised Charlotte FC.
With City’s control undeniable at this point, Oscar Pareja introduced Kyle Smith and Luis Muriel, heralding well-deserved standing ovations for both Iván Angulo and Facundo Torres as they left the pitch.
It was truly a fantastic night for both attackers, especially Angulo, whose tireless dynamism was evident all night long.
Charlotte FC’s last-minute attempts to salvage a goal were in vain.
On 86 minutes, Nathan Byrne cleverly spotted Pep Biel on the edge of Orlando City SC’s box, but the Spaniard dragged his shot just wide of Pedro Gallese’s left-hand post.
Pep Biel’s frustration boiled over in second-half stoppage time when referee Drew Fischer handed him a straight red card for a petulant kick out at Robin Jansson from the ground.
It was a foolish red card for the 28-year-old on loan from Olympiacos, resulting in a one-game suspension that will keep him out of game two at Bank of America Stadium this Friday.
Charlotte FC appealed against Pep Biel’s red card, but MLS rejected it.
The Spaniard’s dismissal was truly the icing on the cake for the Lions!
When the full-time whistle blew, Orlando City SC could take great satisfaction from their game one performance.
The Lions’ disciplined 2-0 victory was a professional playoff display, setting the tone for what could be a promising post-season run.
Even MLS pundit and analyst Matt Doyle tweeted: “My it-will-be-perceived-as-hot-but-actually-isn’t take is that Orlando City are actually a much better team this year than they were 12 months ago.”
What’s at stake this time?
Win and progress – it’s as simple as that!
Whether in 90 minutes or through a penalty shootout if the score is tied at full-time, our goal remains the same.
Last year, Orlando City SC eliminated Nashville SC from the Round One Best-of-3 Series of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, needing only two games – not three – to overcome their Tennessee opposition (1-0, 0-1).
In fact, by beating Charlotte FC 2-0 last Sunday, Orlando City SC improved to 3-0-0 in Best-of-3 Series games, having shutout opponents in all three of our victories to date.
Oscar Pareja will be hoping for a similar outcome this year, aiming to conclude the Charlotte FC series in two games rather than three for optimal recovery time.
This would see us visit Chase Stadium to face Inter Miami and Lionel Messi (in all likelihood) in the mother of all playoff tests at the Eastern Conference Semi-Final stage.
But, mentally, our focus cannot be on future matchups.
The priority must be to finish the job against Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium first.
With increased pressure on The Crown to respond after losing game one (2-0), this situation can be debilitating, just as we saw with Nashville SC last year.
Charlotte FC know they cannot afford any mistakes, and hopefully, the Lions can exploit their potentially fragile psyche, capitalising on any vulnerability.
Orlando City SC have made three previous MLS trips to the home of the Carolina Panthers and remain unbeaten in North Carolina, boasting a record of 1-2-0 in Mint City.
This gives us great hope for progressing in two games instead of three.
Last Sunday, Ramiro Enrique and Iván Angulo were absolutely tireless throughout the 90+ minutes, and their efforts were complemented by the return of Wilder Cartagena.
Described by Apple TV’s Bradley Wright-Phillips as “an absolute dog” in the best possible way, Cartagena’s presence was crucial.
Honestly, when he partners with César Araújo in central midfield, we become a completely different animal.
All-action, determined, and relentless throughout game one, our dynamic double pivot delivered another clinic, showcasing a joint performance that left no doubt as to why they are revered as one of the best central midfield partnerships in Major League Soccer.
For me, of all eight post-season games we’ve played in club history, our 2-0 win over Charlotte FC was our most convincing and mature performance in the MLS Cup Playoffs to date.
Heading into last Sunday’s match, many MLS pundits believed that Orlando City SC vs Charlotte FC would be the most evenly matched playoff series.
After all, The Crown finished just one point (51) and one place behind the Lions (52) in the final Eastern Conference standings.
But at Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando City SC truly made their previous playoff experience and on-field superiority count.
From the first minute to the last, I never felt we were going to lose the game.
This is not something I’ve felt too often supporting Orlando City SC, highlighting how well Oscar Pareja’s squad handled both the match and the occasion.
After his infamous red card against Columbus Crew in last year’s Eastern Conference Semi-Final, Rodrigo Schlegel would’ve been particularly motivated to perform well.
City supporters were casting the microscope over his performance, for sure.
Trusted to start yet again over David Brekalo, the Argentine deserves recognition for his mature and disciplined defensive display against Charlotte FC in game one.
Both he and captain Robin Jansson must maintain this level of composure and resolve if we hope to make a deep run this time around.
Now, let’s clinch progression from Round One in two games instead of three, just like we did against Nashville SC last year.
Last but not least, if Orlando City SC need penalties to defeat Charlotte FC in game two, it’s worth noting that the Lions won nine consecutive shootouts over a nine-year span from 2015 to 2024.
This was before our 0-0 (4-5 on penalties) loss to Cruz Azul in the 2024 Leagues Cup Round of 32 back on August 9.
Robin Jansson and Dagur Dan Thórhallsson’s misses unfortunately proved decisive on that occasion, bringing our remarkable PK record to an abrupt halt.
Opposition danger men
Before game one, I highlighted Charlotte FC’s attacking trio of Liel Abada, Karol Świderski, and Pep Biel as The Crown’s biggest threats.
All starting last Sunday’s game, Orlando City SC did incredibly well to stifle these threats, especially Świderski.
The Polish international striker was notably quiet in game one, which is impressive given that he had scored in three of Charlotte FC’s final four MLS regular season fixtures (4 goals).
In game one, Dean Smith withdrew Karol Świderski for Patrick Agyemang on 69 minutes, and I wonder if he will be tempted to start his promising young American-Ghanaian striker instead.
Having tallied 10 goals and five assists this MLS regular season, 6 ft 4 in Agyemang has had a breakout year and looked a real handful when he came on.
This was especially evident on 70 minutes when he beat Robin Jansson to a header inside City’s penalty area, only to direct his attempt straight at Pedro Gallese.
Still raw, he has certainly surprised veteran MLS defenders this year with his brute strength and direct attacking style.
In game one, Wilder Cartagena and César Araújo physically dominated Charlotte FC’s midfield trio of Ashley Westwood, Brandt Bronico, and Júnior Urso.
But no player has covered more ground in Major League Soccer than Westwood this season, and he makes Charlotte FC tick in the centre of the park, especially at Bank of America Stadium.
Elsewhere, Pep Biel’s silly red card in second-half stoppage time has ruled him out of game two in North Carolina.
In all likelihood, Dean Smith will start Kerwin Vargas in place of the suspended Spaniard, with Vargas having tallied six goals and one assist in MLS this year.
Smith introduced Vargas as a late substitute for Liel Abada at Inter&Co Stadium, and he will probably get the nod to start in Mint City.
Last but not least, while he may not be a danger man in the traditional sense, Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina is a 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year finalist alongside Hugo Lloris and Patrick Schulte.
Thwarting both Ramiro Enrique and Facundo Torres with crucial stops in game one, Kahlina is a high-calibre goalkeeper capable of single-handedly keeping The Crown in games.
Therefore, we must be ruthless when opportunities arise.
Injuries and suspensions
Heading into this game, Mason Stajduhar (right lower leg) is definitely out for the Lions.
But every other member of Oscar Pareja’s 2024 Orlando City SC roster is fit and ready to contribute.
As for Charlotte FC, only former Orlando City B defender Jahlane Forbes (hip) is definitely out.
Like we mentioned before, Pep Biel will miss game two against Orlando City SC due to a one-match suspension following his petulant red card last Sunday.
Charlotte FC appealed against Pep Biel’s red card, but MLS rejected it.
While our defenders kept him at bay in game one, Pep Biel entered the playoffs with two MLS goals and three MLS assists to his name, making his absence a boost for City.
If Charlotte FC win game two and force game three, the Spaniard will be back and available for selection at Inter&Co Stadium on November 9.
This is because a straight red card only results in a one-match suspension in Major League Soccer.
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Charlotte FC vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- June 19, 2024: Charlotte FC 2 Orlando City SC 2 (MLS)
- September 18, 2024: Orlando City SC 2 Charlotte FC 0 (MLS)
- October 27, 2024: Orlando City SC 2 Charlotte FC 0 (2024 MLS Cup Playoffs)
2015/24 head-to-head stats
- It was 2-0 to Orlando the last time the sides met (October 2024)
- Played Charlotte 7 times in MLS – Charlotte 1, Draws 2, Orlando 4
- Facundo Torres has scored in all 3 MLS head-to-heads this year
- Charlotte’s last 3 MLS fixtures have all finished ‘to nil’
- Orlando have scored 2 or more goals in 15 of their last 18 MLS fixtures
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Watching the game
Charlotte FC vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 23:30 (GMT) on Friday, November 1.
Remember, UK supporters can watch this game and all of Orlando City SC’s fixtures in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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