THE LIONS ARE LOCKED IN!! 🦁🔒 For the sixth straight season, Orlando City SC have clinched their spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs – and there’s still plenty left to play for! A stoppage time header from Alex Freeman sealed a 1-1 draw at high-flying FC Cincinnati last Sunday – a result that keeps us right in the hunt for a top four finish. With just three games to go, every point is priceless.
Now back at Inter&Co Stadium for our penultimate home fixture of the regular season, the focus shifts to Columbus Crew. Sitting just two points and two places beneath us in ninth, Wilfried Nancy’s men arrive winless in three, reeling from a 2-0 defeat at Chicago Fire. Crucially, we hold a game in hand on almost all of the top six, making Saturday’s clash more than just a playoff preview. It’s a chance to draw closer to the top four and build momentum at just the right time. With nine Eastern teams now locked into the post-season, the only question left is who secures a top four spot and who gets pulled into the Wild Card fight.
2025 MLS Cup Playoffs: Top 7 clinch scenarios
Orlando City SC will clinch a top 7 berth in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs – and avoid the Wild Card match – if:
- Orlando City SC win against Columbus Crew AND Chicago Fire lose against Toronto FC
Last time out
Last Sunday, Orlando City SC battled to a late 1-1 draw away at Supporters’ Shield contenders FC Cincinnati. The Lions headed into the night already assured of a place in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, thanks to New York City FC’s 2-3 win at New York Red Bulls the night prior. At TQL Stadium, Orlando started brightly, carving out multiple first-half chances through Duncan McGuire, Martín Ojeda, and Alex Freeman – only to be denied by desperate blocks and wayward finishing. Despite leading the shot count 4-11 at the break, Orlando had nothing to show for it. After Robin Jansson blazed a gilt-edged chance over Evan Louro’s bar on 48 minutes, you wondered whether we’d ever score! And our wastefulness looked costly when Kévin Denkey punished our sloppy play on 73 minutes, firing the hosts ahead after sustained pressure (1-0). With time running out, Orlando could’ve honestly scored four goals in stoppage time! But somehow, Ojeda, Luis Muriel, and Adrián Marín all missed the target inside Cincinnati’s box. One of those nights? Not quite, thanks to the brilliance of substitute Tyrese Spicer. For the second week running, Spicer was just the attacking spark we needed. On 90+5 minutes, the winger twisted past his man and delivered a perfect cross for Alex Freeman, who rose highest to nod home his second successive goal on the road – rescuing a vital point in our top four bid (1-1). Cincinnati pushed for a late winner, but Pedro Gallese denied Ayoub Jabbari, and the two playoff-bound sides had to settle for a draw.
Last head-to-head
On July 25, Orlando City SC made it back-to-back road wins with a stunning second-half turnaround at Lower.com Field. The 1-3 victory snapped Columbus Crew’s 2025 home unbeaten run, ending their four-game winning streak. After weathering an hour of pressure and falling behind to a Diego Rossi penalty (66’), the Lions flipped the game on its head. A Ramiro Enrique brace and a late Martín Ojeda strike sealed one of our best wins of 2025. The turnaround began shortly after a controversial no-call on 72 minutes. Iván Angulo was clearly pulled down by Steven Moreira inside the box. But despite strong appeals, no penalty was awarded by referee Timothy Ford. Undeterred, Angulo picked himself up and delivered a pinpoint cross for Enrique to equalise on 76 minutes. Just three minutes later, the pair linked up again. Ojeda slipped a clever through ball to Angulo down the left, who squared it for Enrique to tap in his second. In stoppage time, Ojeda sealed the game with a ruthless finish. Although dominated in possession (65% to 35%) and outshot 19-10, the Lions were far more clinical in the final third.
What’s at stake this time?
Following Matchday 37, Orlando City SC have slipped from sixth to seventh in the Eastern Conference. But we are already assured of our place in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, sealed by New York City FC’s 2-3 win at New York Red Bulls. Ultimately, the Eastern post-season nine are set. Now, it’s all about who cracks the top four – and who’s forced into the Wild Card fight. We currently sit four points behind fourth-placed Inter Miami, who lost 3-5 to Chicago Fire on Tuesday. Following their midweek fixture, The Herons have now played the same number of games as us (31). Crucially, we still hold a game in hand on the rest of the top six, excluding Miami. With only three regular season matches left, Orlando can max out on 61 points – making every game vital in our push to climb the table and avoid the Wild Card match. Just two points and two places beneath us sit Columbus Crew, making this Saturday’s clash absolutely pivotal. Crew have also booked their playoff place, with them and Chicago Fire currently occupying the two Wild Card slots. After their wild 3-5 victory at Miami, eighth-placed Fire are now just one point behind us, but they’ve played one game more (32) than we have (31). On Saturday, we’ll be eager to widen that gap to secure a more favourable playoff seeding. As for Wilfried Nancy’s Crew, they have faltered badly of late, surprising many MLS observers. Winless in three, they most recently fell 2-0 to old rivals Chicago Fire. For Orlando, this isn’t just another match. It’s a chance to keep pressure on the top four and build momentum as the playoffs draw ever closer.
Opposition danger men
🇺🇾 Diego Rossi (16 goals, 4 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇨🇦 Jacen Russell-Rowe (7 goals, 2 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇺🇸 Max Arfsten (4 goals, 6 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇭🇺 Dániel Gazdag (3 goals, 4 assists – 2025 MLS)
New opposition faces
🇵🇸 Wessam Abou Ali (Al Ahly)
Injuries
🇺🇾 César Araújo (lower back) – questionable
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇺🇸 Tahir Reid-Brown (thigh) – out
🇺🇸 Zakaria Taifi (thigh) – out
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
🇵🇸 Wessam Abou Ali (ankle) – out
🇫🇷 Rudy Camacho (thigh) – questionable
🇩🇿 Mohamed Farsi (pelvis) – out
🇺🇾 Diego Rossi (thigh) – questionable
🇺🇸 Sean Zawadzki (knee) – questionable
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
🇦🇷 Rodrigo Schlegel – one game (yellow card accumulation)
International call-ups
🇺🇸 Taha Habroune (USMNT U-20) (2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup)
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Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew
Last 3 head-to-heads
- May 25, 2024: Orlando City SC 0 Columbus Crew 2 (MLS)
- September 21, 2024: Columbus Crew 4 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
- July 25, 2025: Columbus Crew 1 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
2015/25 head-to-head stats
- It was 1-3 to Orlando the last time the sides met (July 2025)
- Played Crew 23 times in MLS – Orlando 10, Draws 4, Crew 9
- The away side has won 3 of the last 4 MLS head-to-heads
- Orlando have won their last 5 home fixtures across all competitions
- Crew have only won 1 of their last 8 MLS fixtures, going 1-3-4
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, October 5.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC’s 2025 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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