Orlando, FL – Orlando City eliminates Charlotte FC and has booked their trip to the MLS Eastern Conference Semifinals. Orlando controlled the match from beginning to end, created more chances, and relied on their stars to help them get the win and advance to the next round.
Coach Pareja’s starting lineup was almost exactly the same as game one. The only difference was that he switched Ivan Angulo and Fernando Torres from one side to the other, which is common for him to do.
It’s win or book your offseason vacay, #OrlandoCity fans! The Lions aren’t thinking about relaxing just yet. They have their sights set on the next round. But 1st, they have to put away #ForTheCrown…
Here is your lineup for tonight’s match. Very similar to game 1, where 🦁 won. pic.twitter.com/EAnIQVB5Lx— Gustavo Chacon (@onaPSIh) November 9, 2024
Controlling the match
Orlando is far from being a team that plays a tikitaka game style. Nevertheless, they take care of possession, rarely giving the ball away. However, if they do, it’s usually in the final third, where they tend to take risks to create chances, or simply don’t take advantage of bodies in the area during a breakaway or counterattack. Nonetheless, the risks tend to pay off pretty regularly. Either way, the offensively-minded team is always looking to push.
In tonight’s match, Orlando struggled to find the back of the net. In the first half, they had double the amount of shots on goal (8-4) compared to Charlotte. Facundo Torres himself had two shots denied by the goalpost. Rodrigo Schlegel had his header blocked, and Martin Ojeda had his shot cleared away too. However, Orlando City dominated possession over Charlotte and kept them reacting instead of successfully creating for the majority of the half. Charlotte’s best chance came on a play that was called offside. The first half ended 0-0.
The first half ended 0-0, but #OrlandoCity dominated, only failing to capitalize off their chances. Stay tuned for more updates. The 2nd half is underway!#MLSCupPlayoffs | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/f56ZFirU5w
— Gustavo Chacon (@onaPSIh) November 10, 2024
Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face
Coach Papi subbed in Duncan McGuire and Luis Muriel for Ivan Angulo and Ramiro Enrique 20 minutes into the 2nd half. That’s been the normal set of subs. Orlando’s attack was beginning to fall off, so a change was needed. To me, when he makes this change, he’s asking for some power up front, and sacrificing finesse to accomplish that. What this accomplishes is that the defense has to adjust how they’re defending, having to put bodies on McGuire and Muriel and that usually opens up space for Facu or another attacking midfielder.
That’s not exactly how it went down though, but this Orlando team has proven that they can roll with the punches. They got punched in the face in 80′ when a defensive breakdown led to a Charlotte FC goal. It seems to me that Orlando’s defense couldn’t organize quickly enough on a Charlotte breakaway. Robin Jansson misjudged a ball and the defense didn’t communicate who was going to put pressure on Karol Swiderski, who dribbled deep into Orlando territory and would go on to score the opening goal.
It's Swiderski! Charlotte leads 1-0 🔥
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/eRUghoMxEV // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/IkN1rwHcHk
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 10, 2024
When the stars step up
One thing about this Oscar Pareja-coached Orlando City squad is that they never quit and they never let a down moment linger. After Charlotte’s goal, Orlando kept pushing and kept the ball in Charlotte’s half of the field, continuously creating dangerous plays inside the penalty area. When the ball lives inside the 18, it’ll eventually find its way into the back of the net.
In stoppage time, Orlando was going for a final push. During a throw-in deep in Charlotte’s territory, during a centered ball, Duncan McGuire was taken down by Junior Urso inside the penalty area. Orlando was awarded a penalty and Facundo Torres, off the blocked rebound, was able to tap it in for the equalizer. Pandemonium!
The season saving penalty (for now) for #OrlandoCity!#MLSCupPlayoffs | #VamosOrlandopic.twitter.com/vspU7oFDWm
— Gustavo Chacon (@onaPSIh) November 10, 2024
Orlando forced a penalty shootout and Pedro Gallese was up for the challenge. He blocked Charlotte’s 1st two penalties and Orlando never missed. Rafael Santos made their 4th and final penalty to seal the seal for Orlando and punch their ticket into the Semis.
After the game, I asked El Pulpo about how his previous experiences for club and country helped him in the biggest moment today. He let us know that those experiences always help, especially in these crazy MLS playoff matches.
El Pulpo 🦑 talks about his experience in big games and how they’ve helped him be ready for moments like today, where he made two penalty saves to help #OrlandoCity advance.#MLSCupPlayoffs | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/B0IOqFNSn5
— Gustavo Chacon (@onaPSIh) November 10, 2024
Onto the semifinals!
Next up, Orlando hosts Atlanta United in the semifinals after ATL upset Inter Miami at Chase Stadium. However, first, there’s that pesky FIFA international break. I also caught up with Coach Pareja after the match and asked him about what he’ll focus on in preparation for a playoff match against arguably their biggest rival. His answer was to keep the team focused during the break. He also added that he could “sense in the locker room that we’re not going to stop here”.
Coach Pareja talks about how he’s going to prepare his team to face #WeAreTheA without letting the upcoming international break stop their momentum.#MLSCupPlayoffs | #OrlandoCity #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/H8CI4fnr7A
— Gustavo Chacon (@onaPSIh) November 10, 2024
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