As the Major League Soccer postseason looms, Orlando City SC has cemented its place in the opening frame. It is set to clash with Charlotte FC in a three-game stint starting October 27. The announcement came through despite Orlando's latest stumble against Atlanta United, as detailed in an article from WFTV. Despite the setback, or perhaps due to it, Orlando City still secured a coveted home-field advantage.
The curtain-raiser for this playoff battle boots at 7:30 p.m. at the Inter&Co Stadium before moving to Charlotte for a November 1 matchup, then potentially circling back to Orlando for the tiebreaker on November 9, if necessary. Falls to fanfare, all three games will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with the opening game also hitting the airwaves on FS1. Signifying the gravity of the playoffs, Orlando City will be stoking the community embers with several events leading up to Game 1 and organizing an official watch party for Game 2.
Orlando City's journey to this point was not without its turbulence. A narrative of triumph reported by WESH charts a mid-season revival, with the Lions racking up ten victories in 15 games, propelling them up the Eastern Conference pecking order. This resurgence saw Uruguayan ace Facundo Torres bag 18 goals, tying the club's single-season record and cementing his status as Orlando's greatest-ever goal threat.
According to coach Oscar Pareja, Orlando City's playoff aspirations are plain and simple. "In these instances, if you fall asleep, you're out," he said, as cited by WESH, stressing the unforgiving nature of playoff soccer. The galvanized squad led by Torres, alongside influential Argentine midfielder Martin Ojeda, and the fresh legs of strikers Ramiro Enrique and Duncan McGuire, will need to stay wide awake, as the postseason promises no second chances and fierce competition.
