Orlando City vs Charlotte FC (MLS Cup Playoffs)
When: Sunday, 7:30 p.m
Where: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, Fox Sports 1
Radio: Real Radio 104.1, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch on Sunday as the Lions host Charlotte FC in playoff action:
Defending the Den – Officially
Despite falling 2-1 to Atlanta United FC on Decision Day match, Orlando City secured enough points over the past four months to lock up fourth place in the Eastern Conference and home-field advantage in their Round One best-of-three series in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs against Charlotte FC. Charlotte’s 3-0 win over D.C. United was enough to move them past New York City FC into the fifth spot, with New York City FC’s 2-0 to CF Montréal at Stade Saputo locked things up for the Lions to host Charlotte at Inter&Co Stadium.
First to Two
As was the case in 2023, Round One of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs will once again be decided in a best-of-three series, with the Lions matching up against North Carolina-based Charlotte FC. Orlando City SC will host Charlotte first at Inter&Co Stadium before traveling north to the Tar Heel State for the second match of the series at Bank of America Stadium. Should the series be level after the two matches, both clubs will return to Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, November 9 for the third and deciding match to determine who progresses on to take on the winner of Inter Miami CF vs. Atlanta United FC in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Pareja’s Postseason Plays
Qualifying for the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs earlier this year, Orlando City SC became, at the time, one of three active MLS teams to qualify for the postseason in at least five consecutive seasons. Since then, the Philadelphia Union were eliminated from contention leaving just the Lions, who have now qualified for five consecutive Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, and the New York Red Bulls who are on a streak of 15 consecutive years. All five of Orlando City’s postseason berths have come under the direction of Head Coach Oscar Pareja, qualifying in each of his seasons in charge of the men from the City Beautiful. The Colombian manager has qualified for the playoffs in 10 of the 12 years of his MLS coaching career.
Taking the Crown
After struggling with Charlotte FC in an otherwise dominant 2023 campaign in MLS action, Orlando City has taken four points to date against the North Carolina-based club this year, coming from behind twice in the same match to draw at Bank of America Stadium in June and take a point from Charlotte, before comfortably taking the win at Inter&Co Stadium last month in a 2-0 battle. Uruguayan Designated Player and the Lions’ leading all-time goal scorer Facundo Torres and forward Duncan McGuire both scored in each of the matchups against Charlotte FC for the Lions in 2024.
Ripping Records
To date in 2024, Orlando City’s attack has been flying and breaking a number of different Club records on their journey to qualifying for the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Lions have seen offensive production from their players this year that has set a new Club record for most goals scored in a single regular season with 59, the most players with double-digit assists in a single season, with midfielder Martín Ojeda (12), midfielder Nico Lodeiro (11) and forward Iván Angulo (10) all providing double-digit helpers in the 2024 campaign, and the Club’s most individual goal scorers in any of its 10 MLS seasons, seeing 14 different players find the back of the net this year.
Milestone Tracker:
- Duncan McGuire sits tied with Kaká (25) for fourth on Orlando City’s all-time scoring list and is one goal away from taking sole possession of fourth place.
- Facundo Torres (25) is one assist away from tying former Lions captain Nani (26) for second on the Club’s all-time assist chart.
- Torres (18) also sits just one goal away from setting the Club record for goals in a single season across all competitions, which would break a tie with Cyle Larin (18) set in 2015.
