Orlando City (1-0) vs Charlotte FC (0-1) (MLS Cup Playoffs)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: Real Radio 104.1, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch on Friday as the Lions play their away fixture at Charlotte FC:
One Down, One to Go
With the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs following the same format as last year’s competition, Orlando City SC enters their second game against Charlotte FC in Round One on good footing. With the Lions’ 2-0 win at Inter&Co Stadium on Sunday, they have a chance to sweep the North Carolina-based club and clinch the best-of-three series in the first two games. Should Charlotte level the series at one match apiece, 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.
Ding, Round One
The Lions’ 2-0 win over Charlotte FC added another win to Orlando City’s overall record in best-of-three series in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, sweeping Nashville SC in consecutive home and away 1-0 wins in Round One of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs and adding Sunday’s win for a 3-0-0 record in Round One matches and three consecutive clean sheets.
Taking the Crown – Playoffs Edition
After taking four points to date against the North Carolina based club this year, Orlando City once again stepped up to take the crown from Charlotte FC in a match, shutting Charlotte out for the second consecutive match. In the regular season the Lions came 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 in a 2-0 battle in October. Uruguayan Designated Player and the Lions’ leading all-time goal scorer Facundo Torres has now scored against Charlotte FC in all three meetings this year, while forward Duncan McGuire scored in both meetings in the regular season.
Defended the Den
Following Sunday night’s 2-0 win over Charlotte FC at Inter&Co Stadium, the Lions now hold a record of 8-1-3 in their last 12 home games dating back to June 22 and a +20-goal differential across that same span. Orlando City SC is averaging 2.25 goals per home match in that span, including 2.6 goals per match against MLS opposition. The match also marked City’s first-ever multigoal performance in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, with the Lions having scored multiple goals in 15 of their last 18 matches in their 2024 campaign.
One More Record in the Books
Having already set the all-time goal scoring record for Orlando City this year across all competitions, passing former Lions’ forward Cyle Larin and his total of 44 goals in his Orlando career, Uruguayan winger Facundo Torres added one more record to his own books in the 2024 campaign. Torres scored the game-winning goal for the Lions against Charlotte FC last Sunday, marking his first career goal of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and his 19th across all competitions this year. With the goal, Torres passed Cyle Larin for another Club record (18) set back in 2015.
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.
- Martín Ojeda is one start away from hitting 50 across all competitions in his Orlando City SC career.
