Orlando City (1-0-1) vs Charlotte FC (0-1-1) (MLS Cup Playoffs)
When: Saturday, 6:00 p.m
Where: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Fla
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: Real Radio 104.1, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch on Saturday as the Lions host the critical game 3 of the MLS Cup Playoffs:
All on the Line
With Orlando City SC winning the first match of the best-of-three series via a 1-0 scoreline and Charlotte FC taking the tiebreaker in the second matchup via penalty-kick shootout, the Lions and the North Carolina-based club will square off on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium to decide who will move on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Lions secured home-field advantage and the right to play in front of its Downtown Orlando crowd by finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Soccer’s Playoff City
The City Beautiful is set to show out this weekend and demonstrate why it is soccer’s playoff city. On Friday night, the Orlando Pride is set to host the Chicago Red Stars at Inter&Co Stadium in the Quarterfinals of the NWSL Playoffs, with the Pride winning the NWSL Shield and securing the first overall seed earlier this season. Following the Pride’s Friday night playoff match, the Lions will then host Charlotte FC at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night with a chance to move on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. 2024 is the first year in which both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride qualified for their respective playoffs in the same season, with this weekend serving as the first in Club history that both sides will host playoff matches at Inter&Co Stadium in the same weekend.
In Papi We Trust
Including penalty-kick shootouts, the Lions are on the better side of .500 all-time when it comes to advancing in single-match elimination games under Head Coach Oscar Pareja, moving on 10 times out of a total of 18 single-elimination matches. That record includes advancing seven times out of 10 opportunities at Inter&Co Stadium. One of Orlando City’s most infamous single-elimination matches at Inter&Co Stadium came against New York City FC in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs when defender Rodrigo Schlegel stepped up and save a penalty kick in the shootout after goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was given a red card.
Staying Hot at Home
Following the Lions’ 2-0 win over Charlotte FC at Inter&Co Stadium in the first match of the best-of-three series, Orlando City holds a record of 8-1-3 in its 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 last team in Major League Soccer that succeeded in keeping the Lions off the board at Inter&Co Stadium was the Columbus Crew back on May 25. The Lions have since scored in 11 straight home matches against MLS opposition.
Pulpo Power
Orlando City has still not allowed a single goal in any of its matches in the Round One best-of-three series since MLS switched to the format ahead of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, keeping a clean sheet in all four of its Round One matches to date. The Lions are the only team in Major League Soccer to have featured in the Round One best-of-three series at least once and not concede, and their four clean sheets are more than any other side with Seattle Sounders FC posting three.
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.
- Defender and captain Robin Jansson is two appearances away from reaching 200 for the Lions across all competitions, set to become the first player in City history to do so.
