One down, one to go for Orlando City SC in playoffs vs. Charlotte FC

It’s one down, one to go for no. 4 Orlando City SC after taking down Charlotte FC in their first 2024 MLS playoff match.

Charlotte FC, no. 5 in the MLS Eastern Conference, dropped their first playoff match 2-0 to no. 4 Orlando City FSC in the best-of-three series.

FC only got off two shots on target that were saved by Lions goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. The Orlando keeper had finished the MLS regular season with eight clean sheets. That eighth one also came against Charlotte. So he now has a ninth this year – his first clean sheet of the post-season.

It’s Charlotte netminder Kristijan Kahlina who is a finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Yet the last two matches facing Charlotte, Lions players got behind the talented, mobile keeper for goals.

Facundo Torres opened the scoring in the 32nd minute. It came from a cross by Rafael Santos that got headed down by Charlotte defender Adilson Malanda. Everyone took an instant to breathe, except for Torres. He snagged the ball and netted it.

Because of the touch by Malanda, no official assist for Santos.

The second score came in the 76th minute, beginning with a pass by Cesar Araujo. Ivan Angulo, named Player of the Match, grabbed the pass and sent it – one-touch – to Martin Ojeda for the goal.

That makes three consecutive first-round shutouts for Orlando City in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. The Lions got the first two last season in their series with Nashville – 1-0 in both.

The fact of the first-match shutout doesn’t mean Charlotte didn’t put up a fight. They nearly matched Orlando in winning aerial duels 11-12. They were close in crosses 10-12 and in possession 43.6% to 56.4%.

But Orlando more than doubled them up in shots 17-11 and tripled them in shots on goal 6-2.

Charlotte has gone home to sharpen their strategy.

If Orlando City SC keeps up the intensity and focus, they’ll end this series there.