New York City FC came to the Orlando City SC pitch to knock the home team down a peg. They had done it earlier this season.
New York City FC held off a late attack from Orlando City SC in their last meeting to win 4-2. But since then, the Lions mounted a sustained march to the seventh spot in the MLS Eastern Conference. Holding onto any place among the seven means the team makes the post-season without having to play in.
But first Orlando had to pull from the momentum that drove them above the playoff line. The players had to use that momentum against the team that bested them not quite a month before.
Orlando took on New York City with a Goal Differential of 6. The Lions also finished the 1-1 draw with a positive Goal Differential of 1.
The only teams with a negative differential above the MLS Eastern Conference playoff line are Toronto FC and Atlanta United FC at spots 8 and 9.
Both teams played hard from beginning to end. It was New York taking a chance to go ahead and win late in the match. In the 75th minute, winger Talles Magno passed to attacking midfielder Santiago Rodriguez. It was a clear look at the Orlando net. But defender Rafael Santos got in position, then executed a perfect tackle that sent the ball across the end line.
The Orlando squad was disappointed after New York striker Hannes Wolf equalized in the 57th minute with assists by winger Alonso Martinez and Rodriguez. But the 53rd-minute goal by forward Ramiro Enrique, with an assist to midfielder Martin Ojeda, carried a lot of weight.
Ojeda had intended to take a shot. This would have been saved by New York goalkeeper Matt Freese. But Enrique flicked it into the net for the Orlando score.
Enrique is now only the fourth Lion player to score in four consecutive MLS matches. He joins Dom Dwyer (2018), Nani (2019), and Daryl Dike (2021). Ojeda’s assist is his eighth this season across all competitions and his 18th all-time.
The Lions must stay focused and aggressive for the rest of the season, especially in September. That’s when Orlando City SC faces the Columbus Crew, standing third in the East Conference.
Knocking the Crew off would mean leaping over some of the other top seven and making the post-season a sure thing for Orlando.
Comment to OTowns11 Facebook or The X.