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Orlando City SC can't miss opportunities like Columbus Crew

• Orlando City loss teaches the game they have to play
• FC Cincinnati will use the same match strategy
• The Lions have to step up the first half

By Chuck Wharton

Sep 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) dribbles the ball while Orlando City forward Ramiro Enrique (7) defends in the second half at Lower.com Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Sep 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) dribbles the ball while Orlando City forward Ramiro Enrique (7) defends in the second half at Lower.com Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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The Columbus Crew schooled Orlando City SC on how to face a powerful squad. Columbus won 4-3.

To get deep into the MLS post-season, Orlando City SC players will have to stand up to some powerful teams. Columbus Crew showed them what it takes in a 4-3 loss by Orlando.

The lesson's most important part is showing some offense in the first half. Orlando got off only three shots in the first half, one on-target and two hitting the left post. To the squad’s credit, Columbus didn’t fare much better statistically.

The home team took four shots in the first half. But the only on-target shot was a score in the 30th minute by midfielder Diego Rossi, assisted by Christian Ramirez and Mohamed Farsi. The Lions could have and should have stepped it up in the first half.

So while both teams were relatively slow amping up their offenses, Columbus Crew hit the accelerator much earlier than Orlando City after halftime. Scoring started in the 51st minute by Christian Ramirez and continues in the 71st, 85th.

Orlando correctly brought in second-half substitutes to speed things up. Two of these subs scored after the 74th minute: Ramiro Enrique, Luis Muriel (penalty kick), and Muriel again in stoppage time. But they were coming from behind the entire match against a Columbus team skilled in managing time and space on the pitch.

This is exactly the type of match management that Orlando City will face toward the end of this regular season when facing FC Cincinnati.

Luca Orellano
Sep 21, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; FC Cincinnati midfielder Luca Orellano (23) dribbles the ball against the Nashville SC during the second half at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images / Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Without taking time to analyze, it’s easy to see that Cincinnati will take the same game to Orlando City that Columbus Crew did, and with just as much skill.

Cincinnati stands second in the MLS Eastern Conference, well behind Inter Miami. With a record of 30-17-8, they are only one win above third-place Columbus Crew. They are ready to give Orlando City SC – and any other opponent – a lot of trouble.

All three top three teams in the conference have clinched the playoffs. But FC Cincinnati still can play with a grudge.

After a 2-2 draw with Nashville, Cincinnati players sat in the locker room as if discussing what went wrong. They weren’t going over it as if they’d lost. But they were discussing their frustration that they didn’t get a win. An opportunity missed is how a team report termed it.

A draw isn’t good enough for FC Cincinnati.

To get into this year’s MLS post-season, all Orlando City SC has to do is maintain the momentum they’ve established throughout the season. To get deep into the playoffs, Orlando has to beat the likes of FC Cincinnati.

They have to make sure any opportunity missed is on their opponent.