Orlando City SC start was grim but they clinched the playoffs

If supporters don’t remember how they felt about Orlando City SC early in the season, it’s perfectly alright.

In the first 10 games of this MLS season, Orlando City SC went 2-5-3. Supporters wondered two things. The first: What are we doing here? The second: What are Orlando City players doing here?

Yet, after their 3-1 win in Frisco, Texas over FC Dallas, Orlando City clinched still another trip to the MLS post-season in the top seven of the MLS Eastern Conference.

Their record through 31 matches is 13-11-7, 46 points – good enough for fourth place in the conference.

Through the early part of the season, supporters took turns wondering if one or another player should be benched or sent packing. A few even wondered if the club should cut ties with Head Coach Oscar Pareja.

Sep 28, 2024; Frisco, Texas, USA; Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire (13) is challenged by FC Dallas defender Sebastien Ibeagha (25) during the second half at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images / Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images

But in the aftermath of the Lions’ win at FC Dallas, the record shows Pareja has led the team to a playoff spot every year since he took over as manager.

To make this happen in Frisco, City got goals from Ramiro Enrique, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Facundo Torres. Assists went to Rafael Santos, Martin Ojeda (two), and Ramiro Enrique.

Dallas ended the shutout bid late with a 78th-minute Paul Arriola penalty kick.

Pareja said the squad arrived in Dallas focused on clinching the playoffs. He acknowledged that FC Dallas players had no intention of cooperating with Orlando’s objective. They nearly matched City in every statistic tracked during the match, other than the score.

Dallas gave Orlando all the players could handle. By keeping their focus, the Orlando players made the match count on the scoreboard.

This means that one of the simplest, subtlest, and most important statistics in MLS got a boost from the Orlando City effort. That statistic is Goal Differential.

For much of the 2024 season, Orlando’s differential has been negative. That is no longer the case after drilling, strengthening, and working through many simulated games. Orlando City has boosted their differential to seven as they pushed into the top four of the MLS Eastern Conference.

By maintaining this effort, the path into the post-season will be long for Orlando City SC.

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