As the Major League Soccer season comes into the final stretch, every match becomes more and more crucial. Orlando City will be seeking its first trip to the MLS playoffs, but first they will have to secure a spot in one of those last few slots. Here is a breakdown of the remaining MLS matches this season, and what Orlando City needs to do to walk away victorious.
at Montreal Impact (9-7-10, 5th East) - Sept. 7
Orlando City’s next match will be an away game against Montreal. The Impact are currently ranked in 5th in the Eastern Conference, taking one of the lower playoff spots, and they are vulnerable to falling out of playoff contention, with only one win in their last four matches. Orlando City will play two matches against Montreal before the season is over, and wins in these matches will be crucial to pushing the team ahead in the table.
at LA Galaxy (9-13-4, 4th West) - Sept. 11
Before Orlando City returns to Camping World Stadium, they will travel out West to face the LA Galaxy. The Galaxy are currently ranked 4th in a competitive Western conference, but a plague of injuries has left them with zero wins in their last five matches. If Orlando City can get a good result against the Galaxy, it will boost their confidence coming home.
vs Columbus Crew (5-11-9, 9th East) - Sept. 17
Orlando City will return home for a matchup against Columbus Crew, one of the lowest ranked teams in MLS. With just five wins this season, last season’s runners up for the MLS Cup are now heading to an early start to their offseason. Orlando City should be able to get a good result at home against a team that could be numerically out of the picture by this point in the season.
at D.C. United (7-11-8, 6th East) - Sept. 24
Currently taking the last slot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, a win against D.C United is crucial for Orlando City. They will face them twice during the remainder of the season; this first match will be in the nation’s capital. United is on the rise after winning 6-2 against the Chicago Fire last week. But they sit just one point ahead of Orlando City -- any drop of the ball could be Orlando City’s opportunity.
at Toronto FC (12-7-8, 1st East) - Sept. 28
Orlando City didn’t get the result that they were looking for against Toronto this past week, but that won’t stop them from believing that they can earn a good result away. Toronto’s quest for the top slot in the East and the Supporters’ Shield has created vulnerabilities for them, and teams such as Houston have been able to catch them off guard. Facing one of the top offenses in the league, Orlando City will need to make sure their defensive skills are up to the test. But they’ll have a bit of help, with top goal scorer Giovinco most likely out with an injury.
vs Montreal Impact (9-7-10, 5th East) - Oct. 2
In this matchup, Orlando City will have an opportunity to really clinch a playoff slot. The three points will not only benefit them directly, but a lack of points for their rivals will prevent Montreal from climbing further up the ladder.
at Philadelphia Union (11-7-9, 4th East) - Oct. 16
The Union are quickly becoming difficult to catch, winning three of their last four matches. But the Union are vulnerable, especially when Bedoya isn’t in their starting lineup. They lost 3-1 to Toronto just a few weeks ago, and they beat Sporting KC 2-0 when Kansas City had only nine men on the field. Are they really as good as their record indicates?
vs D.C. United (7-11-8, 6th East) - Oct. 23
This will be Orlando City’s final home match of the season. Is there a chance that a playoff spot for either team could come down to this game? We’ll have to wait and see. Regardless of whether Orlando City is in the playoffs or not, we know that the fans will turn up and make trouble for the visitors.
So, that’s what the rest of the season looks like for Orlando City. Some challenges lie ahead; no victory is ever easy. But with a good effort, this won’t be the end of Orlando City’s season. This will simply be a test of their skill as they head into the playoffs.
