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Orlando City B x 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs

Orlando City B x 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs

League: Major League Soccer

The Road Here:

  • Orlando City clinched its spot in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs on Sept. 30 following a 3-1 win over FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas.
  • The Lions will appear in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the fifth time in Club history and fifth consecutive year, qualifying for the postseason in each of Head Coach Oscar Pareja’s five seasons in charge, and is one of just three active MLS teams to have qualified for five straight playoffs.
  • Orlando had a tough start to its 2024 campaign going 5-9-6 and posting 21 points through June. Since the beginning of July the Lions have gone 8-2-1 in the regular season, securing 25 points and launching themselves up the Eastern Conference standings.
  • The Lions’ offensive production has been a huge part of the turnaround, scoring 36 goals in their past 14 MLS matches, including 14 in their last five. City has scored multiple goals in five straight and 12 of its last 14 contests.

Where They Stand:

  • The Lions currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings and have clinched a top seven finish thanks to their 3-1 win over FC Dallas and a Philadelphia Union draw against Atlanta United FC over the weekend, guaranteeing their place in Round One of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs and safely pushing them out of reach of the Wild Card matches.
  • Orlando City has three matches remaining in its 2024 regular season campaign, set to host the Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 2, before travelling to take on FC Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 5, and hosting rivals Atlanta United on Decision Day, Saturday, Oct. 19.
  • With nine possible points left, the Lions control their destiny when it comes to securing home-field advantage in the Round One best-of-three series.

Postseason 101:

  • Format:
    • Nine teams in each conference qualify for the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, with the eight and nine seeds in each playing the Wild Card round.
    • The teams then enter a bracket format based on their seeding, beginning with a Round One best-of-three series with the higher seed hosting the first and, if necessary, third match of the series.
    • Following the Round One series, the playoffs move to a knockout format with the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals and ultimately MLS Cup presented by Audi being decided by the champion of each conference.
  • Key Dates:
    • Wild Card Matches, Oct. 3
    • Round One Best-of-Three Series, Oct. 26 – Nov. 10
    • Conference Semifinals, Nov. 23-24
    • Conference Finals, Nov. 30 – Dec. 1
    • MLS Cup presented by Audi, Dec. 7.

League: National Women’s Soccer League

The Road Here:

  • The Pride clinched a playoff spot in the 2024 NWSL Playoffs on Sept. 6, following an Angel City FC loss to Seattle Reign FC.
  • The Pride will appear in postseason play for just the second time in Club history, with the first time coming back in 2017.
  • The Pride remain the only unbeaten team in the NWSL going 22 games unbeaten this season and 23 overall dating back to the 2023 campaign.
  • Earlier on in the season, the Pride broke the NWSL record for consecutive wins, winning eight matches in a row from April 12th through May 24th.
  • Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, along with the rest of the Pride defense, broke the NWSL record for the most clean sheets in a single season with 12 and they have a chance to continue adding to that total as the regular season winds down.

Where They Stand:

  • The Pride currently sit atop the NWSL standings and have already clinched a top-four finish, which means they will host and have a chance to win the NWSL Shield with a win over the Washington Spirit at Inter&Co Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 6.
  • If the Pride aren’t able to clinch the Shield against the Spirit, they will have three regular season matches remaining to capture the trophy.
  • The Pride will have back-to-back road games following the matchup against the Spirit, first traveling to Portland to take on the Thorns on Friday, Oct. 11 followed by a trip to Red Bull Arena to take on NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday, Oct. 20.
  • The Pride will wrap up their regular season in the friendly confines of Inter&Co Stadium against Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Postseason 101:

  • Format:
    • Eight teams qualify for the 2024 NWSL Playoffs and as part of this year’s expanded postseason format, the playoffs will now consist of four quarterfinal matches, eliminating byes to the semifinals.
    • The 2024 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, will be played at CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current and the world’s first soccer stadium purpose-built for a women’s professional team.
  • Key Dates:
    • Quarterfinals: Nov. 8-10
    • Semifinals: Nov. 15-17
    • NWSL Championship: Nov. 23.

League: MLS NEXT Pro

How They Clinched:

  • Orlando City B clinched its spot in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs with a dominant 3-0 win over Chicago Fire FC II on Sept. 23.
  • After missing out on the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro postseason in 2022, the young Lions have now earned a berth in each of the last two seasons.
  • OCB had a tough stretch in June and July, posting a record of 0-3-5 and picking up just 10 goals while dropping below the playoff line. But the Club has turned things around since the start of August, winning seven of the last nine matches and scoring 22 goals in the same span.
  • Defender Alex Freeman has played a key part in the Lions’ success. Not only is Freeman second on the team in scoring with seven goals this season, but he also leads the team and is second in MLS NEXT Pro with nine assists.

Where They Stand:

  • With one game left in the regular season, OCB currently sits in third place in the Eastern Conference with 46 points. Only three points separates the young Lions and Carolina Core FC in eighth place.
  • MLS NEXT Pro Decision Day is Sunday, Oct. 6 and OCB will face second place FC Cincinnati II at TQL Stadium with a chance to clinch a top four spot and guarantee themselves a home playoff match.
  • A win will lock the Lions into a top four spot. If the Club earns two points or less, the results of the other matches will dictate if it finishes anywhere between fourth and eighth place.

Postseason 101:

  • Format:
    • 16 teams (eight from each conference) qualify for the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs and will feature an expanded “pick-your-opponent" format that was introduced in 2023.
    • The top four teams in each conference will host and select their first-round opponents.
    • In the second round, the highest remaining seed will select its opponent from the three remaining teams.
  • Key Dates:
    • Conference Quarterfinals: Oct. 18-20
    • Conference Semifinals: Oct. 25-27
    • Conference Finals: Nov. 1-3
    • MLS NEXT Pro Cup: Nov. 8-10