PHOTO BY MARK THOR VIA ORLANDO CITY SC
Orlando City SC lost 4-0 at Charlotte FC on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium, leaving its MLS Cup Playoffs hopes to be settled on the final day of the regular season. Orlando City will try to clinch a seventh consecutive postseason appearance when it hosts the New England Revolution on Decision Day at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, November 7, at 4 p.m.
Charlotte scored first in the sixth minute after Orlando conceded a free kick just outside the box. Ashley Westwood sent the ball to the back post, where Henry Kessler headed it in. It was the only goal of the first half.
The hosts doubled the lead four minutes into the second half when Harry Toffolo played Allan Saint-Maximin into space in the final third. Charlotte added a third goal in the 84th minute against the run of play. Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau saved Saint-Maximin’s penalty kick, but Abdoulaye Doucoure scored on the rebound. Rodolfo Aloko volleyed in a fourth in the fourth minute of stoppage time from Tyger Smalls’ cross.
The team says it was the first time Orlando City has been held scoreless in 26 matches across all competitions.
Crépeau was pretty blunt about the loss, saying, “We know what’s happening at the moment; we need to win against New England,” he said. “A lot of people deserve better than what we have put out there today.” He said the season is “on the line on Saturday.”
Defenders Griffin Dorsey (back) and Robin Jansson (foot) and forward Tyrese Spicer (foot) missed the match with injuries. Defender David Brekalo served a suspension for yellow card accumulation. Perelman made two changes to the lineup from the previous match against Chicago Fire FC, bringing in Wilder Cartagena and Marco Pašalić.
Orlando City sits ninth in the Eastern Conference standings after the loss.
