Seeking a first-ever triumph in the MLS Cup playoffs, Charlotte FC travel to Inter & Co Stadium to face Orlando City in the opening game of that best-of-three series on Sunday.
Despite a 2-1 defeat versus Atlanta United on the final day of the regular season, the Lions still wound up fourth in the Eastern Conference with 52 points, one point above the Crown, who defeated DC United 3-0 on Decision Day.
Match preview
Although they lost their previous MLS encounter, Orlando City head into the post-season in fine form, having won three of their last four domestic games.
This year, they reached the 50-point plateau (52) for only the third time in club history while collecting 15 victories, the second-most for this franchise since joining MLS, behind only the 2023 squad (18).
Seven of those victories took place at Inter & Co Stadium, which was two fewer wins than they had in their record-setting 2023 campaign.
During the 2024 regular season, they set a new team record for goals in a 34-game campaign, netting 59 times, four more than the previous mark from 2023 and 2016.
Oscar Pareja's men were not quite as sharp defensively this year, though, conceding 50 goals, 11 more than they allowed over the previous 34-game season.
Orlando City have only suffered one home playoff defeat within 90 minutes (3-1 to the New England Revolution in 2020) while winning just one post-season fixture in normal time at Inter & Co Stadium last year (1-0 over Nashville SC).
It was a banner third season for Charlotte FC as they claimed a club record 51 points, eight more than their previous mark a year ago.
Under Dean Smith, they were much sounder defensively, conceding the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference (37) and second-fewest in MLS behind the Seattle Sounders (35).
They ended the 2024 regular season on a five-match unbeaten run in this competition, winning their last three domestic encounters in the process.
Charlotte have a chance this weekend to not only win their first playoff game in club history but also claim consecutive MLS away triumphs for the second time in 2024.
The Crown lost their lone playoff match in club history last year, 5-2 at the New York Red Bulls, and this season, they set a club record for away wins in one MLS campaign (five).
Sunday will be the fourth time they pay a visit to Orlando to battle the Lions, with Charlotte only winning one of those prior encounters in 2023 (2-1).
Team News
Against Atlanta, David Brekalo was on the bench for the Lions but did not play due to a thigh issue, Mason Stajduhar is out after a nasty collision earlier in the year, while Dagur Dan Thorhallsson played 80 minutes despite previously suffering a lower leg injury.
Wilder Cartagena is eligible to return to the field this weekend after missing their final regular-season affair with a yellow card suspension.
Martin Ojeda cut the Five Stripes deficit in half in their previous encounter, while Pedro Gallese denied Aleksey Miranchuk from 12 yards away, his third penalty save of the 2024 domestic campaign.
In their victory over DC, Charlotte were missing Jahlane Forbes, who is dealing with a sore hip, and Nikola Petkovic was sidelined because of a knee injury.
There were two new faces in their starting 11 last Saturday, with Patrick Agyemang and Kerwin Vargas replacing Liel Abada and Karol Swiderski.
Despite sustaining a hamstring knock earlier in the season, Pep Biel played over 75 minutes versus the Black and Red and scored the winner, with the other goals coming courtesy of Agyemang and Abada, while Kristijan Kahlina made three stops to collect another clean sheet.
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Thorhallsson, Schlegel, Jansson, Santos; Araujo, Martins; Torres, Ojeda, Lodeiro; McGuire
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Byrne, Malanda, Privett, Ream; Urso, Westwood, Bronico; Biel, Swiderski, Vargas
We say: Orlando City 0-0 Charlotte FC (Charlotte FC wins on penalties)
Experience may favour Orlando City, but we trust Charlotte's defensive discipline, and we believe Kahlina's outstanding goalkeeping can steal them a victory on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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