With two games in hand, Orlando City finds itself in a playoff spot in the MLS Eastern Conference. Even with a league-high eight ties and only four wins on the year, the Lions have a chance to go top in the Eastern Conference with two wins in their upcoming games. With still so much to play for, Orlando City knows it is the team’s time to take hold of this season.
City fans erupted as the Lions gained three points against Toronto FC this weekend. As the season continues, late game thrillers will be important as we are approaching the midway point of this season.
So much of this season is left to be played, and coach Adrian Heath has set his lineup accordingly. Heath is continuing to tweak the starting 11 to allow his roster to regain fitness. Even so, Heath will be happy to see Kaka and Darwin Ceren healthy and in the lineup once again.
It was this time last year, when the Lions fell out of contention for a playoff spot. After a wonderful start to the team’s inaugural season, Orlando City gained only one point in four MLS games in July 2015. And August was not much better. From July 4 to Sept. 5 of last year, Orlando City secured five points.
This past weekend was a reminder of how important it is for Orlando to avoid that same slump. After a devastating goal in the 90th minute, Toronto FC seemed to have snatched yet another draw from the Lions at home.
It was not until eight minutes into stoppage time when Julio Baptista was fouled inside the box. It was a harsh call as Josh Williams pulled on Baptista’s jersey after a ball was sent in from the flank just outside the six-yard box. Kaka did not care, as he fired home the controversial penalty to give Orlando three massive points, and the team’s first home win since the 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers in April.
Kaka’s rattling penalty kick finish off the cross bar gave Orlando City 28 goals on the year. As far as scoring goals, Orlando stand second only to first-place Philadelphia Union. It is not scoring goals that must improve in this two month stretch though.
If Orlando City wants to solidify a spot in the top half of the jam-packed Eastern Conference they have to change mainly the defensive side. They must concede less. Orlando are third in the Eastern Conference in goals allowed.
That is including a wonderful start to the season from keeper Joe Bendik.
Looking at the Lions almost midway through the season, MLS fans have yet to see Cyle Larin expose defenses like he did so often last year. With eight goals on the year, the Canadian and former UCONN star will need to be clinical if this team wants to bring home a MLS Cup.
Aside from Larin, this team has the pieces to contend. With Kaka, Ceren, Rafael Ramos and Brek Shea, Orlando City has key players in every third of the field. Even the bench has the pieces to bring on a game changer late in the final minutes. The likes of Carlos Rivas and Julio Baptista have proved that with stoppage-time goals in their last four games.
This well-built roster sits only six points off the top spot in the conference and only seven points separate the conference one through eight.
Time will tell if the Lions learned anything from last year’s collapse. This team knows that it has the ability to extend this campaign into November.
Orlando City has provided inconsistent performances for the last 15 months, but the team has its chance to bring Orlando its first ever MLS playoff home game.
With three of their next four games on the road, Adrian Heath knows tough competition are ahead. The Lions have a chance to take points from some of the best teams in the Western Conference.
Up next, Orlando City will face off against FC Dallas on July 4 at 9 p.m.
[…] This is a turning point for Orlando City’s season. It was last July and August when the season fell apart and the Lions struggled to win and fell out of the Eastern Conference Playoff race. […]