A 4-0 drubbing in Charlotte has turned Orlando City’s playoff dream into a must‑win finale.
Key points
- Orlando City must win its final regular‑season match against New England to stay in contention for a play‑in spot.
- Charlotte FC’s 4‑0 victory secured a playoff berth and keeps the club in fourth place with 53 points.
- Antoine Griezmann’s five‑game scoring streak ended with the loss.
- MLS’s format pits the eighth and ninth placed teams against each other for the last two playoff berths in each conference.
Orlando City’s bid for a direct MLS playoff berth took a sharp turn on Saturday when the team was routed 4‑0 by Charlotte FC at the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina, according to a report from www.vssports.com.py.
Charlotte opened the scoring early, with Henry Kessler finding the net in the sixth minute. Allan Saint‑Maximin added a second goal before halftime, while Abdoulaye Doucouré and Rodolfo Aloko each struck in the second half, the latter scoring in stoppage time (90+4'). The defeat also halted French forward Antoine Griezmann’s five‑match scoring run, which had kept Orlando in contention.
Match recap and key moments
The result widened the gap between the two clubs in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte, now fourth with 53 points, has already secured a postseason spot. Orlando remains ninth with 43 points, sitting in the league’s “repechaje” zone where the eighth and ninth placed teams must face each other for the final playoff slots.
With only one regular‑season game left, Orlando will travel to New England to try to climb into the eighth spot and force a play‑in match. Charlotte’s next fixture is an away game against Inter Miami, a side that features Matías Galarza and Lionel Messi, a match that could further solidify its playoff positioning.
Standings impact for Orlando City and Charlotte FC
The coming weekend will be decisive: a win for Orlando could keep its hopes alive, while a loss would likely end its postseason aspirations, underscoring how quickly fortunes can shift in MLS’s tight Eastern Conference race.
Reader questions
What does Orlando City need to do to reach the MLS playoffs?
The club must win its final regular‑season game against New England to try to finish eighth and qualify for the conference play‑in round.
How many points separate Charlotte FC and Orlando City after the match?
Charlotte FC sits on 53 points, while Orlando City has 43 points, a ten‑point difference.
Who scored for Charlotte FC in the 4‑0 win?
Goals were scored by Henry Kessler (6'), Allan Saint‑Maximin (49'), Abdoulaye Doucouré (84') and Rodolfo Aloko (90+4').
Source: vssports.com.py
