Sep 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Orlando Metropolis midfielder Facundo Torres (10) dribbles the ball whereas Columbus Crew defender Andres Herrera (2) defends within the second half at Decrease.com Area. Necessary Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Pictures Orlando Metropolis SC can clinch a playoff spot with a win towards host FC Dallas on Saturday evening in Frisco, Texas.
Orlando Metropolis (12-11-7, 43 factors) are in fifth place within the Japanese Convention and 8-3-1 of their final 12 matches. That they had received three straight matches — all shutouts — earlier than a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Crew final Saturday.
It is a return to North Texas for Orlando Metropolis head coach Oscar Pareja, who was on the helm in Dallas from 2014-18.
“It is at all times good to be again to a spot the place you stayed that a few years … (Dallas) has a particular place in (my) coronary heart,” mentioned Pareja, who led Dallas to Supporters’ Defend and U.S. Open Cup titles in 2016.
That mentioned, the principle goal for Pareja on Saturday is clinching a playoff spot.
“I acknowledge … how vital it’s for us to have the ability to play video games, for us to go there with our crew and accumulate these three factors,” he mentioned.
Luis Muriel entered within the 58th minute and scored twice for Orlando towards Columbus, his first time scoring in almost three months. Facundo Torres leads the crew with 12 objectives, scoring 4 occasions in three matches earlier than the loss towards the Crew.
In the meantime, FC Dallas (10-13-7, 37 factors) is 5 factors out of the ninth and last postseason spot within the Western Convention with 4 matches remaining. They halted an 0-2-1 winless stretch final Saturday with a 3-1 win over Los Angeles FC.
A loss would not get rid of Dallas from playoff competition, however time is working out.
“Since I got here right here, the objective was clear that we wish to play (within the) playoffs, that we wish to struggle to win titles, and that is what we intend to do,” Dallas striker Petar Musa mentioned, based on the Dallas Morning Information.
Musa, who scored within the win towards LAFC, has been one of many standouts for Dallas in 2024, registering a team-high 15 objectives via 27 matches.
“Petar is just not very vocal within the locker room. He’s extra of a quiet character, however he leads by instance,” interim head coach Peter Luccin mentioned.
“Everybody on the crew respects him for the way mature he’s and the skilled means he conducts himself.”
–Area Degree Media