CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Nov. 1, 2024) – No. 4 Orlando City SC dropped a penalty kick decision on Friday night to No. 5 Charlotte FC in the second game of Round One of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. After 90 minutes of scoreless soccer, the two sides went immediately to the penalty shootout after regulation, with the home side ultimately winning 3-1 on penalties.
The two sides will next meet in the final, third game of Round One – the decider in the best-of-three series. The match, presented by Verizon, will return to the City Beautiful, with a 6 p.m. ET kickoff at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9. Tickets for the game can be purchased at the link here.
Lions’ goalkeeper Pedro Gallese stood tall in the net on the night, totaling three saves including two point-blank stops in the first half to keep the clean sheet.
Orlando seemed to have found a breakthrough late in the second half after Facundo Torres found the back of the net, but the goal was ultimately called off due to a tight offside decision.
Penalty Summary:
ORL - Nico Lodeiro (Saved)
CLT - Patrick Agyemang (Goal)
ORL - Robin Jansson (Missed)
CLT - Karol Swiderski (Goal)
ORL - Luis Muriel (Goal)
CLT - Ashley Westwood (Goal)
ORL - Duncan McGuire (Saved)
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“Overall, it was a rocky game for both teams. Our second half was much better and, at the end, we could have won it and we have that sensation [of winning]. The other game, that is the PKs, is obviously frustration but it’s part of this game. It’s something that I want to stick with, and the players have to have the [positivity] and courage that we always have to go and finish our game at home [next week]. We’re ready for all of our fans to be there [Inter&Co Stadium] to finish this game at home. It will be fine.”
Match Notes:
- With the start, Martín Ojeda made his 50th appearance for Orlando City across all competitions.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made no changes to his starting XI from his side’s first match of the series against Charlotte FC.
