1. For the first time in Orlando City SC history, the Lions are heading to the Eastern Conference Final! And no better way to do it than against regional rivals, Atlanta United. After losing to them twice in the regular season, Orlando won when it mattered most and now are on to the next round of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
2. Ramiro on the spot! It was a much-deserved goal for the Lions in that moment, who had been on the front foot to begin the game. Plus, coming up against an in-form keeper like Brad Guzan, it seemed like it would take a special play to beat him. Instead, it took a chaotic moment in the box to put Orlando up and eventually win the game.
"On that corner and that type of play," Ramiro said, "I was intended to be ready for that second ball, for that second play. And when I was hit there, thankfully, I anticipated really well, and just got into that space and beat everybody to the ball and was able to convert."
3. The incredible run for Orlando City continues on. They've now won 13 of their last 18 matches since July and have scored 43 goals in that time frame.
4. The defense tonight was on point. Keeping the clean sheet for the third game was big in and of itself, but preventing Atlanta from having a shot on target during the entire game is next-level work. Not only that, Atlanta went 36 minutes, from the 58th minute to the 93rd minute, without having a shot towards the goal.
5. A big part of that for Orlando was having a player like Wilder Cartagena in the midfield. In the first meeting between Orlando and Atlanta, Cartagena was suspended due to a red card. Then in the season finale, he was suspended due to yellow card accumulation. This time around, Wilder played a full 90 and led the team in clearances, possession won and entries into the final third. A very noticeable difference with him on and off the field this season, no more present than the result tonight.
6. It's been one heck of a weekend for the Orlando soccer scene. Yesterday, the Orlando Pride became the first professional sports team to win a major league title in the history of the City of Orlando, with a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit in the 2024 NWSL Championship. The Lions players and coaches were paying close attention to the game, and afterwards, Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how much the incredible success of the Pride this season has motivated his team.
"What happened with the Pride, it just inspired us. We want to just make known how much we admire these girls and Seb [Hines] and with the coaching staff and Haley [Carter] as well with the direction. It is a unique opportunity now just to express in this good moment for us, but just to express in how much we admire and and how much they made us feel proud. Hopefully, we can follow those steps."
7. With rivalry matches come big moments and the City of Orlando showed up to support. A sellout crowd of 25,055 was on hand to witness Lions history, adding an inspirational atmosphere to Inter&Co Stadium. It's the kind of support that perfectly sets up next weekend's Eastern Conference Final.
8. Speaking of next week, Orlando City will now host the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference at Inter&Co Stadium on Nov. 30, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
