In a game with a playoff berth up for debate the Wednesday game did not go as planned for our Orlando City Lions. Inter Miami CF was able to clinch a win and an Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoff berth.
In an unbelievable 4-1 scrubbing at the hands of Inter Miami CF, Orlando City was overwhelmed by bad bounces and defensive transition mistakes. The defeat dropped the Lions below the postseason line with one match remaining.
The Lions (13-14-6, 45 points) fell below .500 and lost their fourth game in the last five since winning the U.S. Open Cup in the game’s first minute when awful blunders cost the team. Miami (14-13-6, 48 points), on the other hand, gained a postseason spot for the first time.
Orlando’s defensive line was broken down almost as soon as the game started. Smith knocked the ball away from an opponent, and it dribbled behind the Orlando centre backs. Neither Carlos nor Schlegel retrieved the ball, so Campana ran after it and chipped Gallese, who was off his line but not far enough away to reach it before the Miami forward. Orlando City was behind almost immediately after the match started.
Orlando had a lot of possession but didn’t do much with set pieces, and to make matters worse, the Lions broke down when they should have gotten numbers forward in transition. Torres, Akindele, and Urso all sent some errant passes, as did Michel on a couple of occasions, preventing some great chances. The Lions set up some half-chances but didn’t make anything of them.
In the 38th minute, the Herons doubled their lead on a bizarre transition as Akindele attempted to force a pass into traffic. The Marlins came the other way and Schlegel pressed high, leaving the Herons with a 2-on-1 advantage. Lassiter delivered the cross early to Higuain, who took a shot on goal past Gallese and made it 2-0. The last two scores came by Kara and Lassiter.
It wasn’t all bad however, we did get 1 point in late in the game. In the 71st minute, Kara spoiled Miami’s shutout bid by taking a pass from Torres at the top of the box then turning and firing a well-placed shot just inside the left post.
Far post finish ????#DaleMiAmor pic.twitter.com/FFkOV4uxYt
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) October 6, 2022
Despite possessing the ball more than Orlando, the Lions had trouble finding the net. On Sunday, the Columbus Crew will visit Exploria Stadium for the final match of the regular season. A draw won’t be sufficient for Cincinnati unless they somehow lose at D.C. United.
