Orlando City is in a good position to sneak into the Playoffs with an easier schedule. But destiny is not in their own hands. All they can do is win to help.
It was not too long ago, Orlando City was dead, buried and done. The Playoffs were a distant dream. There were too many points to make up and not enough games to make them.
The Lions were losing too. They had one MLS win from June 30 until September 12. That was a record of 1-4-5, a total of eight points. For nearly two and a half months, the Lions were struggling to get wins and accumulate points. They were tying games, but prolonged draws do not get a team in the Playoffs.
Not when the teams you are chasing — Montreal Impact and Toronto FC — are gaining wins and, in the case of Montreal, bringing in Didier Drogba and have plenty of games in hand because of CONCACAF Champions League play.
It was a long road up the chats.
As much as the Lions were buried in July and August, they have come alive at the end of the season. Orlando City has won four straight games, accumulating 12 points and getting virtually back in the race. Montreal began treading water some and those games in hand began to run out.
Now the path is simple — each team has two games left and the scenarios for Orlando City to “defy expectations” and make the Playoffs are much clearer.
The Lions do not control their own destiny, but still have a great chance at getting to the Playoffs if they take care of their own business.
The current situation is this — Orlando City has 41 points with two games remaining. That means New England Revolution and Columbus Crew with 47 points are just one point away from clinching the playoffs — a New England win or draw or one Orlando City loss or draw. The Revolution play the Impact this weekend, so Orlando City will not be able to catch them because they will need the Impact to lose or draw that game. The Crew play Toronto FC and D.C. United in their final two games.
Again, because the Lions are five games back of Toronto FC, one of those two teams seem guaranteed to make the Playoffs. Orlando City cannot pass both of them (one will clinch when they play each other this weekend).
The playoff picture becomes much clearer after this weekend with one game remaining.
The immediate race between Orlando City and Montreal is much more straightforward. Orlando City is four points behind Montreal. The Lions lose once and they are eliminated from the Playoffs.
Fortunately for them, their schedule is relatively tame. Orlando City plays New York City FC (37 points) and Philadelphia Union (34 points). Both those teams have been eliminated from Playoff contention. That is a huge break for Orlando City.
Montreal has to play New England and Toronto. As mentioned above, both are involved in their own Playoff races fighting each other for home field in the knockout round. The Impact will have to be on their game to secure their playoff positioning.
That is fine for them. The Impact have been good of late — 12 points in the last six games, with one of those losses coming to Orlando City — but not as good as they have been. The Lions are on an incredible run of form.
That could come under fire though when the Lions play New York City FC. Both Brek Shea and Kaka are suspended because of yellow card accumulation. Orlando City is in a must-win game, as the team has been for the last month, without its two best players.
The path to the Playoffs is simple — win and survive to the next week. Time has run out and the Lions’ backs are against the wall. Destiny is not in their own hands. Winning first and taking care of their own business is the best and only way for them to start.
