Orlando City had a long shot at making the Playoffs but ultimately fell in frustrating fashion to the Philadelphia Union on the road.
Orlando City’s Playoff hopes were out of its hands. At the end of the day, the Lions were not going to make the Playoffs anyway, with the Revolution defeating N.Y.C.F.C. in the Bronx anyway.
All Orlando City had to play for was a result and some pride. And the expansion team record for points in MLS history. That was something to play for.
There were certainly moments where the team pressed for more. Those Playoff dreams still remained. And the team pressed for that breakthrough.
Instead Orlando City fell into the same, frustrating pattern of fouls, cards and <ahem> questionable officiating that may have ended up costing Orlando City that Playoff opportunity to begin with.
The Lions lost 1-0 to the Union at PPL Park in Chester, Pa., when Sebastien Le Toux was taken down in the box by Aurellian Collin and Christian Higuita. Higuita ended up getting tagged with the foul and Le Toux calmly stepped up for the penalty kick and scored the game’s lone goal just before halftime.
Philadelphia was the deserved winner as Orlando City picked up eight yellow cards, including a second yellow card to Higuita in the 86th minute. That has been the frustration for Orlando City for much of the season. And it poured over as the team seemed to become more desperate to get the ball back and at least equalize.
With the Lions chasing the game some, the fouls started to mount up. Orlando City could not sustain any continued attack, despite totaling 10 shots and 57.8 percent possession. It did not amount to much. Kaka and Cyle Larin struggled to connect.
For the first time in a month, since Orlando City began its incredible run to close the gap and nearly sneak into the Playoffs, the team looked a bit disjointed and unable to mount an attack.
Philadelphia played with a lot of fire, getting shots quickly and testing third string goalkeeper Josh Ford. Ford, who had to play because of Tally Hall’s injury and surgery, made five saves and did a good job commanding the box. His only concession was the penalty kick.
This was not the way Orlando City wanted its season to close. The team did give its home crowd something to be excited about in the finale. This was a largely frustrating and annoying performance. Putting the two games together would seem to symbolize everything that happened in Orlando City’s first season.
The game last week against New York City FC was the triumph of the expansion team in front of the boisterous home crowd. This game was the frustration of being the new kids on the block. A team that succumbed to the frustration of questionable foul calls and things not going there way.
There was plenty of that throughout the season. Perhaps the pressure of having to do so much finally caught up with them, no matter what they say in the end.
Orlando City’s first season was a triumphant one. It had everything fans could ask for. . . except for the payoff of the Playoffs. Something to fight for next year.
