It really is amazing Orlando City is still in the Playoff race. The Lions have won just one MLS game since July 1 (they defeated the Columbus Crew twice since June 30, their only two wins in that time span). They have left a lot of points on the board and faced a lot of disappointment.
Yet Orlando City tied Chicago Fire on Saturday and pulled into sixth place for just a moment. Yes, Orlando City was in the playoffs even with all the struggles the last two months.
Orlando City ended the week still in sixth place. If the Playoffs started tomorrow, Orlando City would be in.
See, here is the proof:
That is still pretty shocking. But it is not something that is going to last. It cannot.
The Lions hold a one-point advantage over the Impact, but the Impact still have four games in hand. That is four opportunities to get points. Even if Montreal ties all four of those games, the team easily passes Orlando City.
This is why the Lions felt it was so important to bank these wins. Orlando City tied the ninth-place Chicago Fire and the 10th-place Philadelphia Union at home in the last two years. Those are points left on the board.
There is a clear stratification between the top five teams in the conference and the bottom five, where Orlando City resides. The Lions are not catching the Revolution, the team next on the schedule for the Lions (a game they will play without Cyle Larin and Kaka).
Orlando City has just seven games remaining — including one more tilt with all four teams competing for that final playoff spot. There are some very big games remaining and every chance for Orlando City to make the playoffs.
It will simply come down to the Lions picking up points. They need to win games. It may take at least 10 wins to make the playoffs. That means three wins in the final seven games, with a few key ties in there too. There is not a lot of room for a lot more losses. And some games, like Saturday, a tie is going to feel like a loss.
Orlando City does not control its own destiny here.
While it looks like the Lions are sitting somewhat pretty or weathering the storm, it really is fool’s gold. The team knew it too. They called the game against the First a “do or die” game. They did not quite die in getting a tie, but it certainly did not help matters.
The Playoffs are still a possibility for Orlando City in its inaugural year at MLS. But it is going to take a lot of work and improvement. Something that has not shown in the last two months.
[…] the Lions have not defied expectations is their stated goal and (maybe) expectations on the field. Orlando City is in the Playoff race, but fading slowly away from the picture. There has been only one win in two months as the Lions have over-relied perhaps on Kaka and have […]