The MLS Playoffs typically shift into high gear at the end of November. This time around, Orlando City S.C. kicks back with the home-field advantage as they look to overwhelm the NY Red Bulls. Despite finishing three games back in the win column, the New York squad will try to play as their energy drink sponsor intended: full of aggressive pressing and constant sprinting, waiting to pounce on a fatal turnover. But as they say in Orlando: “If you can’t stand the (Florida) heat, get out of OUR kitchen!”
The new city of Disney seems to collectively have it all at the moment: The Marta-led women’s team, the Orlando Pride, are the latest NWSL champs, and even the Magic are making waves again in the NBA after decades of cellar-dwelling. And now, Orlando City S.C. is sitting pretty in the Eastern Conference Finals, spearheaded by the experience and skill of Ramiro Enrique, Pedro Gallese, Nicolás Lodeiro, and Facundo Torres. Will Orlando City S.C. be able to win tonight?
Don’t Expect Orlando To Be Anything But Stingy
According to FBref, Orlando City S.C. has blanketed their opponents in all three home playoff games this year, allowing a measly average of 0.6 goals in those games against Charlotte F.C. and Atlanta United. Running out in their house again on Saturday night against the Red Bulls, Coach Pareja’s team will be their typical tidy selves while they shut down every inch of space behind their backline. “Orlando is yet to trip up in their building. They won’t start now,” were the words of ESPN’s Joseph Lowery.
In the meantime, head honcho Oscar Pareja has taken Orlando to the MLS postseason in each of his first five seasons with the club. Yet the team itself didn’t exactly fly out of the gates, as the Lions sputtered and failed to make the playoffs in all of their first five years in the league. Pareja hopes to move past his record as the coach with the most triumphs in the league without an MLS Cup Final appearance. He fully grasps how dear this chance is.
Not to overstate things, but this is simply the most important match in Orlando City S.C.’s history. “This is history that needs to be written. It’s a new game with the importance of getting a championship, but also advancing to the MLS Cup Final. So, we will be prepared. The boys are ready,” Pareja quipped. (Let’s hope his boys can handle the hungry men from New York on the other side of the ball.)
Orlando City S.C. Depends On Gallese and His Clean Sheets
Peruvian and Orlando City S.C. Keeper Pedro Gallese’s next win will be his 75th for the favorites. Gallese is also only two shutouts away from 50 in his Orlando career, after blanking Atlanta United in the previous round. The netminder is one of a handful of Peruvians who decided to set up shop in MLS. Pedro admitted that he’d spoken with teammates and former players from Peru like Yoshimar Yotun and Carlos Ascues before his move to Florida. Those chats helped Gallese understand both Orlando and one of its favorite franchises better.
“Before I made my decision, I spoke with Yotun and (Carlos) Ascues, who already played in this club. They told me it was a great club, and the fans really support this team, and that was an added plus to my decision to come here,” clarified Gallese. Later, when he was asked if he thought he could perhaps become the best goalkeeper in MLS, Gallese kept his cool while discussing such lofty goals. His first objective was to help the Lions make the playoffs for the first time.
“It’s a nice objective, but my objective now is helping the team go far in the season,” said Gallese at the time. “It’s my understanding the team has never qualified for the playoffs, so the first objective is to make the playoffs and write my story here and help bring joy to this club and the fans.”
Final Thoughts
Fortunately, things have already gone well beyond that for Gallese and the Orlando City S.C. Lions. Two more clean sheets (first against the N.Y. Red Bulls, and then in the MLS Final against either the Los Angeles Galaxy or Seattle Sounders out west) would deliver more joy to the club and its supporters than anybody ever thought possible.
