The MLS Cup Playoffs continue this evening with a trio of decisive third matches from the Eastern Conference, including Atlanta United’s trip to Miami in search of a major upset.
Here is what has gone down so far.
Scorers: Torres (P) 98′ ; Świderski 81′
Orlando City needed a 98th minute equalizer from the spot and a penalty shootout, but they booked their place in the semifinal after a dramatic series with Charlotte FC
Unlike the game earlier in Cincinnati, the attacking play was at the forefront in Orlando in the opening exchanges of the match three affair.
Facundo Torres hit the post twice in a matter of minutes as Orlando City pushed for the opener in front of their home fans, but it was Charlotte who put the ball in the back of the net first.
In the dying minutes of the first-half, Patrick Agyemang slotted home a superb chip to seemingly give the visitors the lead, but the striker’s celebrations were cut short when the referee raised his flag after Agyemang caught offside in the buildup.
Charlotte did finally take the lead in the final 10 minutes however, when a lightning counter-attack was capped off by second-half sub Karol Świderski.
While it appeared Charlotte would hold on and book their semifinal ticket, a late shirt-pull in the box saw Orlando awarded a penalty deep into stoppage-time, which Facundo Torres initially saw saved but the Uruguayan tapped home his own rebound to send the affair to a penalty shootout.
Veteran keeper Pedro Gallese made a pair of huge saves in the shootout, ensuring Orlando held on to book their ticket to the semifinal, where they will await the winner of Inter Miami and Atlanta United.
NYCFC stunned the higher-seeded FC Cincinnati in a penalty shootout to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Silky attacking football was not the theme of the opening 45 minutes as both sides searched for footing in the game.
The best chance of the opening interval fell to Luca Orellano, but the Cincinnati man’s close-range effort was denied in style by Matt Freese in the NYCFC net.
High quality scoring chances remained few and far between in the dying minutes of the match, seeing the affair go to penalties to decide the series.
It was the goalkeepers’ show in the penalty shootout, as the two shot-stoppers matched each other’s saves on multiple occasions before a final Cincinnati miss saw the hosts crash out in dramatic fashion.
The result sets up an Eastern Conference semi-final showdown between New York rivals NYCFC and New York Red Bulls.
© Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
