Orlando City SC can clinch a playoff spot with a win against host FC Dallas on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.
Orlando City (12-11-7, 43 points) are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and 8-3-1 in their last 12 matches. They had won three straight matches — all shutouts — before a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Crew last Saturday.
It’s a return to North Texas for Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja, who was at the helm in Dallas from 2014-18.
“It’s always good to be back to a place where you stayed that many years … (Dallas) has a special place in (my) heart,” said Pareja, who led Dallas to Supporters’ Shield and U.S. Open Cup titles in 2016.
That said, the main objective for Pareja on Saturday is clinching a playoff spot.
“I recognize … how important it is for us to be able to play games, for us to go there with our team and collect those three points,” he said.
Luis Muriel entered in the 58th minute and scored twice for Orlando against Columbus, his first time scoring in nearly three months. Facundo Torres leads the team with 12 goals, scoring four times in three matches before the loss against the Crew.
Meanwhile, FC Dallas (10-13-7, 37 points) is five points out of the ninth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference with four matches remaining. They halted an 0-2-1 winless stretch last Saturday with a 3-1 win over Los Angeles FC.
A loss wouldn’t eliminate Dallas from playoff contention, but time is running out.
“Since I came here, the goal was clear that we want to play (in the) playoffs, that we want to fight to win titles, and that’s what we intend to do,” Dallas striker Petar Musa said, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Musa, who scored in the win against LAFC, has been one of the standouts for Dallas in 2024, registering a team-high 15 goals through 27 matches.
“Petar is not very vocal in the locker room. He is more of a quiet personality, but he leads by example,” interim head coach Peter Luccin said.
“Everyone on the team respects him for how mature he is and the professional way he conducts himself.”
–Field Level Media