September 21, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Orlando City midfielder Facundo Torres (10) dribbles the ball while Columbus Crew defender Andres Herrera (2) in Lower. com pitch for defense. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Orlando City can clinch a playoff spot with a win over host Dallas on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.
Orlando City (12 wins, 11 draws, 7 losses, 43 points) ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 8 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss in the past 12 games. They had won three games in a row – all with clean sheets – before losing 4-3 to the Columbus Crew last Saturday.
Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja returns to North Texas after coaching Dallas from 2014-18.
“It's always good to go back to a place you've been for so many years… (Dallas) holds a special place in (my) heart,” said Pareja, who led Dallas to the Supporters' Shield and U.S. Open titles in 2016. .
That said, Pareja's main goal on Saturday is to lock down a playoff spot.
“I realize … how important it is for us to be able to compete, go out there with our team and collect those three points,” he said.
Luis Muriel came on in the 58th minute and scored twice for Orlando against Columbus, his first goal in nearly three months. Facundo Torres leads the team with 12 goals, having scored four in the three games before losing to Crewe.
Meanwhile, FC Dallas (10 wins, 13 draws, 7 losses, 37 points) is just five points away from the ninth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with four games remaining. On Saturday, they defeated Los Angeles FC 3-1, ending a 0-2-1 winless streak.
A loss wouldn't knock Dallas out of playoff contention, but time is running out.
According to the “Dallas Morning News”, Dallas forward Petar Moussa said: “Since I got here, our goals have been clear, we want to make the playoffs, we want to fight to win a championship, and this is What we intend to do.
Moussa, who scored in the win over Los Angeles FC, has been one of Dallas' top performers in 2024, scoring a team-high 15 goals in 27 games.
“Petar is not very talkative in the locker room. He has a quiet personality, but he leads by example,” interim head coach Peter Lusin said.
“Everyone on the team respects his maturity and professional approach.”
–Scene-level media