Orlando Metropolis SC can clinch a playoff spot with a win in opposition to host FC Dallas on Saturday evening in Frisco, Texas.
Orlando Metropolis (12-11-7, 43 factors) are in fifth place within the Japanese Convention and 8-3-1 of their final 12 matches. They’d gained three straight matches — all shutouts — earlier than a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Crew final Saturday.
It is a return to North Texas for Orlando Metropolis head coach Oscar Pareja, who was on the helm in Dallas from 2014-18.
“It is all the time good to be again to a spot the place you stayed that a few years … (Dallas) has a particular place in (my) coronary heart,” stated Pareja, who led Dallas to Supporters’ Defend and U.S. Open Cup titles in 2016.
That stated, the principle goal for Pareja on Saturday is clinching a playoff spot.
“I acknowledge … how essential it’s for us to have the ability to play video games, for us to go there with our workforce and accumulate these three factors,” he stated.
Luis Muriel entered within the 58th minute and scored twice for Orlando in opposition to Columbus, his first time scoring in almost three months. Facundo Torres leads the workforce with 12 targets, scoring 4 instances in three matches earlier than the loss in opposition to the Crew.
In the meantime, FC Dallas (10-13-7, 37 factors) is 5 factors out of the ninth and ultimate postseason spot within the Western Convention with 4 matches remaining. They halted an 0-2-1 winless stretch final Saturday with a 3-1 win over Los Angeles FC.
A loss would not eradicate Dallas from playoff competition, however time is operating out.
“Since I got here right here, the aim was clear that we need to play (within the) playoffs, that we need to combat to win titles, and that is what we intend to do,” Dallas striker Petar Musa stated, based on the Dallas Morning Information.
Musa, who scored within the win in opposition to LAFC, has been one of many standouts for Dallas in 2024, registering a team-high 15 targets via 27 matches.
“Petar isn’t very vocal within the locker room. He’s extra of a quiet character, however he leads by instance,” interim head coach Peter Luccin stated.
“Everybody on the workforce respects him for the way mature he’s and the skilled approach he conducts himself.”
–Subject Degree Media