ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Orlando City SC clinched a nail-biting 4-1 shootout victory over Charlotte FC after a 1-1 tie in regulation to advance in the MLS Cup playoffs on Saturday night. Facundo Torres leveled the score in the final moments of stoppage time and secured a shootout goal, propelling Orlando City to victory in the first-round rubber match of the best-of-three series.

No. 4 seed Orlando City will now host eighth-seeded Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Atlanta pulled off an upset by ousting top-seed Inter Miami with a 3-2 victory in their series.

Highlights:

• Facundo Torres’ Heroics: Torres kept Orlando City alive, scoring in the last minute of stoppage time to force the shootout and convert his penalty kick.
• Pedro Gallese’s Goalkeeping Brilliance: Gallese’s standout performance in the shootout stymied Charlotte FC, preserving Orlando’s victory and sealing their place in the next round.
• Tactical Adjustments Pay Off: Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja acknowledged the tactical challenges posed by Charlotte FC but credited his team’s persistence and fans’ support as key to the win.

Coach and Player Insights

Oscar Pareja, Orlando City Head Coach
Opening Statement
“Well, thank you all for your efforts on behalf of our players and staff and all the people that made this happen. Today we want to be very grateful to the fans. The environment today was phenomenal… I think we were the best team of this series. But when they scored, they pulled back, which made it difficult to break their lines. The PKs were a fair result for the effort we made.”

On the Game Plan
“I have to congratulate [Charlotte FC’s Head Coach] Dean Smith for complicating things with his system. He reduced the spaces, which made it tough for us to find openings. But today, we saw a lot of offensive solutions we didn’t have in Charlotte. We hit the post twice in the first half, and we had several clear chances. I’m so proud of our team’s push and belief.”

On Facing the Same Opponent Three Times
“Facing the same team repeatedly, especially in a high-stakes series, is incredibly challenging. Both sides become so familiar with each other’s strategies, it can feel like a chess match.”

Robin Jansson, Orlando City Defender
“We didn’t give up today. Even though we were down 1-0, we kept fighting until the end. Facundo’s penalty goal, and Pedro’s saves in the shootout, were monumental. It’s tough playing a team like Charlotte three times in a row, but it feels great to come out on top.”

On Charlotte FC’s Defense
“Charlotte was very compact in the middle, making it tough to create clear chances. Their low defensive lines and transition strategy were difficult to counter, but we managed to find openings.”

Pedro Gallese, Orlando City Goalkeeper
“First off, just very happy to succeed and advance to the next round. Tonight, we prepared extra for a potential shootout, knowing what happened last time in Charlotte. I studied Charlotte’s PK takers, and tonight that preparation paid off.”

Takeaways

• Orlando City’s Resilience: Orlando City battled through defensive challenges and showed their determination by coming back in stoppage time to secure the win.
• Strategic Victory in Shootouts: Gallese’s preparation and Orlando City’s confidence in penalty takers were crucial in this high-stakes match.
• Fan Support: Coach Pareja highlighted the immense impact of Orlando’s home crowd, calling it “the best sensation” and a major factor in the team’s performance.

What’s Next for Orlando City

Orlando City will host Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference semifinal, where they’ll look to capitalize on their momentum. With Atlanta coming off a major upset against Inter Miami, both teams enter the next round with confidence. The match is expected to be an intense clash, as both teams vie for a spot in the Eastern Conference final.

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J Willie David, III contributed to this report.
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com