New York, Nov 9 (EFE).- Orlando City eliminated Charlotte this Saturday in the first round of the MLS playoff after scoring the 1-1 tying goal in the 102nd minute to force a penalty shootout in the that the Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was the figure of the Florida team until they sealed the 4-1 victory.
Orlando City (fourth in the East) will face the winner of the tie between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami (first) and Atlanta United (eighth) in the semifinals of their conference.
In this best-of-three series, Orlando City won the first match 2-0 and Charlotte (fifth) responded in their stadium by winning the second on penalties (0-0, 3-1 in the shootout). .
With the tie back in Orlando for the third and final match, the team in purple dominated the match but was unsuccessful despite its multiple chances and Charlotte, in a counterattack, seemed to seal the series with a goal in the 81st minute by the Pole. Karol Swiderski.
Orlando City was already on vacation when in the 97th minute (eight had been added) Charlotte committed a penalty and, already in the 102nd minute and after a VAR review, the Uruguayan Facundo Torres made it 1-1 with great emotion, since he missed from eleven meters but scored on the rebound.
In the shootout, Gallese stopped Charlotte’s first two shots (from the Spanish Pep Biel and Swiderski) and Orlando City earned its ticket to the next round.
On the other side of the table in the East, New York City (sixth), who defeated Cincinnati (third and winner of the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2023), and the New York Red Bulls (seventh), who will face off in the semifinals. They beat the Columbus Crew (current champion of the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup). EFE
