Future Playoff Success Will Require More From Orlando City’s Top Contributors

Orlando City avoided any excess first-round drama by dispatching seventh seed Nashville SC with two 1-0 victories. In what may best be described as a businesslike effort, Orlando did enough against one of the best defensive squads in Major League Soccer and did even better on the defensive side of the field themselves, coming up time and time again with key tackles, interceptions, and blocks.

The first round of the playoffs utilized a new best-of-three format, which numerous individuals, including yours truly, have analyzed — and at some points criticized — to the end of the Earth. The remainder of the playoffs revert back to the single elimination format which fans have been accustomed to in the past.

The nice thing about moving forward is that now Orlando simply needs to survive and advance, a familiar idea that players, coaches, and fans alike can remember from the “Magic of the Cup” run leading up to last year’s U.S. Open Cup championship. The nerves are still present, but different, as every missed opportunity or mistake on the ball will be magnified tenfold in a win-or-go-home scenario.

Over the first two playoff matches, Orlando outshot Nashville 41-17 (10-7 on goal) while scoring two goals to Nashville’s zero. To anyone reading the stat sheets, this appears as absolute Orlando domination, however, while it might be true that it is better to be lucky rather than good at times, relying on a worldie from Wilder Cartagena and a nice but fluky deflection on a shot from Ivan Angulo to score game winners should be the exception, not the rule, when a team generates so many more scoring opportunities than its opponent.

In that spirit, once single-elimination play kicks off, Orlando City will desperately need more out of Duncan McGuire and Designated Player Facundo Torres the next time the squad takes the pitch. Over two matches, both players who had reached double digit goals on the season failed to find the back of the net — or to make much of a contribution on the offensive side in general.

Over the two matches, Torres recorded eight shots, with only two on target, and failed to contribute a goal or assist. McGuire only mustered three shots with none falling on frame. Torres, especially in Game 2, fell victim once again to the narrative that has lurked in his shadow: the failure to use his weaker right foot when the opportunity presents itself. Facu had a nearly direct and open chance to give Orlando city an insurance goal in the 37th minute at Geodis Park but opted to switch back to his left foot and as he did , his window to score closed quickly. As for rookie McGuire, going up against a back line like Nashville is not an easy task for any striker, and he wasn’t in his best attacking form.

The first two goals of the postseason for Orlando will certainly be memorable, but for the Lions to earn the chance to play their way into December and potentially lift a new trophy in Exploria Stadium, the two leading goal scorers on the year simply have to be more involved in the results. The good news for Orlando is that Nashville and its vaunted defense will be enjoying the rest of the playoffs from their vacation destinations of choice. The even better news is that when it comes to both the Columbus Crew and Atlanta United, McGuire and Torres both enjoyed success in the regular season to the tune of three goals combined over four matches.

What do you think, City fans? Does Orlando need more from its top goal producers or will other unsung heroes continue to propel the team further in the playoffs? Let us know your takes in the comments below and, as always, vamos Orlando!