Will Orlando be the epicenter of US soccer in 2024? With a 1-0 win over Inter Miami conquerors Atlanta United, City advanced to the Conference Finals – and ended a great career.
The New York Red Bulls will have to play away from home for the first time in the MLS Cup final. One day after coach Sandro Schwarz’s team reached the Conference Finals in the East with a 2-0 win at New York City FC, Orlando City followed suit with a 1-0 win against Atlanta United.
If Atlanta had progressed, the Red Bulls would have had home advantage thanks to their better position in the regular season, but now they will host Orlando on Saturday night (1:30 a.m. CET) – but are not necessarily favorites given the Schwarz team’s form in the play-offs.
Orlando’s first playoff goal from attacker Ramiro Enrique, a 23-year-old Argentine, was enough to see him advance to the Conference Finals for the first time in his nine-year MLS career. Enrique dusted after a corner that he forced against guest keeper Brad Guzan himself (39th).
Atlanta loses two attackers – McCarty retires
Atlanta, who knocked out first-round regular-season champions Inter Miami and their star player Lionel Messi in one of the greatest play-off sensations in MLS history, went the whole 90 minutes without a shot , which was probably also due to personnel reasons: shortly before half-time, attacker Jamal Thiare had to be substituted out due to injury, and shortly after the restart, Daniel Rios, who had come on for him, also had to be substituted out.
This not only ended the remarkable post-season run of the guests, who only managed to get ninth place and then a wild card with two wins, but also a great MLS career: 37-year-old midfielder Dax McCarty played his 523rd and last game.
Meanwhile, Orlando is dreaming not only of its first title, but also of a double triumph: the day before, Orlando Pride won the NWSL championship for the first time. The team, which includes six-time world footballer Marta, defeated Washington Spirit 1-0 in the final.
Orlando City’s opponents in the MLS Cup would be the Seattle Sounders or Los Angeles Galaxy with Marco Reus.