Taming the Lions | Materials of the Match: Charlotte FC vs. Orlando City SC

Charlotte FC faces Orlando City SC in a spooky final home match as The Crown looks to secure a top-four playoff spot.

Kickoff from Bank of America Stadium is slated for 1:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, October 31, and fans can watch the match on Apple TV.

Let’s look at the Materials of the Match presented by Rubbermaid to see how Charlotte FC can continue to win going into the playoffs.

Last Time Out

Charlotte FC beat CF Montréal 4-0 on Wednesday, October 28, at Bank of America Stadium thanks to a Liel Abada hat trick, clinching a spot in the Audi 2027 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Allan Saint-Maximin sent a cross to Idan Toklomati, who was left alone in front of goal for an easy shot and his 15th score of the season.

The Crown were held in check until Liel Abada came on for Rodolfo Aloko in the 65th minute and rebooted the Charlotte FC offense.

Abada received a pass from Djibril Diani and put the shot past the keeper to extend the score to 2-0. Twelve minutes later, Toklomati played a pass into the box for Abada for the Israeli winger’s second goal of the match. Abada capped his hat trick with a first-time shot in the middle of the box in the 83^rd minute to give Charlotte FC the 4-0 win.

Jostling for Positioning

Charlotte FC has locked up a top six spot in the playoffs but still has a chance to finish inside the top four of the Eastern Conference. The Crown are currently in fifth place with 50 points, two points behind fourth-place Chicago Fire FC and three points in front of sixth-place Philadelphia Union.

The Crown can lock up a top five playoff spot with a win against Orlando or a draw and a Philadelphia loss.

Charlotte FC also has a chance to finish as high as third place. Inter Miami CF currently has 56 points and plays second-place New England Revolution this Saturday. The Crown would need to beat Orlando and Miami would have to lose against New England. These two outcomes would give Charlotte FC the chance to overtake the Herons with a win on Decision Day when the two teams meet in Miami.

If the Fire score four points, then Charlotte FC would have to win their last two matches and have a higher goal differential than Chicago.

If Chicago has three points, then Charlotte FC must win its last two matches.

With two points from Chicago, Charlotte FC would have to either win out or win and draw, as well as have a higher goal differential than Chicago.

If the Fire only secure one point, then Charlotte FC can jump them with two wins or a win and a draw or one win and a higher goal differential than Chicago.

If Chicago loses out, then The Crown need just one win or two draws and a higher goal differential than the Fire to finish higher in the standings than Chicago.

The Crown can overtake Chicago this week with a win and a Chicago draw or loss against Colorado. Chicago can score a maximum of four points across the next two matchdays in order for The Crown to be able to jump them in the standings.

“MLS is very much a momentum playoff run,” Henry Kessler said. “You often see the team that goes into the playoffs in good form do well, so that's going to be really important for us over these next two games to play well and hopefully win.”

Pure Pep Biel Passing

Pep Biel has been one of the best facilitators not only on Charlotte FC, but also in MLS. He is tied for second in assists in MLS with 16 and is third in goal contributions (13G+16A).

Biel’s goal-scoring prowess has also helped The Crown secure a playoff spot this season, with the Spanish midfielder right behind Toklomati for the Club lead in goals with 13 this season.

The Mallorcan Magician’s goal and assist total this season are a high for him during his time with The Crown, beating out his previous goals record by three and his previous assists record by four. He is one goal contribution away from becoming the first Charlotte FC player to ever record 30 goal contributions in a season and the third player in MLS to reach the mark this season, potentially joining FC Cincinnati’s Evander and Miami’s Lionel Messi.

Fan Appreciation Match

Saturday’s match against Orlando is for you fans!

Charlotte FC is holding their annual Fan Appreciation Match against Orlando, and the party starts with pre-match festivities being held at Legend’s Row between the Blue Cross NC East Gate and North Gate. Make sure to arrive early to receive the limited-edition T-shirt giveaway so supporters can show off their Charlotte FC fandom. As soon as fans make it into the match, make sure to take advantage of the five under $5 concession specials going on throughout Bank of America Stadium!

Charlotte FC has protected Bank of America Stadium well this season, going 9-3-4 and securing 31 points at home, tied for the fifth-most wins and points in MLS.

“I feel like we have a really good record here, and that's not surprising given the atmosphere,” Kessler said. “The fans have been fantastic this year.  I feel like we've had several rain games and that hasn't deterred them at all, so we definitely want to give them something to celebrate tomorrow.”

Taming the Lions

It’s been a while since the first time Charlotte FC and Orlando played each other on April 22.

Antoine Griezmann has officially joined Orlando after signing in March and has made an impression on MLS, with 22 goal contributions (14G+8A) in 16 matches. Griezmann and Orlando are currently fighting for a playoff spot, sitting in seventh place and tied in points with Cincinnati at 43.

There’s a lot at stake for the Lions against Charlotte FC. With a win, they’d clinch a playoff spot as well as keep their seventh-place position, continuing to avoid the Wild Card. They’d also potentially inch closer to Philadelphia in sixth place.  

Orlando has gone five matches unbeaten heading into the match against The Crown, going 2-0-3 in the span. They’ve done so with a high-scoring offense, scoring multiple goals in all five matches. Orlando has recorded 62 goals this season, tied for the fifth-most in MLS. On the opposite side, they’ve also given up 74 goals, which is the second-most in MLS.

With Charlotte FC coming off a shutout against CF Montréal where they scored four goals, they need to keep the high-octane offense and shutdown defense mentality on hand for Orlando’s playstyle.

“I think both teams are dangerous if it gets open,” Dean Smith said. “We've got a front four that can go and score goals.  They've got players that can go and score goals as well, so ideally for me I think we're best when we stay compact and when we win the ball back then we can go and counter.”