Facundo Torres set an Orlando City single-season scoring record to help the club to a 2-0 win against visiting Charlotte FC on Sunday in the first match of a best-of-three, first-round MLS Cup playoff series.
Orlando can clinch the series when the two sides play Match 2 on Friday in Charlotte.
The Lions controlled possession for much of the first half, recording 12 shot attempts before the break. Torres opened the scoring in the 32nd minute.
Charlotte tried a header to clear an Orlando cross into the box, but the ball went right to Torres, who fired it bar down for a 1-0 lead. The tally was Torres’ 19th across all competitions for the Lions, allowing the 24-year-old to break Cyle Larin’s record of 18 goals set in 2015.
Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina denied Ramiro Enrique a chance to double the lead six minutes later when he got his left foot out on a quick strike, deflecting it to the near post.
The visitors had a handful of opportunities in the opening half, including one in which Liel Abada fired a shot from in close that was stopped by the outstretched hand of Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
Charlotte started to pick things up in the second half, though, controlling possession in the opening minutes. It earned its first four corners of the match during the first 14 minutes of the period.
Abada had another quality chance in the 62nd minute, but his shot from just outside the box sailed over the net. In the 70th minute, Gallese snared Patrick Agyemang’s header off a cross.
Martin Ojeda made it 2-0 for the hosts in the 76th minute, taking a cross from Ivan Angulo and putting it short side past Kahlina from the edge of the goal area.
Charlotte’s Pep Biel was shown a red card in second-half stoppage time and will miss the second match of the series.
–Field Level Media
