Facundo Torres scored in the 12th minute of second-half stoppage time to forge a 1-1 draw before Orlando City went on to beat visiting Charlotte FC 4-1 in penalty kicks on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Orlando took the best-of-three series with Charlotte 2-1.
Orlando City were a perfect 4-for-4 in the shootout. Luis Muriel, Kyle Smith, Torres and Rafael Santos all beat Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.
Pedro Gallese stopped two of the three Charlotte penalty kicks in the shootout for Orlando.
Orlando was awarded a PK about midway through second-half stoppage time after Djibril Diani pulled down Duncan McGuire in the area. On the ensuing penalty kick, Torres was initially stopped by Kahlina but put in his own rebound to level the score.
Karol Swiderski opened the scoring in the 81st minute. He had subbed in in the 61st and put Charlotte FC ahead 1-0 by putting a left-footed strike off a cross from Liel Abada past Gallese.
Orlando dominated the first-half possession and had plenty of opportunities to take the lead in the opening 45 minutes.
Three minutes into the match, Torres had a chance in the area but didn’t get a clear touch on the ball before Kahlina could grab it.
Then, in the 16th minute, Rodrigo Schlegel had an opportunity in the area, heading Martin Ojeda’s free kick, but Kahlina was able to make a save.
A minute later, Torres’ left-footed strike in the area got past Kahlina but hit the post.
Torres’ strike from the center of the box in the 21st minute also found the woodwork, as Kahlina was able to get his hand on it to deflect it out of harm’s way.
Charlotte’s best chance in the first half came just before stoppage time, as Patrick Agyemang thought he’d opened the scoring in the 45th minute, chipping his strike up and over Gallese, but the play was ruled offside.
–Field Level Media
