Sep 28, 2024; Frisco, Texas, USA; Orlando City defender Rafael Santos (3) controls the ball against FC Dallas in the first half at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Ramiro Enrique had a goal and an assist and Martin Ojeda added a pair of assists, as Orlando City cruised to a 3-0 win over FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas, to clinch a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the fifth straight season.
Rodrigo Schlegel and Facundo Torres also scored for Orlando (13-11-7, 46 points), who won for the fourth time in five matches while improving to 9-3-1 in its last 13.
Dallas (10-14-7, 37 points), 10th place in the Western Conference and eight points out of a playoff spot, dropped to 1-3-1 in its last five matches.
Orlando took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute through Enrique, as he placed a perfect header from a Rafael Santos cross from the left side of the box past Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes. It was Enrique’s sixth goal of the season.
Schlegel made it a 2-0 match in the 51st minute as he met an Ojeda corner kick with a header that evaded a diving save attempt by Paes. The goal was just the second for Schlegel in nearly four seasons with Orlando. For Ojeda, it was his team-high 12th assist of the season
Torres made it 3-0 with his team-high 13th goal of the season, taking a pass from Enrique on a Dallas giveaway and firing past Paes.
Dallas ended Orlando’s shutout bid in the 78th minute as Paul Arriola scored from the penalty spot. It appeared to make it 3-2 in second-half stoppage time, but the goal was disallowed after a video review as Arriola was ruled offside in the lead-up.
Orlando held a 7-5 edge in shots on goal.
Paes finished the night with four saves in the loss. Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was credited with five saves.
–Field Level Media
