Speaking of international draftees, Santiago Patino in all of his 300 minutes has been a very interesting attacking addition for Orlando. He’s only started three games, but his solid performances in small sample sizes mean he’s one to keep an eye on going into the 2020 season.

Again, I’m not a fan of crosses (Big Through Ball for State Senate in 2020), but there was so much space between Patino and defenders Steven Beitashour and Tristan Blackmon that it was still the right thing to do.

The gif shows seven LAFC defenders marking four Orlando City attackers in the small area on the right, most of them ball-watching. Chris Mueller (who I mention only because he’s been fantastic, yet again this season, and someone should rescue and give him a full time job) makes his way to the ball, combining with Nani and Oriol Rosell to create enough space to send a cross into Patino who was doing his best Shinyashiki aircraft direction and signalling in the middle of the box.

This ends up being a huge miss and has a very Orlando-esque feel to the moment. Fivethirtyeight gives the Lions a 17% chance to make the playoffs. Our odds are less favorable at a 13% chance. A win against one of the best teams in the history of MLS would have been big, not just for narrative but also for their playoff chances. Instead they dropped two points after leading in the 75th minute, and it signals what I think most of us assumed. It’s going to be another “next year” for this organization.

That said, I don’t think that’s entirely fair narrative. Orlando has been unlucky in more than a few ways, and this has been their most successful season since their expansion. They’ll need to figure out how to improve the attack this offseason, though I suspect the addition of Mauricio Pereyra already is going to help. Their defense has matured greatly over the season and they’re quietly in the top of half of the league defensively. This is a team which can and should make a push into the playoff conversation next season.

#2 - Luis Silva, Seattle Sounders FC, 0.224 xG

Assisted By: Nicolas Lodeiro

Keeper: Clint Irwin

Result: Blocked