BRONX, NY - MARCH 27: Captain Alexander Ring #8 of New York City stops the advance of Nani #17 of Orlando City during the MLS match between New York City FC and Orlando City SC at Yankee Stadium on March 27, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York. The match ended in a tie of 1 to 1. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)

Orlando City SC faces a tough March schedule, but it is ripe with opportunity to show progress as a club that is pushing for a spot in the MLS playoffs. The next five matches are pivotal for James O’Connor and his team.

The 2019 Major League Soccer season is now in full swing as most clubs have gotten the opportunity to analyze their best starting eleven, barring any injuries, and the Conference tables are beginning to take shape.

Orlando City SC currently sits sixth in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 3-3-3. This is, for all intents and purposes, an average record to have, and, considering the horrendous 2018 season, James O’Connor could not have asked for a better start. However, the month of May presents Orlando City with five difficult but important matchups that could help both the fans and the club determine how the remainder of the 2019 season will go.

The Lions are tasked with hosting Toronto FC this weekend followed by away trips to Atlanta United and the Seattle Sounders, before they return back to Orlando City Stadium to play FC Cincinnati and LA Galaxy towards the end of May.

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Admittedly, it would be easy to say that any stretch of five games could be a turning point for a club. After all, one momentous win or loss could alter the course for the next ten matches, or in Orlando’s case, a season.

But these next five matches feel different concerning the implications for Orlando. The Lions have managed only four wins over the course of 24 matches against four out of the five clubs, with the obvious exception being FC Cincinnati. That is an abysmal record for a club that had lofty ambitions upon joining MLS in 2015. There are bound to be some stipulations with this statistic, most notably the quality of the opposition, but the broader picture this paints is one that needs improvement.

Last May started a turn in poor form following a promising start to the 2018 campaign. Ultimately, the losing streak stretched out to nine games, during which then manager, Jason Kreis, was fired from his post. It is unlikely that Orlando would experience as tumultuous a time this year, but losing four of the next five matches could mean that the Lions find it a more difficult task of getting into the MLS Playoffs for the first time in its history. And losing four of the next five is not beyond the realms of possibility.

O’Connor looks to have figured things out this season. He is not afraid to rotate his players out, sit players that have not been performing, and switch formations when the occasion calls for it. That it is not to say that consistency lacks importance in the lineups with Orlando, far from it. O’Connor needs to pin down which players are going to give him the best performances continually. A starting eleven that features most of the same players week in and week out fosters budding partnerships and an increased awareness about potential opportunities. But the tactical flexibility has been a staple positive of the season thus far, and it will continue to be throughout the year.

Orlando City has also finally found its heir apparent to Kaká in Portuguese winger, Nani. He has come in and scored five goals and notched one assist. He has created space for Dominic Dwyer and Chris Mueller to operate in more dangerous areas on the pitch and his leadership and experienced could prove indispensable in getting Orlando out of any poor run that the club finds itself in, which was lacking in the past few seasons.

O’Connor will also be put to the test as he is forced to continually manage his players’ workload while fielding the best team against strong opposition. Orlando City has generally not fared well against Toronto, with only two wins out of the past ten match-ups. Both wins came, however, in Orlando and the Lions held on to a 2-1 victory just last July. Toronto is not exactly lighting it up in recent weeks, although the offense is certainly doing its part, losing two of the last three matches. The Reds are fourth at the moment in the Eastern Conference and remain a strong contender, but the leaky defense offers hope for Orlando.

Furthermore, even though Atlanta United has not gotten off to a start that befits an MLS Champion, they are still formidable at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Seattle. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders are fighting it out with Los Angeles FC for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Galaxy’s defense is stout while the Sounders’ offense is potent. O’Connor will have to determine the best formations and strategies for the occasion, which he has proven to be up to the task this year thus far.

Ultimately, Orlando City SC of 2019 is not the Orlando City SC of 2018. And the next five matches are the perfect showcase to exhibit the quality that the side has and the potential of what the team can be. A strong showing in the month of May could see Orlando vault up the Eastern Conference table. Even a couple of wins with a draw could help stabilize a season of development for the Lions. Either way, the month of May is an important time to determine what true progress has been made by the MLS Playoff hopefuls.