CHESTER, Pa. -- Orlando City SC didn’t get the miracle they needed to make the Audi 2015 MLS Cup playoffs on #DecisionDay. They didn’t even get a win.
In the final game of the regular season, the Philadelphia Union rode a Sebastien Le Toux penalty kick goal and a shutout from Andre Blake to a 1-0 victory over Orlando on Sunday at PPL Park.
Coming into the contest, the visiting Lions needed a win, a New England Revolution loss and to make up eight goals in the two games. But their remote chances faded quickly as the Revs ended up beating New York City FC easily and the Union dictated play for good chunks of the game to snap Orlando’s five-game winning streak.
The Union (10-17-7), who will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year but snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory.
Despite the return of standouts Kaká and Brek Shea, both of whom were suspended from Orlando’s last game due to yellow card accumulation, the Lions didn’t generate much offense and lost their cool late in the contest as Cristian Higuita was ejected for two second-half yellow cards, the second coming in the 86th minute.
There were 10 cards in the game, seven of which were shown to Orlando in the final game of their inaugural season.
Despite the Lions needing to press for goals early and often, it was the Union that took a 1-0 halftime lead as Le Toux deposited the PK goal in the 41st minute.
Le Toux is now a perfect 13 for 13 in his Union career from the penalty spot, and the Frenchman also set up the play by getting dragged down by Higuita in the box as he looked to get on the end of an Eric Ayuk cross that sailed well over everyone.
Blake, one of the bright spots of the last couple of the months of the season, finished with five saves. Orlando goalkeeper Josh Ford also made five stops in his first career start.
With the win, the Union avoided finishing with the worst record in the franchise’s six-year history, barely besting their 2010 and 2012 teams.
With the loss, Orlando City still finished with the third best record for expansion teams since 2000.
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
