Even more curiosity with the numbers of Orlando City SC

What is this barrier? And what can separate the two teams? After all, these two teams from the MLS Eastern Conference have the same number of points with 24. They have the same number of games played and an average of 1.14 points per game.

These two teams share the same 12-6-9 record. Yet on this July 5, they are looking at each other across a fence: the playoff line. That’s because the simplest statistic in MLS is the most important if nearly everything two teams have produced is the same.

This statistic mentioned in a previous article is the goal difference. Atlanta’s is positive, 2. Orlando’s is negative, -9.

In the Eastern Conference, a negative goal differential does not allow a team to stay below the playoff line, although that is the case on July 5 for Orlando City. Nashville SC has a -3 differential. And Toronto FC has a -9 differential.

Earlier this season, Orlando City struggled to get a foothold against Toronto, losing 2-1. But this week, the Lions brought a lively, organic game to the FC pitch and beat them by the same score, 2-1.

Additionally, head coach Oscar Pareja said he saw how the team could have pulled off a 3-1 win in Toronto. Rest assured, the players are currently working on those situations.

But it was necessary to lower Toronto FC by one notch while bringing Orlando’s negative differential closer to the positive. It’s the same objective with Nashville.

Orlando has yet to face Nashville, with two games against that team still on the schedule. SC needs to push that team further down, while also climbing the standings to get closer to their spot.

Then there’s Atlanta United. This team is the closest to Orlando in the standings. Yet this team has caused City more problems than almost any other victorious opponent.

Last March, Atlanta had blanked Orlando 2-0. They had doubled the lead against the Lions in shots on target, 6-3. And they had won 17 aerial duels against 7 for Orlando. Orlando had its best players available on the field. However, this was a mastery of Atlanta against the Orlando team.

Yet City have proven that coaches and players can turn things around against capable opponents, as they have done with teams like the Philadelphia Union and more recently Toronto FC.

Orlando will end the season at home on October 19. The visiting opponent is Atlanta United FC. The Lions must continue to practice, focus and play hard.

Both teams can still look at each other in the standings. But Orlando City SC has to look from the north side of the playoff line.