For playoff-bound Orlando City, it’s a strange but familiar setting heading into Saturday’s Decision Day as a “must-win” game against Toronto FC. But that’s the reality the Lions are facing heading into the league’s marquee regular season finale. A win at Toronto this weekend would see Orlando escape playing a Wild Card game. A loss or a draw, however, only increases those chances. “It’s a must-win game if we want to avoid that play-in game,” Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja said on Thursday. “We’re conscious of that. It’s familiar to be in this stage of having this pressure of needing to win; it’s very familiar to us.” Pareja, who’s in his sixth season as head coach of Orlando, alluded to the earlier games against FC Cincinnati on Sept. 28 (1-1 draw), and Columbus Crew on Oct. 4 (1-1 draw) as must-win games. The Lions (14-8-11, 53 points), however, suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss last weekend at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps. A win that evening would have lessened the pressure for Orlando heading into Toronto. Last Saturday’s loss against Vancouver, courtesy of a stoppage-time strike from German legend Thomas Muller, added a third consecutive game in which Orlando was left winless and with only one win in its last six games. That’s been a common theme for the Lions this season – a struggle to find some sort of consistency in their performance despite having their three designated players in Martin Ojeda, Marco Pasalic and Luis Muriel combining for 64 goal contributions. Saturday’s game against a Toronto team that’s missing the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year kicks off at 6 p.m. and will stream live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. “We’re in a must-win mode again,” said Pareja. “This is Orlando City. This is the Orlando I have known for years. When everybody thinks that we are on the ground, Orlando comes and gets back, and we have proven that. It seems we’re not that top team now, but Orlando has been, and we’ll compete.” Quick kicks Robin Jansson was not present during Thursday’s media availability. The Swedish center back left last weekend’s game against Vancouver following an apparent leg injury. Head coach Oscar Pareja said the injury is not serious. Cesar Araujo, who last played on Aug. 31, was fully integrated during Thursday’s training session, and Pareja shared that the midfielder has been training more regularly since his reported back injury. Alex Freeman (USA), Marco Pasalic (Croatia), David Brekalo (Slovenia), Javier Otero (Venezuela) have returned from their respective national team duties. Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. —

For playoff-bound Orlando City, it’s a strange but familiar setting heading into Saturday’s Decision Day as a “must-win” game against Toronto FC.

But that’s the reality the Lions are facing heading into the league’s marquee regular season finale.

A win at Toronto this weekend would see Orlando escape playing a Wild Card game. A loss or a draw, however, only increases those chances.

“It’s a must-win game if we want to avoid that play-in game,” Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja said on Thursday. “We’re conscious of that. It’s familiar to be in this stage of having this pressure of needing to win; it’s very familiar to us.”

Pareja, who’s in his sixth season as head coach of Orlando, alluded to the earlier games against FC Cincinnati on Sept. 28 (1-1 draw), and Columbus Crew on Oct. 4 (1-1 draw) as must-win games.

The Lions (14-8-11, 53 points), however, suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss last weekend at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps. A win that evening would have lessened the pressure for Orlando heading into Toronto.

Last Saturday’s loss against Vancouver, courtesy of a stoppage-time strike from German legend Thomas Muller, added a third consecutive game in which Orlando was left winless and with only one win in its last six games.

That’s been a common theme for the Lions this season – a struggle to find some sort of consistency in their performance despite having their three designated players in Martin Ojeda, Marco Pasalic and Luis Muriel combining for 64 goal contributions.

Saturday’s game against a Toronto team that’s missing the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year kicks off at 6 p.m. and will stream live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

“We’re in a must-win mode again,” said Pareja. “This is Orlando City. This is the Orlando I have known for years. When everybody thinks that we are on the ground, Orlando comes and gets back, and we have proven that. It seems we’re not that top team now, but Orlando has been, and we’ll compete.”

Quick kicks

Robin Jansson was not present during Thursday’s media availability. The Swedish center back left last weekend’s game against Vancouver following an apparent leg injury. Head coach Oscar Pareja said the injury is not serious.

Cesar Araujo, who last played on Aug. 31, was fully integrated during Thursday’s training session, and Pareja shared that the midfielder has been training more regularly since his reported back injury.

Alex Freeman (USA), Marco Pasalic (Croatia), David Brekalo (Slovenia), Javier Otero (Venezuela) have returned from their respective national team duties.

Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.