Orlando City’s last chance for playoffs

The hangover from winning the Open Cup, Orlando City’s first trophy in the MLS era, is real.

That triumph happened a month ago on Sept. 9, but the Lions have yet to regain their footing and have missed out on multiple chances to secure an MLS playoff spot.

Sunday’s regular-season finale vs. Columbus represents their last chance to get into the postseason.

“We need to give more than 100 percent,” said forward Ercan Kara, who leads the Lions with 12 goals in all competitions. “We have only one decision [left], and that’s to win it.”

The Open Cup didn’t give Orlando City players a chance to catch their breath. Coach Oscar Pareja rested starters in a 5-1 los to the Philadelphia Union just three days after an emotional victory against Sacramento Republic for the Open Cup trophy at Exploria Stadium.

Then there was a 1-0 loss to Atlanta United and a 4-0 win vs. Toronto sandwiched by a 2-1 loss to New York City FC and a 4-1 loss to Inter Miami.

“After the Cup we’ve come into these last few games a little bit tired. Was obviously a great moment for us. We let some of those opportunities slip away after the Cup,” said midfielder Ivan Angulo. “The Cup was a beautiful thing but we have to put that behind us for now and focus on the league and the importance of this game coming up.”

The Lions (13-14-6, 45 points) sit in eighth place, one point behind the No. 7 Crew (10-7-16, 46 points). The top seven teams qualify for the postseason in the East.

The last time these teams met, Orlando prevailed 2-0 on the road on April 16.

“This situation is not strange for us. The players understand that,” Pareja said. “Our future is on our shoulders. We don’t beat Columbus, then no playoffs.”

The Lions had beaten Miami during the regular season and an Open Cup match via penalty kicks. They wilted in their match on Wednesday by giving up a goal in the first minute.

“We have been in playoff situations like this one before,” Pareja said of the pressure his team had faced throughout Open Cup play, too. “This one is not a strange one. It’s a situation that we know.”

Angulo wants to see a stronger mindset than what Orlando has displayed in recent weeks. Pareja envisions a more spirited effort with four days between games.

“Difficult time for us in terms of the fitness, mental and physical,” the coach said. “It’s natural that after that high moment [to let up]. That reaction could happen. We need to win. If we don’t do it, we don’t deserve to be in.”