Charlotte, North Carolina: Charlotte FC Beat Orlando City 4-0 at Bank of America Stadium

Charlotte FC beat Orlando City 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, scoring once in the first half and three times after the break. The win kept Charlotte in the push for a top four finish in the Eastern Conference and left Orlando still short of a playoff place with one game left in the regular season.

Henry Kessler opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Orlando conceded a free kick just outside its box, and Ashley Westwood sent the ball to the back post, where Kessler headed it past goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. It was the only goal of the first half. Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina finished with seven saves, while Crepeau made two.

Charlotte pull away after halftime

Charlotte doubled the lead four minutes into the second half. Allan Saint-Maximin found space in transition, carried the ball to the edge of the box, sidestepped a defender and scored past Crepeau in the 49th minute.

Rodolfo Aloko drew a penalty in the 81st minute when Ivan Angulo pushed him as he wound up for a shot inside the box. Crepeau denied Saint-Maximin from the penalty spot, but the ball rolled to Abdoulaye Doucoure, a new signing, and he scored on his Charlotte debut to make it 3-0.

Saint-Maximin was then sent off in the 89th minute during a spat with Orlando defender Wilder Cartagena. He will miss Charlotte's road game against Inter Miami on Saturday. Aloko finished the scoring in the fourth minute of stoppage time, volleying in a cross from Tyger Smalls.

Orlando must wait for Decision Day

Orlando City (12-14-7, 43 points) saw a five game unbeaten run end. It was the first time Orlando failed to score in a league game since May 9 against Inter Miami, and the club said it was its first scoreless match in 26 matches across all competitions. Orlando sits ninth in the Eastern Conference after the loss.

Orlando will try to clinch a seventh straight postseason appearance when it hosts the New England Revolution on Decision Day at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, November 7, at 4 p.m. Crepeau was blunt after the match. "We know what's happening at the moment; we need to win against New England," he said. "A lot of people deserve better than what we have put out there today." He said the season is "on the line on Saturday."

Orlando played without defenders Griffin Dorsey (back) and Robin Jansson (foot) and forward Tyrese Spicer (foot), all out with injuries. Defender David Brekalo served a suspension for yellow card accumulation.

Charlotte FC (15-10-8, 53 points) continued its push for a top four spot and home field advantage in Round One of the MLS Cup playoffs with the victory.