Orlando City's playoff hopes dashed after draw in Cincinnati

Benji Michel scored in second-half stoppage time as Orlando City SC rallied for a 1-1 draw Sunday at FC Cincinnati.

Despite the draw, Orlando (37 points) was eliminated from playoff contention. The Lions needed to win their final two games of the regular season, plus get some help, to qualify for the MLS' Eastern Conference playoffs. Orlando's winless streak was extended to seven matches (0-3-4).

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Allan Cruz scored for expansion Cincinnati (23 points), which set an MLS record by conceding its 75th goal of the season. Orlando set the mark last year when it allowed 74.

Michel's goal came in the first minute of stoppage time.

Nani crossed the ball from the right wing to Dom Dwyer at the far post. The ball deflected off a defender and then off Dwyer and fell to Michel, who was about five yards out. He blasted a shot into the net, leaving Cincinnati goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton no chance.

Cruz's team-leading seventh goal of the season gave the Orange and Blue a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute.

Joseph-Claude Gyau played a pass for teammate Emmanuel Ledesma near the top of the 18-yard box down the left wing. Ledesma reached the end line before crossing the ball back across the middle to Cruz, who was just inside the penalty spot.

Cruz scuffed his one-timer but had enough power on it to put the ball into the lower-left corner of the net, past diving Lions goalkeeper Brian Rowe.

Cincinnati, which had posted clean sheets in two of its previous three matches, didn't allow a shot on goal in the first half.

Tyton was tested early in the second, leaping to tip a header by Dwyer over the crossbar in the 50th minute. Tyton also batted away Dwyer's left-footed turnaround shot from 15 yards in the 66th minute.

Rowe made six saves for Orlando City, which had to substitute out defender Kyle Smith in the 14th minute because of injury. He was replaced by Joao Moutinho.