Orlando City is missing its key to consistency as the team chases a second-straight playoff berth under coach Oscar Pareja.
The Lions haven’t entered free fall yet, but they are facing their worst run of the last two seasons — three straight losses, 12 goals allowed in four games.
At the heart of this late-season slump is a gaping hole in the defensive midfield where Sebas Méndez typically commands the team’s tempo.
Méndez hasn’t played a match for the Lions since July 17, when he exited with a deep bone bruise in his foot in the 14th minute against Toronto.