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Orlando City vs. Nashville SC: Final Score 3-2 as Lions Melt Down and Concede Twice Late

Orlando loses its first home game of the year after two late headers turn the game around at the end.

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5 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City managed to concede three times — twice after the 88th minute — to a Nashville SC team that has struggled to put the ball in the net all season. With the meltdown, the Lions (11-4-8, 41 points) blew a late 2-1 lead and fell at Exploria Stadium for the first time all season, 3-2. Hany Mukhtar scored in the 88th minute and a completely unmarked Jhonder Cádiz added another in the 93rd minute to undo the lead over Nashville (8-7-8, 32 points) that Daryl Dike and Nani had provided.

It was Orlando’s first ever loss to Nashville in three meetings (1-1-1), snapped a three-game winning streak, and knocked the Lions down to fourth place in the final regular-season standings. The Cádiz goal was particularly troubling because it came on a late free kick that was drawn on a bit of a dive by Matt LaGrassa and because the forward was left completely unmarked just in front of goal. Orlando has had an ongoing problem with conceding late set piece goals and it bit them again in the home finale.

With the quick turnaround at the end, Orlando missed its opportunity to equal its most wins and most points in an MLS season and the Lions enter the postseason after one of the team’s worst letdowns since joining Major League Soccer.

“Obviously the game did not end the way we wanted,” Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “We have to sharpen things, especially in those key moments of concentration. And it has been something that we have been working on. We will keep doing it.”

Pareja shuffled his lineup a bit, starting Brian Rowe in goal behind a back line of Kyle Smith, Robin Jansson, Antonio Carlos, and Ruan. Jordan Bender got his first MLS start in the midfield with Mauricio Pereyra suspended due to yellow card accumulation, alongside Junior Urso, Andres Perea, and Chris Mueller. Dike returned to the starting lineup to lead the attack, along with Nani.

The Lions started quickly, getting into the box just seconds after the whistle. Mueller tried to free himself for a shot inside the first minute and went down under contact but nothing was given. But moments later, the Lions created a turnover and scored in transition.

Mueller dribbled at Nashville’s back line before dishing off to Dike on his right. The big rookie set his feet and blasted a pinpoint accurate shot from the right side off the left post and in to make it 1-0 in the fourth minute with his eighth goal of the season.

Orlando City continued to try to pick through the stingy Nashville defense. Ruan cut inside in the ninth minute and tried to pick out a streaking Nani but his pass was just a bit off line and the defense sent it out for a corner. Three minutes later, Perea was set up in space at the top of the area but skied his shot well over the bar on an effort which he should have done better on.

Nashville forced a save in the 18th off a corner kick when the Lions cleared it to the top corner of the area and Dax McCarty fired right at Rowe. Orlando had set its defense deep to deal with Walker Zimmerman and Dave Romney and left the top of the area unguarded. That came into play on the tying goal two minutes later.

The Lions cleared another set piece in the 20th minute but could only get the ball just outside the area, where Daniel Lovitz picked it up with time and space and sent a long-range effort into the corner of the net past Rowe to tie the match at 1-1.

The game got chippy shortly after that, with Nashville picking up two quick yellow cards in succession in the 28th and 29th minutes. Derrick Jones was booked for a foul on Junior Urso, and then moments later, Anibal Godoy was booked for a hand across Nani’s face that left the Orlando captain with a bloodied lip.

The Lions nearly regained the lead in the 33rd minute when Bender crossed a ball in for Dike. The rookie headed it on goal and picked out a good spot but he couldn’t get much power on it and that gave Joe Willis just enough time to make a diving save.

McCarty was booked for holding up Mueller in the 37th minute and was extremely lucky not to pick up a second yellow card in the 40th on a rough challenge on Perea. The veteran player may have gotten the benefit of the doubt with referee David Gantar on the play, but Orlando’s players were incensed, particularly Jansson, who ran about 30 yards to argue about it.

That was it for the first-half chances and the teams went to the break tied at 1-1. First half shots were level at 5-5 and shots on target were also the same (2-2). Nashville led in corners (2-1), while Orlando City held more possession (53.1%-46.9%) and was more accurate in passing (88%-86%).

Tesho Akindele subbed on at the half for Bender and the Lions immediately pressed for a go-ahead goal. Nani sent a nice cross in for Akindele in the 49th but the defense arrived just in time to nod it out of harm’s way. Mueller had a shot blocked at the top of the area a minute later and Nani fizzed a long-range effort over the bar in the 52nd.

Nashville tried to hit back just after that with a Derrick Jones drive that Rowe was able to fight off.

Orlando regained the lead in the 60th after Kyle Smith was fouled just outside the area. Nani lined up the free kick and sent a beauty over the wall and just inside the near post to make it 2-1. It was the captain’s sixth goal of the year.

Mueller nearly found an insurance goal in the 63rd with a shot from the top of the box that Willis got a hand on to push just wide of the post.

The ensuing corner kick pinged around the box and fell at Carlos’ feet. The defender was able to turn with a couple of quick touches and fired a shot wide with his left foot.

Both teams started to substitute over the next 15 minutes without many looks at goal on either end. Nashville couldn’t get on a free kick in the 73rd and Ruan sent a left-footed shot wide in the 76th minute. Ruan sent a floater headed inside the back post in the 81st, but Willis got a hand to it.

Rowe made a save on a shot from the left in the 85th that looked to be headed inside the back post. Just after that, Orlando made a final sub, sending midfielder Joey DeZart on for Nani, rather than sending on an extra center back to play five at the back as we’ve seen in other matches this season.

The Nashville comeback started in the 88th out of seemingly nothing. Alex Muyl had the ball in the left corner with Ruan defending and sent an inch-perfect cross into the area that sailed just inches over Carlos, who had drifted too far away from Hany Mukhtar. The German easily nodded the cross into the back of the net to make it 2-2.

The Lions tried to pull that goal right back Ruan drew a foul just to the right of the box. Second-half sub Sebas Mendez played a short pass on the ground to Perea who fired a shot just over the crossbar in the 90th minute.

A few minutes later, LaGrassa left his feet after feeling light contact high from Smith and Gantar gave the foul. Mukhtar took the free kick and sent his cross into the box where Cádiz was unmarked. It appeared that Ruan and Smith were left on the back side to defend Muyl and Cádiz, with both Carlos and DeZart dealing with Dave Romney. Muyl appeared to wall off Ruan from getting to Cádiz, leaving him free in front of goal. Rowe got in position in time, but the header had too much power and got through him for the winning goal.

“It was just kind of two plays tonight that that decided that game,” Rowe said. “It’s just kind of fine tuning those little things.”

“There is much more we can do, for sure,” Pareja said about late lapses on set pieces. “It is our responsibility to prepare the boys and their responsibility obviously just to solve those problems, especially when teams are coming at the end with set plays, a corner, or something like that. For sure we will keep doing it. I think today it is even more painful because the game meant a lot.”

The Lions had no time to equalize because seconds later the game was over, as Gantar gave no extra time beyond the original four minutes of stoppage time originally given.

Orlando had more shot attempts (13-11), but Nashville got more on goal (6-4). The visitors won more corners (6-3), while the Lions held more possession (51.9%-48.1%) and was more accurate passing the ball (84%-83%).

The Lions fell at home in their home finale for the second straight year. Orlando is 3-3-0 in home finales and just 1-5-0 in regular-season finales since joining MLS in 2015.

“It’s tough to swallow this game,” Rowe said. “It hurts, but I think we need to reiterate that it doesn’t take away from what we’ve accomplished this year so far.”

“It was a game [that] brought moments where we were frustrated, especially the way it ended,” Pareja said. “But we can’t forget what the boys have done during this year. They qualified in the playoffs, they qualified in the best four in a tough conference, and they’ll be ready for playoffs.”

That’s it for the regular season, but unlike in years past, it won’t be the Lions’ last match of the year. The playoffs lie ahead. Orlando City will face New York City FC at home with the day and time to be announced.

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. St. Louis City: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Lions make their first trip to St. Louis looking to build on their win at Colorado.

Published

8 hours ago

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June 25, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match thread and preview for a Wednesday night matchup between Orlando City (8-4-6, 30 points) and St. Louis City SC (3-9-6, 15 points) at Energizer Park in St. Louis, MO (8:30 p.m., MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). This is the second meeting ever between the two sides, the first in St. Louis, and the only one on the 2025 regular-season schedule.

Here’s what you need to know about the match.

History

These teams have met just once before. Orlando City won that match 2-1 on Aug. 26 at Exploria Stadium on Facundo Torres’ penalty in the first minute of stoppage time. Torres completed his brace after a handball in the box by Anthony Markanich stopped a shot by Rafael Santos. Torres opened the scoring in the second half, but Rasmus Alm equalized, with his goal being awarded after video review revealed the referee’s assistant should not have raised their flag for the ball going out of play prior to the critical pass that led to the goal. Jake Nerwinsky was sent off late in that game for a foul denying Ramiro Enrique a goal-scoring opportunity.

Overview

The Lions are 3-2-4 on the road this season after coming off a tightly contested 1-0 road win at Colorado on June 14, snapping a two-match losing streak that ended a busy May schedule. Orlando has been off since beating the Rapids but will try to continue building momentum as the month of June comes to a close. The Lions have six matches against Eastern Conference competition after visiting tonight’s Western Conference opponents in the leadup to the 2025 Leagues Cup at the end of July.

Orlando City center back Rodrigo Schlegel will serve his one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation tonight, and with Alex Freeman away with the USMNT, the Lions will be missing half of their starters on the back line for this match as the entire right half will be out. Look for David Brekalo to move to right center back. Dagur Dan Thorhallsson is the most likely candidate to take the right back spot, with either Kyle Smith or Santos slotting in at left back.

St. Louis City is 2-3-4 at home this season and is coming off a wild 3-3 home draw against the LA Galaxy on June 14. Joao Klauss scored a hat trick in the match, putting his third goal of the game in the net in the fifth minute of stoppage time to steal a point against the defending champions. Tonight’s hosts are 0-1-1 in their last two matches, but they’ve been playing better lately, with five consecutive games either decided by a single goal or finishing in a draw.

Klauss may have gotten three of his five goals this season in the last game, but he can be one of the league’s most lethal finishers. It’s not the best night for Orlando to be missing half of its back line with the Brazilian rounding into form. On the other end, Roman Burki is one of the best goalkeepers in the league, so Orlando City will need to be clinical to finish chances — something that the team has struggled with at times.

“St. Louis is a team we don’t regularly play, but we’ve followed them over the last three or four games,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said ahead of the match. “They’ve changed coaches, even though it’s someone who has been within the system. We try to capture what their current modes are — how they’re structured, how they’re playing — and then merge that into our game plan. We don’t have as much context of a rivalry as we usually do, since it’s a team we don’t know very well. But we keep preparing in our way and keep insisting that imposing our style on the game is what we’re looking for.”

In addition to Schlegel (suspension) and Freeman (international duty) the Lions will be without Duncan McGuire (shoulder), Wilder Cartagena (Achilles), and Yutaro Tsukada (knee), while Joran Gerbet (thigh) is listed as questionable. St. Louis City will be without Alm (hip), Chris Durkin (knee), Henry Kessler (hamstring), Eduard Löwen (hamstring), Joakim Nilsson (knee), and Tomáš Ostrák (lower body).

Match Content

Projected Lineups

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Pedro Gallese.

Defenders: Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Cesar Araujo, Eduard Atuesta, Marco Pasalic.

Forwards: Martin Ojeda, Luis Muriel.

St. Louis City SC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Roman Burki.

Defenders: Jayden Reid, Timo Baumgartl, Kyle Hiebert, Tomas Totland.

Midfielders: Alfredo Morales Simon Becher, Akil Watts.

Forwards: Celio Pompeu, Joao Klauss, Marcel Hartel.

Referees

REF: Guido Gonzales, Jr.
AR1: Ryan Graves.
AR2: Walt Heatherly.
4TH: Matt Thompson.
VAR: Kevin Terry, Jr.
AVAR: TBA.

How to Watch

Match Time: 8:30 p.m.

Venue: Energizer Park — St. Louis, MO.

TV/Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish).

Social Media: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow us on Bluesky Social at @themaneland.bsky.social or follow Orlando City’s official Twitter (@OrlandoCitySC) or Bluesky (@OrlandoCitySC) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go City!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/25/25

Orlando City and OCB play tonight, the Club World Cup continues, and more.

Published

11 hours ago

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June 25, 2025

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Image courtesy of Victor Tan / New Day

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It is a busy week here at The Mane Land. Orlando City and Orlando City B play tonight, there are FIFA Club World Cup matches, Concacaf Gold Cup, and USWNT friendlies. It’s a lot, but it also means there’s a ton of soccer to watch, which is a good thing. Let’s get to the links.

Go West, Orlando City

Orlando City heads to Missouri to take on St. Louis City FC tonight. The Lions will be without Alex Freeman (international duty) and Rodrigo Schlegel (yellow card accumulation). Orlando City will need to deal with St. Louis City striker Joao Klauss while finding goals on the road. This is a must-watch midweek match. We will have a preview later today, and you should also listen to The Mane Land PawedCast to prepare.

Orlando City B Returns Home vs. Toronto FC II

Orlando City B hosts Toronto FC II at Osceola County Stadium tonight. Like the first team, we will have coverage for you. The Young Lions are coming off a two-week break after a loss to Carolina Core FC. It will be interesting to see which OCB shows up for the match. You can watch the match on mlsnextpro.com.

Club World Cup, Orlando-Style

There might not be as many people in the seats at the Club World Cup as FIFA would like, but Orlando is still a big part of it. The group stage finishes this week as the competition heads into the Round of 16. There’s a ton of prize money up for all the competitors no matter where they are currently in the standings. Our Michael Citro was at Camping World Stadium last night to cover LAFC vs. Flamengo in Group D.

USMNT News

The USMNT will face Costa Rica Sunday in a Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal match in Minneapolis. Malik Tillman has been a bright spot on the roster, though Orlando City fans will be watching Freeman. The perpetual search for a consistent striker continues for the USMNT, though Patrick Agyemang may be the answer — at least for now.

Free Kicks

  • There’s nothing quite like having your number retired after playing for a team for two whole years after playing for another club for six years. It is especially special when the new club has been in existence for a whole four years. Congratulations to former Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan.

Jesse Marsch cleared of all allegations by Concacaf.MORE: news.canadasoccer.com/jesse-marsch…

— CANMNT (@canmntofficial.bsky.social) 2025-06-24T03:22:25.639Z
  • After the Gold Cup, Agyemang may be making the move from Charlotte FC to Derby County.

🚨🐏 Excl: Derby County are closing in on deal to sign 24 year old striker Patrick Agyemang from Charlotte FC. Talks underway with player’s green light already in place.

— Fabrizio Romano (MIRROR) (@fabrizioromano.yopro20.com) 2025-06-24T23:28:28.124048+00:00
  • You may have seen that the USWNT is celebrating Pride month with rainbow numbers on the team jerseys. I am a supporter and ally, but it means even more to the players.

That will do it for today. Make sure you check back later for our match coverage. You can also follow our live coverage on Bluesky. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/24/25

Orlando City’s upward aspirations, Tim Weah reportedly set for transfer, Club World Cup roundup, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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June 24, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone. We’ve got a busy week ahead of us with the Club World Cup approaching the end of the group stage, OCB at home on Wednesday, and Orlando City back in action with a pair of games. That means we have plenty to talk about, so let’s get straight into today’s links.

Orlando City’s Lofty Goals

Kyle Smith took some time after training on Monday to speak to the media and shed some light on where OCSC is at right now. The utility player was candid in saying he believes this year’s team is the best one he’s seen since he’s been with the club, and that’s saying something considering he’s the longest-tenured player on the team. Smith said the team is focused on climbing higher in the standings and that the two recent breaks will help the team do just that. He emphasized the importance of handling extra time off between games the right way by making sure the players are taking care of their bodies, getting in the gym, and recovering afterwards. That sort of professionalism paid off in the 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids, so hopefully the same is true of Wednesday’s game against St. Louis City.

Tim Weah Reportedly on the Move

Nottingham Forest has reportedly agreed a deal with Juventus to sign Tim Weah and fellow Juve player Samuel Mbangula for roughly €22 million. That being said, personal terms have not yet been agreed upon with Weah, and that will likely take some time, since he’s playing for them at the Club World Cup, and the Italian side is probably keen to minimize outside distractions. Weah broke out with Lille during a four-season spell with the French side, earning a move to Juventus in 2023 as a result.

Club World Cup Roundup

The Club World Cup continues to roll on, as the tournament entered its final round of group stage games on Monday. Atletico Madrid became the first big name to exit the competition, as it beat Botafogo 1-0 to finish level with the Brazilians on six points but will be going home due to having worse goal difference. Atletico needed to win by at least three in order to overtake Botafogo in the standings and might have managed it if not for some poor finishing. In Group B’s other game, Paris Saint-Germain took down the Seattle Sounders 2-0 to finish top of the group. Seattle was given a brutal draw and accounted itself as well as can be expected, but ultimately, the Sounders exit the competition without picking up a point.

Club World Cup Takeaways

Speaking of the Club World Cup, what are some of the impressions so far of the expanded tournament? There have been plenty of good things, as teams have been taking it seriously with strong lineups, and barring the outlier that is Auckland City, no one team has been consistently getting shelled. On the other hand, making the jump from six teams to 32 simply feels like too much too soon, and that’s probably contributed to fluctuating levels of interest from local fans. High ticket prices and games starting in the heat of the day haven’t helped much either, as weather conditions have been a recurring concern among both fans and players. The competition is still a net positive overall, but there are certainly some things to learn from and improve upon next time around.

Free Kicks

  • Check out some of the scenes from the Lions’ training session on Monday.

That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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