Orlando City vs. Nashville SC: Player Grades and Man of the Match

Orlando City continued its winning ways with a 1-0 businesslike road victory against Nashville SC. With shots and scoring opportunities scarce throughout the match, Orlando City made the most of its limited chances late in the first half as Duncan McGuire returned to the scoresheet. The club then put on a defensive clinic throughout the second half and turned away Nashville time and again, allowing just two second-half shots (and blocking both). The win continued to build on a record-setting season for the club for both most points (57) and most wins (16) in a season since the Lions joined MLS in 2015.

Here’s how I saw each individual performance in what may have been a preview of Orlando’s first round playoff matchup.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6.5 — For the second match in a row, the Peruvian goalkeeper found himself with little to do, earning a clean sheet without having to make a save. Gallese faced no shots on target on the night and completed 65.4% of his 26 passes, including eight of his 16 long balls. El Pulpo set a new personal single season record for clean sheets in a season, recordeing his 10th on the year, surpassing his previous high of nine, which he set last year. He came off his line to punch away a cross or two but largely wasn’t given enough to do to earn a higher grade.

D, Rafael Santos, 7 — The Brazilian left back put in another solid effort on both ends of the pitch against a dangerous Nashville attacking front. On the offensive side of the ball, Santos logged a key pass and one successful dribble. He completed his lone crossing attempt on the night, but none of his three long balls found their target. He passed 51 times at an 88.2% rate. Santos was defensively solid, recording two tackles, making an interception, winning an aerial duel, and logging one clearance. Santos committed one foul and ultimately continued to prove his worth on the back line.

D, Robin Jansson, 7 — The Beefy Swede was cooking all night long as the heart and soul of Orlando’s defense. He also got more into the attack than in matches past, making several lung-busting runs down the field, where he logged one successful dribble. Jansson had a tackle and a team-high four clearances as he broke up plays left and right, especially when Nashville was hunting for an equalizer. Fans held their collective breaths when Jansson went down in the first half after the full weight of Sam Surridge unintentionally found the top of his boot, but after some attendance from the training staff Jansson was able to soldier on. He completed 84.4% of his 64 passes, including two of his seven long balls, committed one foul, and won an aerial duel.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 7 (MotM) — Schlegel did his usual Schlegel things in this match, seemingly getting under the skin of the Nashville attacking players from the jump. He logged one tackle, one interception, and three clearances while also recording a team-high three blocked shots, including a vital one on Hany Mukhtar late in the second half. The center back committed two fouls. He attempted 60 passes, completing 90% of them, but was only successful on one of his seven long balls attempted. There is something to be said about the luxury of having Rodri fill in during Antonio Carlos’ extended absence and Schlegel deserves a lot of credit for being prepared match after match.

D, Kyle Smith, 6.5 — Smith got the nod to start during the midweek fixture, replacing Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. The accountant played a solid but ultimately unremarkable game while fighting off attempts from Nashville. Smith recorded one successful dribble but was unsuccessful on both of his crossing attempts. Defensively, he had just one tackle, but two clearances, and he won an aerial duel. Smith completed 88% of his 50 passes and was accurate on four of his seven attempted long balls. He was subbed off in the 85th minute when Orlando brought on Thorhallsson and Carlos in an attempt to protect the one goal lead.

MF, Cesar Araujo, 7 — Araujo did a little bit of everything throughout the match. The 22-year-old led the Lions with a team-high 84 touches and 75 attempted passes, and completed 92% of his attempts. He earned two fouls for the Lions while committing none. Along with his defensive midfield partner, Wilder Cartagena, Araujo did a fine job of keeping former MVP Hany Mukhtar in check. The Uruguayan contributed one tackle, one interception, and one clearance while pestering Nashville.

MF, Wilder Cartagena, 6.5 — Like Araujo, the Peruvian was given the tall task of defending Mukhtar and did well to be in the right place to alter runs or stymie the buildup. Cartagena was fouled twice on the night and committed two fouls as well, picking up a yellow card. Surprisingly, he did not record a tackle, interception, or clearance but he did record one blocked shot. He won two aerial duels and completed 89.1% of his 64 passes while also connecting on one of his two long balls.

MF, Martin Ojeda, 6.5 — The Argentinian Designated Player got the start for the midweek clash. Ojeda has quietly put together a solid first year in MLS and built upon it by logging his 10th assist across all competitions on the winning goal for Orlando City. Sprung down the left side on a ball by Mauricio Pereyra, Ojeda curled a key pass to a streaking McGuire, who flicked it off the near post and in to put Orlando ahead just before halftime. Defensively, Ojeda contributed one tackle and a clearance. He was successful on 73.3% of his 30 passes and landed one of his two long balls and one of two crosses. It was a solid outing for the DP, who keeps adding to his season totals in goals and assists.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 6 — The captain had little room to work most of the night but was responsible for unleashing Ojeda right before Orlando scored. He missed on both of his long ball attempts and completed 80.6% of his 36 passes. Defensively, he contributed a tackle and an interception on an otherwise pedestrian night for the leader of the squad.

MF, Facundo Torres, 6 — Speaking of quiet nights, Torres was coming off of one of his most dominant performances of the season, but he struggled to find the same impact against an aggressive Nashville defense. In defense of Torres, if would have been slightly easier to get water from a stone than to get any type of clean touch on the ball when he was constantly shoved in the back on almost every touch. Torres did not record a tackle, clearance, or interception and logged two successful dribbles while being fouled once (officially). He completed 81.8% of his 33 passes and his lone cross attempt from the endline sheepishly found the side of the net without posing much of a threat. Torres was subbed off in the 71st minute and thanks to missing out on 11 minutes of stoppage time was able to get some extra rest during a congested week.

F, Duncan McGuire, 7 — The rookie logged his 10th goal of the MLS season to provide the winning margin. There was a lot of talka bout whether he was onside, but the flag stayed down and video review showed that his run was in line with Ojeda’s pass. Besides finding the back of the net on his only shot attempt, McGuire completed seven of his 10 passes (70%) and completed one successful dribble while winning a foul and committing one. McGuire won a team-high three aerial duels.

Substitutes

MF, Ivan Angulo (65′), 5.5 — Oscar Pareja elected to bring on straight speed in the 65th minute by introducing Angulo and Ramiro Enrique into the match. While neither had a direct impact on the score sheet, their pace proved to be a issue for Nashville throughout the final half hour. Angulo completed all nine of his passes and logged one clearance and one interception. Based upon the congestion of fixtures this week, I expect Angulo to be back in the starting lineup for the home finale.

F, Ramiro Enrique (65′), 5.5 — Enrique came on alongside Angulo and brought plenty of energy with him. Enrique’s pace was a problem for the Nashville back line, but despite having at least two quality chances to go to goal, Enrique held up his attack to look for teammates, which ultimately resulted in the attack fizzling out. He completed 72.7% of his passes, won an aerial duel, and was fouled once.

MF, Junior Urso (72′), 6 — The Bear made another cameo off the bench for Orlando, this time spelling Torres. He had one successful dribble and was fouled once, and technically recorded a shot, which he tried from approximately the next county over. It was one of only two attempts all night by Orlando, though. Defensively he had one tackle and a clearance. Urso completed 72.2% of his 18 passes over the final third of the match and frustrated Nashville’s comeback efforts by winning a bunch of throw-ins and moving the ball quickly to his teammates.

D, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson (85′), N/A — The converted defender got some midweek rest before being called in to close out the match. Thorhallsson completed 50% of his four passes in limited action on the pitch. I would anticipate that he will be back in the starting lineup this Saturday.

D, Antonio Carlos (85′), N/A — A welcome sight for any Orlando City fan — and surely for the back line and Gallese as well — Carlos made his return to the field after an extended absence due to injury. The Brazilian center back got right to work, recording two clearances in quick succession and completed his lone pass on the night.

That’s how I saw the individual performances by the Lions. Let me know where you agree and disagree in the comments and make sure to vote for your Man of the Match in our poll below.