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

How did the players perform in Orlando’s last-gasp victory over Nashville SC?

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10 months ago

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Image of Duncan McGuire celebrating his winning goal against Nashville SC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

It was a match that put fans through the full gamut of emotions, but in the end, Orlando City snatched a last-gasp win against Nashville SC and picked up a vital three points in the process. The win keeps Orlando in the race for the top four places in the Eastern Conference, although the Lions have little to no room for error in their final four matches of the season if they want to secure home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Let’s take a look at how the Cardiac Cats performed in Saturday’s 3-2 victory.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 7 — While he conceded two goals, Gallese couldn’t really do much to keep either one out of the net. What he did was save Orlando’s bacon on several occasions, as he made an excellent save on a Hany Mukhtar header from close range just before halftime, and did well to keep him out again in the 60th minute. El Pulpo finished the game with four saves, 89% passing accuracy, and would have had an assist had Ivan Angulo been able to find a way past Joe Willis after Gallese played a long ball to put the Colombian in on goal after a corner kick.

D, David Brekalo, 6 — If you skim the statistics from this one, you might wonder why Brekalo’s grade isn’t higher. After all, he recorded two tackles, one interception, four clearances, and three aerial duel wins on defense while drawing two fouls, completing a dribble, playing a key pass, and passing with 88.9% accuracy on offense. However, go back and watch the video of Jacob Shaffelburg’s tying goal. The Slovenian defender allowed Shaffelburg to get goalside of him far far too easily, and once that happened, he wasn’t able to cut out the cross which the Canadian slammed into the back of the net. It was bad defending in an instance when OCSC couldn’t afford it, and so his grade suffers. If not for that error, he’s probably sitting at a seven, as he had a pretty good game otherwise.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — Orlando City’s captain had a quieter, albeit steady and reliable performance. He held things down in the center of defense with three clearances and two interceptions, while passing with 92.7% accuracy and completing three long balls. While he wasn’t the only one, he was guilty of ball watching on Mukhtar’s goal in first-half stoppage time, as he didn’t react to the rebound and the German was able to collect his own rebound off the post and put it past Gallese. He has to lose some points for that, but otherwise it was a solid performance.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 6.5 — Schlegel was largely effective in his center back partnership with Jansson. He ended the night with one tackle, two clearances, and two blocks on defense, and one aerial duel won, while taking one shot on offense that was off target, completing three long balls, and passing with 100% accuracy. He did commit two fouls and picked up a yellow card, which he has to lose some points for. The Argentine was also extremely lucky to have some questionable defending go unpunished in the 53rd minute. Shaffelburg played a cross for Sam Surridge at the back post, who lost Schlegel far too easily and had a free header in the six-yard box that he somehow contrived to miss. It was poor marking, and the Lions were fortunate to not pay the price for it.

D, Alex Freeman, 6 — There was to be no goal for Freeman in this game, but he still had an active outing. On defense, the young fullback won three aerial duels, recorded two interceptions, made one tackle, and added two clearances. Going forward, he took one shot that was blocked, completed two dribbles, drew two fouls, and passed with 84.6% accuracy while completing one cross and one long ball. On the flip side of things, he was another player who was guilty of ball watching on Mukhtar’s goal, and it was worse for him, since he was probably in the best position to get to the ball when it came back off the post. Still, it was a good game overall if not quite as buccaneering an outing as we’ve seen at times this year.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6 — As is usually the case with Angulo, he was involved on both sides of the ball in this game. On defense, he chipped in with two tackles while also committing a foul. On the other side of the field, he completed two dribbles, drew a foul, passed with 71.4% accuracy, and took one shot which was on target and saved by Joe Willis. He could have done better on it since he was in alone on goal, but he has shown himself to be lacking in the breakaway goal department. He and Luis Muriel couldn’t quite get the timing right on an early second-half pass, as the striker was ultimately offside when Angulo played him in behind, although he failed to hit the target regardless.

MF, Kyle Smith, 7.5 — With Cesar Araujo and Joran Gerbet both unavailable, Smith got the start in midfield, and he did a little bit of everything. On defense he contributed two tackles and two interceptions, while on offense he drew a foul, completed two long balls, recorded one key pass, and distributed the ball with 81.8% accuracy. His best moment of the night however, came on Martin Ojeda’s second goal. Smith took the ball off Patrick Yazbek in midfield, played the ball to Luis Muriel, got it back, and then fed a nice ball in behind for Ojeda who dispatched it past Joe Willis. That means he also ended the game with an assist, which was the finishing touch on a well-rounded evening.

MF, Eduard Atuesta, 6.5 — Atuesta partnered Smith in midfield, and while he was quieter than his counterpart, he still turned in a good performance on the defensive side of the ball with two tackles, one interception, one clearance, one aerial duel won, and one foul committed. Going forward, he drew two fouls, took one shot, which was blocked, and delivered two long balls while passing with 89.1% accuracy. It wasn’t as impactful of an offensive performance as he’s shown himself to be capable of, but it was still the sort of solid outing that we’re used to seeing from him.

MF, Marco Pašalić, 7 — While he didn’t manage to make an impact on the scoresheet, Pasalic was far from quiet. He didn’t do much on defense, although he registered one interception. Instead, as expected, he put in work going forward and finished with a game-high five completed dribbles, one long ball, one foul drawn, one key pass, 81% passing accuracy, and one shot on target. He was unlucky to not score with that shot, which was a beautiful curling effort that Willis saw late and ultimately did well to save. As suggested by the dribbling stat, he was constantly looking to keep the ball at his feet and probe the Nashville defense by going on mazy runs. He’ll hope to get back on the scoresheet soon as its now been four league games without a goal.

F, Martin Ojeda, 8.5 (MotM) — Surely you had to know this was coming right? As he so often has been this year, Ojeda was the man at the center of it all for the Lions. Let’s start with the stats you probably don’t know, as he registered one tackle, one clearance, and one foul, while also playing a game-high three key passes, connecting on three crosses and one long ball, and passing with 81.8% accuracy. He took four shots and put two of them on target, and he scored from each of those two shots on target. His free kick goal for the opener was nothing short of spectacular, as he found the gap that Schlegel and Jansson created in the wall, and banged a shot in off the post. His second goal was all about pinpoint finishing, as he shot first time from Smith’s pass and unerringly hit the far corner. He’s a worthy Man of the Match, and continues to force his way into the MVP conversation.

F, Luis Muriel, 6.5 — Although it wasn’t a bad performance, it wasn’t one of the Colombian’s better outings either. He wasn’t able to impact the game with his dribbling or vision and passing range, although he contributed the secondary assist on Ojeda’s second goal. Other than that and some moments where he flashed his mind-meld understanding with his strike partner, he had a pretty quiet evening. His stat line reads two shots with one off target and one on target that forced an excellent save from Willis, two fouls drawn, and 69.2% passing accuracy.

Substitutes

F, Duncan McGuire (63′), 7 — Brought on to replace Muriel, McGuire had an effective 27 minutes on the field. He injected energy and a desire to press from the front into the team, and he managed to get on the ball in dangerous areas. He took two shots, with one off target and one on target, and played one key pass while distributing the ball with 88.9% precision. Then there was the obvious, as he scored the all-important winning goal with a fantastic first-time finish as the game was entering its final moments. It was great to see Dunc back among the goals after his injury struggles this season, and the departure of Ramiro Enrique means the Lions are going to need him if they want to make any noise in the postseason.

MF, Tyrese Spicer (72′), 7 — Like McGuire, Spicer made the most of his 18-minute substitute appearance after he came on for Angulo. Some of his dribbling wasn’t as crisp as it usually is, but he chipped in defensively with one tackle, drew a foul, passed with 100% accuracy, delivered one cross, one key pass, and had the all-important assist on the winning goal. He was brought on to help change the game and give the Lions more offensive juice and he did exactly that. If he can become a reliable weapon off the bench, then it makes OCSC a much more dangerous team as we enter the final stretch of the regular season.

D, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson (86′), N/A — With just four minutes on the field after replacing David Brekalo, it wouldn’t be fair to assign DDT a grade in this game. He contributed one tackle and two clearances in his limited minutes, and passed with 100% accuracy. It should be noted that while he was the man who fed Spicer before the winger streaked down the left flank and assisted McGuire, Thorhallsson was not credited with an official secondary assist.

MF, Colin Guske (86′), N/A — The injuries to Orlando’s other midfielders meant it was Guske who came on for Smith, but he also wasn’t on the field long enough to be assigned a fair grade. Similar to Thorhallsson, he was plenty involved though. Guske had one tackle and one clearance, while committing one foul and drawing a foul. He completed all four of his passes for an accuracy rate of 100%.

There you have it. Ojeda shone again, Smith had one of his best games of the year, and McGuire came to the rescue to prove that Orlando does in fact, still run on Duncan. Do you agree with my pick for Man of the Match, or should the honors go to someone else? Be sure to vote in our poll, and have your say down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City vs. Nashville SC: Five Takeaways

What did we learn from a hard-fought win over Nashville SC on Saturday night?

Published

8 hours ago

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July 26, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann dribbling the ball past Hany Mukhtar of Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Orlando City kept the good vibes rolling on Saturday night, as the Lions fought through tired legs and a weather delay to beat Nashville SC 1-0 and make it two clean sheet wins on the bounce. What follows are my five big thoughts from the victory.

Lions Look Leggy

After playing in California on Wednesday night and missing a number of regular first-team players due to a combination of injuries, suspension, and regaining match fitness, it perhaps wasn’t surprising that a largely unchanged Orlando team looked a little heavy-legged. Bernardo Rhein and Luis Otavio were the only changes from the San Jose victory that saw the Lions play an energetic, high-pressing style, and the team wasn’t able to replicate it on Saturday night. There were moments when the team put together some good passing moves and carved out some dangerous chances, but the execution and fine details just seemed to be missing when they were needed most. In short, OCSC looked like a lowly rotated team playing on short rest after traveling across the country, and it made the win over the Supporters’ Shield leaders that much more impressive.

Bernardo’s Big Night

After making just his second appearance with the first team on Wednesday and signing a Homegrown Player deal earlier on Saturday, Rhein made his first MLS start at left back and turned in a performance that belied his 18 years of age. He helped keep Nashville’s attack quiet by contributing one tackle, one clearance, two interceptions, and five recoveries. He also completed 35 of his 40 passes and created a scoring chance. He played a more balanced role than the offensive minded Griffin Dorsey, and it was notable that Nashville didn’t have much luck when trying to target the youngster’s side of the defense as he went mainly up against former OCB teammate Shak Mohammed. Time will tell if Orlando sticks with Rhein or Marin, or if the club tries to get a new left back in the building, but if nothing else, the team’s newest Homegrown signing has given the club’s decision makers something to think about.

Quiet Evening for Crepeau

Entering Saturday’s game, Nashville had scored 33 goals in 16 games, which was good for the fifth-best attack in the league. Not only did Orlando pitch its second shutout in a row, but it did so in relatively uneventful fashion. OCSC held the ‘Yotes to six shots with just three on target, and neither Hany Mukhtar nor Sam Surridge were able to put a shot on Crepeau’s net. Nashville’s best chances of the game — by Mohammed and Alex Muyl — were right at the Canadian shot stopper, and he had a much quieter game than he did midweek. All six of the Orlando City defenders who played on the night had solid outings, and they played a big part in helping the team pick up its second clean sheet of the year. While Marin looked a little shaky when defending 1-v-1 in wide areas, he still put in two tackles and four clearances in just 20 minutes and rebounded well from a difficult outing against San Jose.

Attacking Trio at it Again

Antoine Griezmann, Justin Ellis, and Ivan Angulo were once again the most impressive starters for Orlando. Griezmann touched the ball a team-high 81 times, Angulo played a game-high three key passes, and Ellis had the all-important assist on the game-winning goal. Griezmann looks every bit the do-it-all Designated Player that he was brought in to be, Angulo has thrived in a hybrid wide midfield/no.10 role, and Ellis was a complete terror with the ball at his feet. The 19-year-old is shifty, physical, an excellent dribbler, and has the vision and confidence to thread passes into tight windows. Enjoy him while you can, because European teams are going to come calling soon, and rightly so.

Spicer Sparks from the Bench

Tyrese Spicer so often seems to thrive when coming off the bench to be a difference maker, and so it was again on Saturday night. He came on for Tiago early in the second half and caused problems for the ‘Yotes with both his willingness to run at the defense and his work rate in pressing and harrying the Nashville players. His three tackles tied Luis Otavio for the most on the team, and he was rewarded for all his hard work when he scored the game-winning goal. Ellis’ no-look through ball was absolutely sublime, and the substitute applied the finish it deserved by smashing his shot past Brian Schwake at the near post before the goalkeeper even had a chance to move. It was the sort of incisive execution that had been missing all night, and he came up big off the bench once again.

Those are the aspects of Saturday’s win that stood out to me. What did you see? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Orlando City vs. Nashville SC: Final Score 1-0 as Spicer’s Goal Sinks League Leaders

The Lions followed up their big win in San Jose by taking down the MLS Supporters’ Shield leaders at home.

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19 hours ago

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July 26, 2026

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Image of Tyrese Spicer shooting against Nashville.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Lions look to be a different team since the World Cup break ended. After beating Western Conference co-leaders San Jose on the road Wednesday, they battled to a hard-fought 1-0 win over MLS Supporters’ Shield-leading Nashville SC at Orlando City’s home stadium tonight.

Second-half substitute Tyrese Spicer scored the game’s only goal in the second half to lift the Lions (6-9-2, 20 points) to their second big win of the week. It was only the second loss of the year for Nashville SC (12-2-3, 39 points) as Orlando avenged its 5-0 loss in Tennessee back on March 21.

“Very happy for everyone here in the club. I think this was a really good victory against a very difficult opponent,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said after the match. “Highlight the effort of our players and highlight the support of our people. Today they brought an amazing energy to the stadium. They filled the stadium. It was a really, really good night. We really enjoyed it.”

Perelman’s side changed out only two starters from Wednesday night’s win at San Jose. Luis Otavio stepped into the midfield for the suspended Eduard Atuesta (yellow card accumulation), while newly signed Homegrown Player Bernardo Rhein made his first MLS start in place of Adrian Marin.

Perleman’s lineup included Maxime Crepeau in goal behind a back line of Rhein, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, and Griffin Dorsey. Ivan Angulo, Otavio, Braian Ojeda, and Tiago made up the midfield four, with Antoine Griezmann and Justin Ellis leading the attack.

After both teams played Wednesday and traveled, it wasn’t surprising that the teams came out after the hour-long weather delay looking to stay organized and prevent chances, leading to a defensive opening half. The Lions started the game with some good pressure early but couldn’t fashion a clear-cut chance.

Nashville’s first opportunity came in the ninth minute, when Hany Mukhtar got forward down the right, but Jansson did well to track back and block his shot out for a corner. Orlando was able to clear the danger to end the threat.

Griezmann was active, spending much of his time out wide on the right, looking to find space to work in against the compact Nashville defense. The Frenchman served in a good cross in the 15th minute, looking for Ellis. The ball was headed weakly goalward by either Ellis or Andy Najar, allowing Brian Schwake to collect it. Ellis got a good look in the 22nd minute after taking a pass from Angulo, but the young forward didn’t make good contact on it. Schwake still had to make a good effort to keep it out, as the placement of the shot was good.

Rhein did well to force a turnover in the 28th minute and Griezmann found space on the left but he fired his shot over the bar.

Nashville came close in the 42nd minute after a long period of back-and-forth possession. He got in behind but Crepeau made himself big and blocked the shot at the end of a sequence in which Angulo looked to get clipped but no call was made, allowing the visitors to break in transition.

Ellis got the last decent look of the half a minute into first-half stoppage time, finding space outside the box. He put his shot on target but right at Schwake.

At the break, Nashville led in possession (51.1%-48.9%) and corners (3-1). Orlando City had the advantage in shots (8-3), shots on target (4-1), and passing accuracy (91.4%-88.8%).

As with the first half, the Lions came out and put Nashville under pressure to start the second half. Griezmann found room for a shot from the top of the box on the left side in the 48th minute but Maxwell Woledzi headed it away. Orlando quickly regained possession and Ellis tried a long-range effort but sent it sizzling over the crossbar.

A minute later, Ellis cut inside from the left and fired, but his shot hit Angulo on the way in.

Griezmann sent second-half sub Spicer down the left in the 57th minute. The speedy winger tried to pick out Dorsey in front but the defense arrived at the same time as Orlando’s right back and broke up the play.

Nashville’s first good look of the second half came in the 63rd minute when the visitors broke in transition and a ball deflected into the path of former Lion Shak Mohammed. He took his shot quickly and hit it well, but Crepeau made the save. Nashville broke again four minutes later and Rhein got caught too high, giving the guests numbers in transition. Ahmed Qasem fired from the right side but the defense deflected it just wide into the outside netting, and the Lions cleared the subsequent corner.

The Lions broke the scoreless deadlock moments later. Ellis did well to bring the ball forward and drew the defense before releasing it through traffic to Spicer on the left. The Trinidad & Tobago international angled in from the left and blasted a shot past Schwake and in to make it 1-0 in the 72nd minute.

“Leading up to the goal, I know Justin likes to dribble a lot, and I was just like, you know, let me give it to him and run in the space,” Spicer said. “But I know he was going to cut in, and I was just waiting for it. I was yelling his name as loud as I could, like just give it to me. And as soon as I got that ball, I know I had to go first (touch). It was just like muscle memory, there.”

From there, the Lions did well to see out the game, withstanding some Nashville pressure and several set pieces without allowing anything too dangerous to develop. There were a few nervy moments when clearance attempts didn’t quite go as planned, but it’s a testament to the Orlando City defensive effort that it held to just six shot attempts on the night. The high-scoring duo of Sam Surridge and Mukhtar combined did not manage a shot on target in the match.

In the end, Nashville controlled more of the possession (55.3%-44.7%) and won more corners (7-2), but Orlando City finished with more shots (12-6) and shots on target (6-3). Both teams passed at an 89.7% rate.

“Happy with the win. More than anything, I take away the effort from the whole team — the work we put in from the first minute until the end,” Griezmann said. “We played against the team at the top of the table, a great team. It was difficult for us to create chances because we came up against a very good defense, but we managed to score that goal.”

“I think this is a very big win,” Spicer said. “Just coming into the back to the league, facing San Jose, who was like second in the West, and then facing Nashville. I know we had like a big task against us, but leading up to the game, winning this game is a big momentum to carry us through the season.”

“I think at the end of the day, it is the the players. I mean, we coaches we can do many tactics, but at the end of the day, the protagonists are the players, and I think our players today, they performed really well,” Perelman said. “They did a huge effort both with and without the ball, and I think that’s the reason (for the win). If I need to find one (reason), then again we faced a really, really good opponent that we respect very much, and it was a really tough game. I’m happy we could win it.”

The Lions head back on the road for a match a week from tonight at New York Red Bulls before starting up Leagues Cup play through the middle of August.

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

The Lions look to build on Wednesday’s impressive win at San Jose, but it won’t be easy against the MLS leaders.

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1 day ago

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July 25, 2026

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Image of Braian Ojeda dribbling the ball up the field against Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match thread for a Saturday night matchup between Orlando City (5-9-2, 17 points) and Nashville SC (12-1-3, 39 points) on the Lions’ home grounds (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). This is the first of second of the two scheduled meetings between the Eastern Conference clubs in the 2026 regular season.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.

History

The Lions are 5-4-4 against Nashville in MLS regular-season matches and 7-6-5 in all competitions. Orlando is 3-2-1 at home in the regular season against Nashville and 4-3-4 in all competitions in the City Beautiful against tonight’s visitors.

It’s wrong to say the most recent meeting between the sides was a forgettable one for Orlando City fans, as 5-0 beatdowns tend to stick in the memory. That’s exactly what happened on March 21, as Martin Perelman suffered his first loss as Orlando’s interim head coach in his first road match and second game overall. Sam Surridge scored a hat trick, with Cristian Espinoza and Warren Madrigal also finding the net on a terrible night in Tennessee.

The last time these teams met in Orlando took place on Sept. 20, 2025, with the Lions winning 3-2. Martin Ojeda scored two goals two minutes apart to give Orlando a first-half lead, but Hany Mukhtar and Jacob Shaffelburg scored moments before and after halftime, respectively, to knot things up. Duncan McGuire’s goal deep in stoppage time lifted the Lions to all three points. Just a few weeks earlier in Nashville, on Aug. 23, things did not go well for the Lions as Nashville SC blasted Orlando 5-1. Surridge and Mukhtar netted braces and Jeisson Palacios added a late goal. Luis Muriel scored a consolation goal to spoil the shutout.

These teams faced each other in U.S. Open Cup play on May 21, 2025 with Nashville claiming a 3-2 road win. Marco Pasalic provided the Lions with an early lead before an own goal by Rodrigo Schlegel and an Ahmed Qasem goal put Nashville ahead at the break. Ramiro Enrique equalized in the second half, but Wyatt Meyer’s goal knocked Orlando out of the competition.

The teams met at Inter&Co Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024 with the Lions blasting Nashville 3-0. Facundo Torres’ brace and an opening goal by Ivan Angulo led Orlando City to the season sweep. Orlando City visited Nashville SC at Geodis Park on July 17, 2024, with the Lions cruising to a 3-0 road win. Goals by Cesar Araujo and Enrique sandwiched an Alex Muyl own goal as Orlando City got its fourth consecutive shutout victory over Nashville.

The teams met at the end of the previous season on Nov. 7, 2023 in the best-of-three, first-round playoff series. The Lions got an early goal from Angulo in a 1-0 win to sweep the series. Orlando City drew first blood in the series by beating Nashville 1-0 on Oct. 30, 2023 at Exploria Stadium. Wilder Cartagena’s blast from outside the area provided the game’s only score.

The teams met in the 2023 regular season on Oct. 4, with Orlando City stealing a 1-0 win in Music City on McGuire’s goal just before halftime. That was one of only two shot attempts by the Lions all night and the only one on target. Orlando played well defensively and Pedro Gallese didn’t have to make a save as the hosts didn’t put any shots on frame. Nashville visited Orlando on April 1 of 2023 at Exploria Stadium and it was the visitors who made fools of the Lions, as Nashville won, 2-0. Fafa Picault and Mukhtar did the damage for Nashville.

The teams did not face each other in the regular season play the year before, meeting only in the U.S. Open Cup in Orlando on June 29, 2022. Mukhtar scored in the second half, and that looked like it would be enough until Schlegel equalized deep in stoppage time. After a scoreless 30 minutes of extra time, the Lions won the ensuing penalty shootout, 6-5.

These clubs met in the 2021 postseason in Tennessee, with Orlando scoring first through Daryl Dike’s early goal, but Nashville won 3-1 on Nov. 23, 2021 to knock the Lions out of the playoffs. Mukhtar tied it up before halftime on a fluky deflected goal off of Antonio Carlos and then put his team ahead in the second half. Jhonder Cadiz put things away deep in stoppage time.

The teams met in Orlando on Oct. 31, 2021 and ended in a 1-1 draw after referee Allen Chapman’s Halloween Heist chalked off Andres Perea’s apparent stoppage-time winner. The referee’s excuse for overturning the goal was an imagined foul on Dike, who, if anything, was the fouled party. The decision cost the Lions a valuable home playoff match, which instead sent Orlando to Nashville. Mukhtar scored for Nashville to equalize in the second half after Dike’s first-half goal.

The teams met in Nashville on Sept. 29, 2021 with a late rally by the Lions earning the team a 2-2 road draw at Nissan Stadium. The hosts had taken a 2-0 lead on goals by Mukhtar — scoring off the rebound of his own saved penalty — and Randall Leal, but a penalty by Dike and a stoppage-time own goal by Brian Anunga turned the game around. On Aug. 18 of that season, the teams finished in another 1-1 draw. C.J. Sapong put the hosts ahead in the first half and Carlos leveled the score in the second half.

The teams met on Decision Day of 2020 at Exploria Stadium, with Orlando melting down late, allowing two goals from the 88th minute on, and falling 3-2 at home on Nov. 8, 2020 — the team’s only home loss of the season. Dike and Nani goals sandwiched a strike by Daniel Lovitz, giving the Lions a lead until late. Headers by Mukhtar and Cadiz just before and into stoppage time turned the game on its head.

In the Lions’ first trip to Nissan Stadium, the teams played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 2, 2020. Benji Michel put the Lions ahead with a stunner of a goal, but Leal knotted things up and that’s the way the match ended. That draw came a week after a 3-1 Orlando City win on Aug. 26 at Exploria Stadium. Dave Romney opened the scoring for Nashville, but Orlando scored the last three. Dike scored a brace and Chris Mueller added a goal.

Overview

The Lions are coming off an impressive 4-0 win at San Jose in their first game after the World Cup break. Antoine Griezmann made his MLS debut and opened his Orlando City account, but it was a team effort. David Brekalo and Angulo gave the Lions the lead, with Griezmann and Braian Ojeda ensuring there would be no Quakes comeback. Maxime Crepeau had his best night in goal for Orlando to help the cause. While it was impressive that it happened at all, let alone without the injured Martin Ojeda, Designated Player Marco Pasalic, or newly re-signed Dike, it remains to be seen if it was a one-off after the layoff or the start of something for the Lions.

Orlando City is just 3-3-1 at home this season, but that’s still far better than its road record.

Nashville SC has been dominant all season — maybe not always quite as dominant as it was on March 21 against the Lions, but still quite good. The Coyotes are seven points clear in the Supporters’ Shielf race and lead MLS with both the most wins (12), fewest losses (1), and goal differential (+22). Tonight’s opponent has only dropped points on the road three times, going 4-1-2 away from Geodis Park. Nashville rides a five-game winning streak and nine-game unbeaten run into tonight and hasn’t allowed a goal in its last two outings.

To get anything from this game, Orlando City must figure out a way to stop (or at least significantly slow down) Nashville’s star forwards, Surridge and Mukhtar (I would add Espinoza here but he’s ruled out with a lower body injury). Both Surridge and Mukhtar have absolutely destroyed Orlando City over the years. Surridge has scored 10 goals in MLS play this season, with Mukhtar chipping in six goals and five assists. At the other end, Palacios has paired with Maxwell Woledzi to form a solid central defense in front of emerging goalkeeper Brian Schwake. This second meeting is going to be another difficult matchup for the Lions, who will need their best performance to take anything from this game.

The Lions will be without Martin Ojeda (thigh), Nolan Miller (knee), Joran Gerbet (knee), Eduard Atuesta (yellow card suspension), Colin Guske (international duty), and Clovis Archange (international duty), however, Marco Pasalic has only recently returned to Orlando from the World Cup and Dike is still returning to match fitness, so they may also be missing when the lineup drops.

Nashville will be without Chris Applewhite (international duty), Espinoza (lower body), Madrigal (lower body), Joe Willis (lower body), and Patrick Yazbek (lower body), while Reed Baker-Whiting is questionable with (what else) a lower body injury.

Match Content

Official Lineups:

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

Defenders: Bernardo Rhein, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, Griffin Dorsey.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Braian Ojeda, Luis Otavio, Tiago.

Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Justin Ellis.

Bench: Javier Otero, Adrian Marin, Tahir Reid-Brown, Zakaria Taifi, Iago, Wilder Cartagena, Gustavo Caraballo, Harvey Sarajian, Tyrese Spicer.

Nashville SC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Brian Schwake.

Defenders: Daniel Lovitz, Jeison Palacios, Maxwell Woledzi, Josh Bauer.

Midfielders: Alex Muyl, Matthew Corcoran, Edvard Tagseth.

Forwards: Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge, Shak Mohammed.

Bench: Joe Willis, Andy Najar, Jack Maher, Thomas Williams, Bryan Acosta, Woobens Pacios, Jordan Knight, Ahmed Qasem, Charles Brunet.

Referees

REF: Ramy Touchan.
AR1: Eric Weisbrod.
AR2: Meghan Mullen.
4TH: Carlos Rodriguez.
VAR: Daniel Radford.
AVAR: Kevin Huet.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter.co Stadium — Orlando.

TV/Live Stream: Apple TV.

Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish), Nossa Rádio 1160 AM-WRLZ (Portuguese).

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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