Orlando City vs. Nashville SC: Photo Gallery

Orlando City welcomed league-leading Nashville SC to town Saturday night as new Designated Player Antoine Griezmann made his home debut for the team. The fans’ excitement was electric, with a massive tifo by the supporters groups and a sell-out crowd that saw the Lions win a 1-0 defensive battle. Several club alumni were on hand to see the victory, with Alex Freeman, Ruan, Mikey Halliday, and Alexandre Pato all in the house, and Orlando City honored returning World Cup participants Braian Ojeda, Maxime Crepeau, and Marco Pašalić during the pregame festivities.

Once the game started, both teams looked a bit leggy having played midweek, creating a cagey, evenly matched affair with not a lot of clear-cut chances. Super-sub Tyrese Spicer played hero for Orlando City on the night, scoring in the 72nd minute to allow the Lions to eke out a well-played win.

Griezmann and Justin Ellis paired well, and their partnership of old veteran and new talent looks to be blossoming nicely. The pair moved the ball well when the Lions had possession and ultimately created seven of the team’s eight shots in the first half. Unfortunately, most of them on the night were not strong takes, the best of which was a jostled header in the 15th minute with not enough power on it and a squibbed open shot in the 22nd minute — both by Ellis. The rest were either off target or weakly at the keeper. For Nashville, Andy Najar played Alex Muyl in behind the defense in the 42nd minute, but Crepeau made the save, colliding with Muyl in the aftermath. Muyl was forced off the pitch briefly after receiving treatment and left the game at halftime.

The second half brought more of the same with Griezmann and Ellis advancing well but Nashville defending and smothering the buildups. Nashville looked for opportunities to counterattack, but few opportunities were given. Former Lion Shak Mohammed generated Nashville’s best chance of the night, getting a clear look at goal in transition in the 63rd minute, but Crepeau was again up to the task and turned away his shot. Then in the 72nd minute, Ellis got on the ball and evaded two defenders to open up a gorgeously disguised no-look pass through the defense to Spicer breaking in from the wing on the left. Spicer still had a lot to do from a tight angle, but he fired a first-time shot into the net for the lead.

Orlando defended well to close out the win after that, not allowing a significant shot through the rest of the game, despite being kept on the back foot by Nashville pushing numbers forward. The win marked the Lions’ first back-to-back victories of the regular season.

We hope you enjoy these pictures of the match and the ancillary activities.