After losing 3-2 at Inter Miami, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now return to Exploria Stadium for a first ever meeting with 2020 MLS new boys Nashville SC.
The first action at Exploria Stadium in 179 days, the Lions need to respond after a disappointing showing in Fort Lauderdale.
Only a one-goal game by full-time, Inter Miami bossed it in large spells. In the first-half, The Herons ruthlessly punished some slack Orlando City SC passing to go 2-1 at the interval.
The hungrier side, Diego Alonso’s team played with a real chip on their shoulder.
Eager to grab a first franchise victory in their inaugural home fixture, City couldn’t live with a committed, intense performance.
Both Julián Carranza (2) and Rodolfo Pizarro were the standouts with Orlando City SC affording them too much respect at times.
Prior to kick-off, Oscar Pareja made two changes to the starting eleven. In truth, one change paid off and the other didn’t.
The experiment of Júnior Urso at right wing didn’t really work.
However, Daryl Dike was a handful all night, giving debutant Leandro González Pírez a real battle and notching a first MLS goal on his first ever start.
Moving forward, our next opponents Nashville SC have contested three games in the regular season restart.
Currently eleventh in the Eastern Conference with four points from five games, the Music City side swapped conferences for 2020 back on June 10.
As we all know, life as an expansion franchise can be tough. The Nissan Stadium-based side are still very much a work in progress. However, Gary Smith does have MLS veterans and exciting talents on his inaugural season roster.
Helping earn the club’s first win at FC Dallas on August 12, David Accam is somebody Orlando City SC supporters can’t stand.
With SIX MLS goals against City since 2015, the jet-heeled Ghanaian winger is a threat, as is USMNT defender Walker Zimmerman on set pieces.
Elsewhere, the Tennessee side is captained by Orlando native Dax McCarty. Designated Players Randall Leal and Hany Mukhtar are match winners too.
Orlando City SC will be roared on by some home fans in this one though. Exploria Stadium is reopening at a reduced capacity in line with COVID-19 precautions.
Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC – Head-to-head stats
While every expansion franchise brings something different to MLS, the expectations are that home games against new teams are very winnable.
Finding their feet in year one, it’s up to Orlando City SC to make their six-year league experience count.
Ruthlessly punishing 2019 entrants FC Cincinnati 5-1 at Exploria Stadium in May 2019, this is a game City supporters will be very disappointed to draw or lose.
Especially since Orlando City SC need to prove that their #MLSisBack Tournament form wasn’t a fluke.
Orlando City SC form
Including the #MLSisBack Tournament, Orlando City SC have contested TEN Major League Soccer fixtures this year.
Of the ten full-time results, HALF (FIVE) have been separated by just ONE goal.
With City beating Inter Miami (2-1) and Montreal Impact (1-0), we’ve lost to Colorado Rapids (2-1), Portland Timbers (2-1) and Inter Miami (3-2).
Ultimately, Oscar Pareja‘s side have stayed competitive in every single game so far this season.
This isn’t something you can say of previous Orlando City SC sides of recent seasons.
It was a new feeling altogether for Oscar Pareja at Orlando City SC last time out at Inter Miami CF Stadium.
Indeed, the 2-1 half-time deficit to Inter Miami was the first time the Lions have trailed at the break under his tenure.
A first-half outing that was careless and disjointed, Orlando City SC looked a far cry from the side that put in such impressive performances in the bubble.
Not sacrificing our newfound principles of play at Inter Miami, Papi and the coaching staff do need City to start much faster and alert against Nashville SC.
Inter Miami 3 Orlando City SC 2 – Highlights – August 22, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Nashville SC form
Reflecting on Nashville SC’s short history in MLS so far, one thing is clear – games have been low scoring.
ONE or BOTH teams have failed to score in Nashville SC’s last FOUR Major League Soccer fixtures.
Visiting Exploria Stadium after a 2-0 defeat at Atlanta United, the Music City side will be looking to respond but they desperately lack goals right now.
Prior to their loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Nashville SC lost 1-0 to Portland Timbers before defeating FC Dallas (0-1) and tying with the Texan side (0-0).
Atlanta United 2 Nashville SC 0 – Highlights – August 22, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
As we just mentioned, Nashville SC desperately lack goals at the minute.
With just TWO Major League Soccer goals in FIVE fixtures so far, only Walker Zimmerman and David Accam have found the net for the Tennessee side.
Ultimately, it’s been 184 regulation minutes since Accam’s 86th minute strike that snatched all three points at FC Dallas on August 12.
This was Nashville SC’s first and only Major League Soccer victory to date.
FC Dallas 0 Nashville SC 1 – Highlights – August 12, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
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Don’t forget, Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC will be shown LIVE on FreeSports in the early hours of Thursday morning just after 00:30 (GMT).
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
GOOD NEWS 🚨 | @OrlandoCitySC 🆚 @NashvilleSC is LIVE on @FreeSports_TV in the early hours of Thursday morning. 👍🏽⚽️📺🇬🇧
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— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) August 23, 2020