What started as a tilt for a top four finish (and a home game seeding) now looks like a dogfight to reach the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs at all for Orlando City SC.
Beaten 3-2 at Columbus Crew on Wednesday, the Lions have just two games to go and risk dropping below the red line entering the final week of the 2021 MLS regular season.
In a super-tight Eastern Conference, Orlando City SC are currently placed fifth (32 games played, 47 points) after the midweek MLS action.
Nevertheless, just four points separate City from ninth-placed CF Montréal (31 games played, 43 points) who Orlando City SC visit on 2021 MLS Decision Day.
To make matters worse, CF Montréal, sixth-placed Atlanta United and eighth-placed New York Red Bulls all have a game in hand over Orlando City SC.
Right now, it’s truly nail-biting stuff for Orlando City SC who’ve been above the red line all season long.
All in all, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions haven’t won enough games in the second half of the 2021 MLS regular season.
Since our morale-boosting late win over rivals Atlanta United (3-2) on July 30, Orlando City SC have only won four of sixteen games.
Suffering four straight losses in September, our recent attempts to steady the ship haven’t been without complications.
Recently blowing 1-0 and 2-0 home leads against CF Montréal (1-1) and New England Revolution (2-2), our fate is slipping through our fingertips at the worst possible time.
Nevertheless, Oscar Pareja and his staff will be reminding this Orlando City SC team that it’s still in our hands.
If we are to limp over the finish line and reach the post-season, City will have to play a damn lot better against a resilient Nashville SC side.
Losing the fewest number of games in MLS this season (4), Gary Smith’s side have conceded the joint-fewest goals (31).
With Sunday’s fixture falling on Halloween, Orlando City SC supporters will be hoping for no tricks, only treats.
Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC – 2020/21 head-to-head stats
Last facing Nashville SC on September 29, Tah Anunga’s stoppage time own goal earned Orlando City SC an unlikely 2-2 comeback draw at Nissan Stadium.
Trailing 2-0 to Hany Mukhtar and Randall Leal goals, things were looking mighty bleak against Gary Smith’s stingy Nashville SC defence.
But on 76 minutes, a gift from the gods.
After Drew Fischer awarded a penalty to Orlando City SC, Daryl Dike stuck it beyond Joe Willis after Nani saw his PK saved by Revs’ Matt Turner a game earlier.
Buoyed by this strike, City battled to the full-time whistle and when a Nani corner ballooned off Anunga into his own goal, this was exactly the type of break the Lions needed to end a four-game losing streak.
Nashville SC 2 Orlando City SC 2 – Highlights – September 29, 2021 (Credit: Nashville Soccer Club)
Still early days in this Eastern Conference game series, both Orlando City SC and Nashville SC have enjoyed ONE MLS win each.
All THREE games contested in Tennessee so far have produced draws (1-1, 1-1, 2-2).
As for games at Exploria Stadium, this is where either side’s victories materialised.
In both sides’ inaugural MLS meeting in August 2020, 20-year-old Daryl Dike was only just announcing himself as the hottest new talent out of college.
Bagging a brace in a 3-1 victory at home, he set a new MLS rookie record with three goals in his first two career starts.
With 450+ minutes elapsed in this Florida vs. Tennessee affair, BOTH Orlando City SC and Nashville SC have scored in all FIVE MLS head-to-heads.
Always serving up entertaining encounters, Nashville SC and Orlando City SC have been evenly matched foes.
Back on 2020 MLS Decision Day, City had already sealed MLS Cup Playoffs qualification for the first time.
However, Nashville SC rained on our parade with an impressive 2-3 late win at Exploria Stadium.
In a topsy turvy game, Nashville SC twice overturned an Orlando City SC lead to steal all three points at the death.
With Daniel Lovitz and Hany Mukhtar goals cancelling out Daryl Dike and Nani’s strikes, Jhonder Cádiz’s stoppage time heart breaker won Gary Smith’s side the game.
Looking back, it took the Music City side just five minutes (88th minute to the 93rd minute) to completely overturn their 2-1 deficit.
Orlando City SC 2 Nashville SC 3 – Highlights – November 8, 2020 (Credit: Nashville Soccer Club)
Orlando City SC form
So you can muster encouragement, Orlando City SC are undefeated in NINE of their last TEN home fixtures in MLS.
Only losing two home fixtures all season, how on Earth do Orlando City SC find themselves in their current predicament, I hear you cry?
It hasn’t helped only winning three home fixtures since the halfway mark of the season.
Not turning one point into three regularly enough at home, Orlando City SC have to do something they didn’t against CF Montréal and New England Revolution.
That’s cleaning up the defence and holding onto a lead.
In truth, Orlando City SC supporters would take any kind of victory right now.
Whether we record a multi-goal shutout or come from behind with a last-minute winner, it’s all about reaching the post-season at any cost.
Orlando City SC 2 New England Revolution 2 – Highlights – October 24, 2021 (Credit: FOX Soccer)
Nashville SC form
The good news is that Nashville SC have been struggling to score goals on the road of late.
The bad news is that they snapped this streak on Wednesday, building confidence in front of goal with a 3-6 win at FC Cincinnati.
Prior to Wednesday’s trip to TQL Stadium, Gary Smith’s Nashville SC hadn’t scored in FOUR straight MLS away days.
Despite this scoreless run, the Music City side only lost one of these games though, tying three thanks to their ultra stingy backline.
If Orlando City SC are to reach the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, they absolutely have to get the better of Major League Soccer’s joint-best defence.
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Don’t forget, Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC will be shown LIVE on Sky Sports Football at the early time of 20:00 (GMT) on Sunday evening.
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
GOOD NEWS 🚨 | @OrlandoCitySC 🆚 @NashvilleSC is LIVE on @SkySports Football at the early time of 8PM on Sunday evening. 🦁⚽️👍🏽
VIEW OUR TV TRACKER 📺: https://t.co/KV9JvpAA0o#OCTwitter #ORLvNSH #OrlandoCity #VamosOrlando #EveryoneN #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/KYp3N3KezE
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) October 28, 2021
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