We made it folks! On a tense 2021 MLS Decision Day, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC finally punched their ticket to the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Reaching the post-season for the second successive season, the Lions now visit Nissan Stadium to face familiar foes Nashville SC. Just 360+ minutes separate Orlando City SC from 2021 MLS Cup glory!
Reflecting on our 2021 MLS regular season, Orlando City SC finished sixth with 51 points in a super-competitive Eastern Conference.
In the end, the Lions missed out on fourth place, and a crucial home game seeding, by the narrowest margin.
New York City FC’s superior win record (14 wins to Orlando City SC‘s 13 wins) saw The Pigeons finish fourth (51 points).
Elsewhere, our rivals Atlanta United finished fifth (51 points) thanks to 13 wins and a superior goal differential of +8 to Orlando City SC‘s +2.
In truth, Orlando City SC were simply grateful and relieved to make the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs at the end of Week 35.
In 2021, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC went 8-5-4 in their first 17 games, and then 5-8-5 in the second half of the season, achieving their highest MLS points tally (51) yet.
Too many draws meant Orlando City SC risked not making the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs at all on 2021 MLS Decision Day.
Fortunately, thanks to a brave 0-2 victory at CF Montréal, Orlando City SC took control of their own destiny.
Who knows, perhaps the do-or-die manner of our 0-2 win at CF Montréal sets us up perfectly?
Played like an unofficial playoff game given the high stakes for both CF Montréal and Orlando City SC, City will take great heart from this road performance.
On another night, CF Montréal could’ve won the game.
Tension reached fever pitch in the 23rd minute as Pedro Gallese made an incredible point-blank stop to deny Joaquín Torres.
Keeping it 0-0 by half-time, this preceded Jhegson Méndez‘s wonder strike that left Stade Saputo shell-shocked.
On 55 minutes, the Ecuadorian unleashed an unstoppable strike from outside the 18-yard box that looped beyond Sebastian Breza.
Jhegson Méndez‘s first Orlando City SC goal in MLS, it was an incredible time to open your account.
Then City survived a handball shout and a disallowed goal (VERY narrowly offside) by Romell Quioto.
In a game they needed to win, CF Montréal became increasingly agitated. The pressure proved too much for Rudy Camacho on 79 minutes.
Inflicting an ill-timed lunge on Daryl Dike, the Frenchman saw red before Dike sealed the crucial victory with an ice cool finish on 86 minutes.
So there you have it.
It’s now time for Orlando City SC to write the next chapter in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Vamos Orlando!
#OrlandoCityUK REACTS 🎥 | So proud of @OrlandoCitySC! 😍 A great historic night. Playing a do-or-die game like that sets us up nicely for the #MLSCupPlayoffs. Us against the world. 💪🏽
Thank you for engaging with OCUK throughout 2021. I love you all! 💜#OCTwitter #OrlandoCity pic.twitter.com/Zf7YW4T6tN
— x – Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) November 7, 2021
Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC – 2020/21 head-to-head stats
Last meeting Nashville SC on October 31, there was a nasty trick and no treat for Orlando City SC on Halloween.
With the game tied 1-1 deep in stoppage time, Alexandre Pato struck Joe Willis’ bar before Andrés Perea prodded home what he thought was an incredible playoff clinching goal.
This was only for referee Allen Chapman to incorrectly rule the goal out through VAR, and deny City a clinched spot in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
While Chapman and his VAR crew didn’t have this particular angle of slow motion footage to call upon, it still seemed highly unlikely that PRO Referees would overturn the goal at the time.
After all, it was certainly not “clear and obvious” that Daryl Dike had fouled Alistair Johnston at all in the build-up.
But to Orlando City SC‘s and even rival supporters’ disbelief, it only took Allen Chapman a matter of seconds to rule out this legitimate goal.
Had it not been for Orlando City SC finally clinching a spot in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs on 2021 MLS Decision Day, PRO Referees would’ve had blood on their hands.
Even though Nashville SC didn’t make this decision, perhaps revenge can be a motivator for Orlando City SC at Nissan Stadium.
Orlando City SC 1 Nashville SC 1 – Highlights – October 31, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
On November 5, Major League Soccer announced that Nashville SC will compete in the Western Conference in 2022.
An Eastern Conference member since 2020, Orlando City SC have seen plenty of the Music City side over the past two years.
This game series is as tight as they come with both Orlando City SC and Nashville SC enjoying ONE MLS win each.
With FOUR draws in just SIX head-to-heads, all THREE games contested in Tennessee have so far produced draws (1-1, 1-1, 2-2).
Something will have to give this time however in this win-or-go-home encounter.
On our most recent visit to Nissan Stadium (September 29), things weren’t looking good for Oscar Pareja‘s side.
Trailing 2-0 to Hany Mukhtar and Randall Leal goals, there was a gift from the gods on 76 minutes.
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.
When a Nani corner ballooned off Tah 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)
With 540+ minutes elapsed in this Tennessee vs. Florida affair, BOTH Nashville SC and Orlando City SC have scored in all SIX MLS head-to-heads.
Always serving up entertaining encounters, Nashville SC and Orlando City SC have been evenly matched foes.
Orlando City SC‘s only MLS victory (3-1) over Gary Smith’s side so far came back in August 2020.
A breakout game for young Daryl Dike, the now USMNT striker bagged a brace in a 3-1 victory to set a new MLS record for a rookie.
Scoring three goals in his first two career starts, Orlando City SC actually started the night on the back foot.
With Dave Romney putting Nashville SC into an early 0-1 lead, Oscar Pareja‘s side didn’t panic.
After Chris Mueller equalised just six minutes later, Orlando City SC seized the initiative in this one.
The second-half brace from Daryl Dike was particularly pleasing.
Handed a big opportunity with Dom Dwyer and Tesho Akindele missing, he seized it with both hands.
Nashville SC form
If Orlando City SC are to reach the Eastern Conference semi-finals like they did last season, they’ll have to do something that nobody has managed in 2021.
That is defeat Nashville SC at Nissan Stadium!
This season, Gary Smith’s side have gone 8-9-0 in their 17 MLS regular season fixtures hosted in Tennessee.
It’s a formidable record for a side only enjoying their second ever season in Major League Soccer.
After their 1-1 home draw with New York Red Bulls on 2021 MLS Decision Day, Nashville SC became only the seventh MLS side to go an entire regular season unbeaten at home.
They follow San Jose Earthquakes (2005), Real Salt Lake (2010), LA Galaxy (2011), Houston Dynamo (2012), Colorado Rapids (2016), and Philadelphia Union (2020).
Orlando City SC will take heart from the fact we’re unbeaten in THREE visits to Nissan Stadium (1-1, 1-1, 2-2).
However, this time, something has to give at the end of regulation, and perhaps, extra-time and penalty kicks.
Orlando City SC form
When any MLS regular season is done and you’re anticipating the MLS Cup Playoffs, you want your main guys fit and firing.
That’s exactly what Daryl Dike is doing right now!
After a stop-start 2021, the 21-year-old has been huge for Orlando City SC down the stretch.
Scoring SEVEN goals in his last NINE MLS games, Daryl Dike has been handy on the road since September.
Scoring FOUR goals in Orlando City SC‘s last FIVE road games, the stingy Nashville SC defence will have their hands full in this 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One fixture.
Furthermore, Daryl Dike has successfully converted THREE penalties from THREE since Nani relinquished penalty kick duties on September 29 – ironically at Nashville SC.
CF Montréal 0 Orlando City SC 2 – Highlights – November 7, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
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Don’t forget, Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC will be shown LIVE on FreeSports and Sky Sports Football in the early hours of Wednesday morning at 01:00 (GMT).
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
GOOD NEWS 🚨 | @NashvilleSC 🆚 @OrlandoCitySC in the 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ #MLSCupPlayoffs is LIVE on @FreeSports_TV & @SkySports Football in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 👍🏽
VIEW OUR TV TRACKER 📺: https://t.co/KV9JvpAA0o#NSHvORL #EveryoneN #OrlandoCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/7tsTAGvy0Q
— x – Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) November 21, 2021
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