What a difference a week makes for Orlando City SC who achieved a huge morale-boosting 1-2 victory at Philadelphia Union on Gameweek 5.
Inflicting Union’s first MLS regular season defeat at home since September 2021, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions bounced back from their disappointing 1-2 Charlotte FC defeat the best way possible in a game interrupted by several international call-ups.
Despite Philadelphia Union missing several key players, namely Andre Blake and Dániel Gazdag, visitors to Subaru Park always arrive with trepidation.
After all, prior to last Saturday, Jim Curtin’s Union had won their last 13 consecutive home fixtures in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Orlando City SC laughed in the face of the form book however, striking not once but twice within the opening 10 minutes.
Leaving the home crowd shell-shocked, not to mention some City supporters too, it was hugely refreshing to see Orlando City SC really get after the 2022 MLS Cup runners-up.
Many Orlando City SC supporters have long called for Oscar Pareja to release the handbrake to truly unlock our attacking potential.
And seeing Martín Ojeda score for a second gameweek running, as well as Iván Angulo neatly slotting his first City goal, it brought a feel-good factor right back.
Over the 90, for shots (on goal), Union trumped City 26 (6) to 12 (4) but this time, the Lions were ruthless when chances presented themselves.
This is something we haven’t been able to say too frequently, albeit at this early stage of the campaign.
Another huge plus was the performance of Mason Stajduhar who was making his 2023 debut in place of the outstanding Pedro Gallese who was away on international duty with Peru.
Whenever an understudy steps into the starting eleven, there are doubts of rust, but Stajduhar grasped his opportunity with both hands, making multiple inspired stops throughout the game to preserve our lead.
City supporters might’ve thought they’d be in a for a long night by 17 minutes.
None other than ex-Lion Andrés Perea wheeled away to dance in celebration when tapping home a rebound against his former employers.
When onlookers might’ve expected Orlando City SC to bottle their early two-goal lead, the Lions hung tough all the way to the 98th minute.
Doing the squad’s confidence a world of good, the road result sets us up nicely for Nashville SC’s fifth visit to Exploria Stadium.
Gary Smith’s side are coming off a narrow 0-1 home defeat to FC Cincinnati on Gameweek 5 where a solitary Brandon Vazquez strike took all three points back to Ohio.
Nashville SC are back in the Eastern Conference after one season in the West and having got under City’s noses with some closely-fought, high stakes, and sometimes controversial games since 2020, there will be no love lost.
Certainly from The Wall, but maybe translating over to the field as we’ve seen on previous occasions.
On April Fools’ Day, let’s hope Orlando City SC make fools of our Tennessee opposition!
Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- October 31, 2021: Orlando City SC 1 Nashville SC 1 (MLS)
- November 23, 2021: Nashville SC 3 Orlando City SC 1 (2021 MLS Cup Playoffs)
- June 29, 2022: Orlando City SC 1 Nashville SC 1 (A.E.T.) (6-5 on penalties) (2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup)
2020/22 head-to-head stats
- It was 1-1 (6-5 on penalties) to Orlando the last time the sides met (June 2022)
- Played Nashville 7 times in MLS – Orlando 1, Draws 4, Nashville 2
- Both sides have scored in all 8 head-to-heads across all competitions
- Martín Ojeda has scored in Orlando’s last two consecutive MLS fixtures
- Nashville have failed to score in 3 of their 5 MLS fixtures this season
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, April 2.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2023 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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