After all the thrills and spills of a MLS regular season that saw Orlando City SC win more games than ever before (18) and achieve their highest all-time single-season points tally (63) – finishing a mightily impressive second in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield despite having the lowest salary spend of all – it’s now time for the agony and the ecstasy of the post-season.
City now face the side that finished seventh in the East, Nashville SC, at Exploria Stadium in game one of the newly revamped Round One Best-of-3 series of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Lions have crucially secured home field advantage in this round courtesy of our Eastern Conference top four seeding (number two overall in MLS).
Significantly, Orlando City SC’s overall number two seeding means that we have home field advantage throughout our participation in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs as well.
This means we have sealed the dream scenario of potentially hosting 2023 MLS Cup at our Exploria Stadium home, should we get that far, and barring number one seed FC Cincinnati reaching this stage of course.
Additionally, City enter the post-season as the outright best team on their travels in MLS. Indeed, we’ve earned nine wins and four draws (31 points) across our 17 away fixtures this regular season.
Impressively, this is just one point fewer than the 32 points we’ve collected at Exploria Stadium.
Casting our minds back to 2023 MLS Decision Day, Orlando City SC defeated Toronto FC 0-2 at BMO Field.
In a dead rubber game, Oscar Pareja made nine changes to his starting lineup ahead of more important post-season games to come.
Handing starts to Mason Stajduhar, Michael Halliday, Antônio Carlos, Luca Petrasso, Felipe Martins, Júnior Urso, Gastón González, Martín Ojeda, and Ramiro Enrique, it was the first time that Ojeda has captained the team.
In a low-key first-half, whipping boys Toronto FC played with greater belief than usual.
This was probably because it was John Herdman’s first game in charge and captain Michael Bradley’s final game before retirement.
With The Reds playing protagonist north of the border, Orlando City SC really struggled to make any attacking inroads.
We were simply content to stay rigid in our shape, countering when few opportunities presented themselves.
City lacked chemistry since many fringe Lions were enjoying rare starts and hadn’t played much soccer together.
Summing up City’s disconnection, on 42 minutes, Gaston Gonzalez sent a dangerous pass right across Toronto FC’s penalty area.
Unfortunately however, there were no onrushing Lions to connect with the Argentine’s cross.
After half-time, the 52nd minute saw Prince Owusu tuck a strike past Mason Stajduhar but the German forward was correctly flagged offside.
In a game that was passing the Lions by, this play seemed to wake City up from their slumber, especially when Oscar Pareja upped the ante on 61 minutes.
Subbing in big hitters Mauricio Pereyra, Iván Angulo, and Duncan McGuire, it only took outstanding rookie McGuire a mere 75 seconds to open the scoring!
It all started when Mason Stajduhar launched a long goal kick forward.
With no respect for the retiring Michael Bradley, McGuire sprinted forward, latched onto Stajduhar’s goal kick, and flicked the ball over the TFC captain.
Expertly keeping it under control, McGuire then unleashed an unerring dipping strike from range past the helpless Sean Johnson (0-1).
A sensational strike from a player brimming with confidence having just received his first two caps for the USYNT, Duncan McGuire somersaulted in front of a stunned Lakeshore Terrace who could only watch on in awe.
The play also saw Mason Stajduhar become the first Orlando City SC goalkeeper to register an assist in MLS regular season history.
Double-digit Duncan’s ridiculously good rookie season got even better on 74 minutes.
With McGuire making an intelligent run from out to in, fellow substitute Kyle Smith threaded through a delightful assist from deep.
Smith expertly spotted our number 13 who coolly slotted his thirteenth MLS goal of an unforgettable season past Sean Johnson (0-2).
The goal was significant because it saw Duncan McGuire surpass Damani Ralph (12) for the most goals (13) scored by a draft pick in their first MLS season out of college.
McGuire’s second goal took the game completely out of The Reds’ reach. It effectively consigned Toronto FC to their worst ever MLS season (22 points) as the locals headed for the exit doors.
Our 0-2 MLS Decision Day win at TFC was Orlando City SC‘s fourth consecutive MLS victory and our ninth away victory of the regular season – superb for morale.
The win saw City finish the 2023 regular season with a huge 63 points, tying our club record from 2016 for the most goals scored (55).
Furthermore, City are just the fourth MLS team since 2012 to win nine regular season away games or more.
Oscar Pareja, his coaching staff, and the players deserve massive credit for our fantastic regular season, but as our 2023 home opener tifo said, we’re still hungry for more!
Heading into the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs and this huge Round One series against Nashville SC, you should know about some post-season format changes.
Ultimately the first team to win two matches in the Round One Best-of-3 series will advance to the Eastern Conference Semi-Final stage.
At full-time, any tied games go straight to penalty kicks – just like we saw in the 2023 Leagues Cup.
Should Orlando City SC win game one (home) and game two (away), either in 90 minutes or via penalty kicks, there is no need for game three (home) – scheduled for November 12 – that will be immediately rendered obsolete.
A tough nut for Orlando City SC to crack over the years, Nashville SC and their head coach Gary Smith will no doubt be fired up for revenge following the clubs’ recent GEODIS Park meeting on October 4.
With offside controversy surrounding Duncan McGuire‘s game-winning goal (0-1), Gary Smith aimed a backhanded compliment at the Lions in his post-match press conference.
Speaking to the local media that night, Smith said: “For the quality team they are, they spent so much time trying to run down the clock… it’s not anything that I would want for my team.”
Considering that Gary Smith’s Nashville SC team have deservedly earned a reputation for being stingy, battle-hardened, and tough to beat over the years, the hypocrisy of Smith’s statement hasn’t gone unnoticed in Orlando City SC circles – that’s for sure.
Sour grapes if you ask me, Oscar Pareja and his team must be prepared for an even more determined Nashville SC than usual.
With the Lions still carrying scars from when Nashville SC eliminated us from the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, it’s now time for #HuntingSeason to begin.
After a MLS regular season that has every Orlando City SC supporter brimming with pride, buckle up as City attempt to create history in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Let’s do this thing!
Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- June 29, 2022: Orlando City SC 1 Nashville SC 1 (A.E.T.) (6-5 on penalties) (2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup)
- April 1, 2023: Orlando City SC 0 Nashville SC 2 (MLS)
- October 4, 2023: Nashville SC 0 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
2020/23 head-to-head stats
- It was 0-1 to Orlando the last time the sides met (October 2023)
- Played Nashville 9 times in MLS – Orlando 2, Draws 4, Nashville 3
- Hany Mukhtar has scored in 4 of the last 5 head-to-heads across all competitions
- Duncan McGuire has scored in Orlando’s last 3 consecutive MLS fixtures – tallying 4 goals in total
- Nashville have only won 2 of their last 13 MLS fixtures
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC will be shown live on Apple TV at the earlier time of 23:00 (GMT) on Monday, October 30.
Remember, UK supporters can watch this game and all of Orlando City SC‘s fixtures in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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