Impressively only requiring two games, not three, to overcome Nashville SC in the Round One Best-of-3 series in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC are now set to contest their second ever Eastern Conference Semi-Final. Now reverting back to a single elimination format, just two games separate the Lions from 2023 MLS Cup itself, the holy grail fixture that may yet be hosted at Exploria Stadium, barring overall number one seed FC Cincinnati reaching this stage of course.
Now hosting overall number three seed Columbus Crew, qualifying from their own Best-of-3 series after a game three win (4-2) over Atlanta United on November 12, Orlando City SC drew 1-1 and won 4-3 against Wilfried Nancy’s Crew side in the MLS regular season. Considering the Ohio side had to contest a third game in Round One compared to the Lions, City have enjoyed more rest regardless of the recent international break, something that we hope provides us some form of advantage in our biggest MLS game since our Eastern Conference Semi-Final defeat to New England Revolution (1-3) back in November 2020.
Casting our minds back to November 7, Orlando City SC punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Semi-Final stage after sealing a superbly managed 0-1 win at Nashville SC’s GEODIS Park – a mature win that further boosts our MLS Cup winning credentials.
Considering Iván Angulo opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute, Oscar Pareja‘s side did incredibly well to hold onto this lead for so long, defending admirably and limiting the Tennessee side to low percentage chances throughout the game.
Our third consecutive 0-1 / 1-0 victory over Gary Smith’s side in little over one month, Orlando City SC deserve massive credit for earning two clean sheets in Round One and keeping Nashville SC and the talented Hany Mukhtar off the scoresheet.
The Lions’ 0-1 win at Nashville SC was also significant because it was Orlando City SC’s first ever away win in the MLS Cup Playoffs and City’s sixth MLS win in a row, tying the club’s all-time longest winning streak from 2018 under Jason Kreis – remember that false dawn?
Also our fifth clean sheet in six Major League Soccer games, Orlando City SC‘s game management since late September has been first class, a trend we’ll need to continue if we are to go all the way and lift MLS Cup.
Reliving the November 7 action, Iván Angulo‘s sixth minute opener was the result of some uncharacteristically sloppy Nashville SC defending.
Since entering MLS in 2020, Nashville SC have deservedly earned league-wide plaudits for having a super stingy, stubborn, and resilient backline.
However, there was nothing disciplined about the way in which Dax McCarty sold Walker Zimmerman short with an underhit back pass into his own Nashville SC box!
A play capitalised upon by Iván Angulo, our jet-heeled Colombian nipped in between the play, pinched the ball, and kept his balance before striking a right footed shot that deflected off of Lukas MacNaughton and looped beyond the helpless Joe Willis.
In a huge game like this, with so much on the line, scoring the first goal was always going to be key, especially considering Nashville had only won 2 of their 14 MLS fixtures prior.
Indeed, Angulo’s early goal left the GEODIS Park crowd shell-shocked with the Nashville SC players only growing more nervous with a mountain to climb mentally, if not score-wise.
With caps of travelling Orlando City SC supporters celebrating high up inside the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States, there was plenty more work to do to ensure our safe passage through to the Eastern Conference Semi-Final stage.
On 24 minutes, tempers flared as Aníbal Godoy nipped at César Araújo‘s heels off of a City throw with our number five grabbing his left leg down on the turf.
A play that earned the Panamanian a deserved yellow card, Orlando City SC players, led by none other than Rodrigo Schlegel, leapt in front of Godoy in disgust with games between these sides always chippy, ill-tempered, and seemingly played on the edge.
After Angulo’s opener, Orlando City SC played bunker and counter, a familiar tactic that Oscar Pareja has perfected this season with chances always likely to come our way with Nashville SC needing to push for an equaliser.
Indeed, on 37 minutes, Mauricio Pereyra sent a delicious pass upfield to Duncan McGuire in a dangerous Orlando City SC breakaway.
McGuire then spotted Facundo Torres who broke into the Nashville SC box, cutting the ball back to his favoured left foot before patiently spotting Iván Angulo.
Unfortunately, the Colombian was denied his second goal of the night by Joe Willis who comfortably collected his tame strike.
Only a minute later, it was Nashville SC on the attack.
Slightly unsighted, Pedro Gallese spilled a Daniel Lovitz volley from range, a shot that fell loose to Hany Mukhtar who thought he’d equalised, only for the play to be correctly and undeniably flagged offside.
Navigating nine minutes of first-half stoppage time, Orlando City SC were feeling good at half-time but knew the game was far from over.
On 54 minutes, City’s secret weapon and game one hero Wilder Cartagena nearly made it two goals in two games with a surprise dipping volley unleashed just inside Nashville SC’s penalty area.
Considering Duncan McGuire beautifully assisted Cartagena with a deft flick, it would’ve been another outstanding play and a stunning Cartagena strike.
As Orlando City SC conspired to grab a killer second goal, one that would completely demoralise Nashville SC, this almost came our way on 79 minutes.
Going on a mazy run forward, substitute Júnior Urso slalomed his way between the entire Nashville SC defence before Sean Davis did just enough to intercept The Bear’s strike that was deflected just over Joe Willis’ bar.
After the play, there was a wry smile from Urso who knew that a second goal would’ve effectively sealed our post-season progression, settling Orlando City SC nerves in the latter stages of the game.
But as we’ve seen Oscar Pareja‘s side do time and time again, Orlando City SC managed their lead and the remaining minutes incredibly well, just like they did in game one.
With only four minutes of second-half stoppage time called, to City supporters’ relief, Orlando City SC saw it out again before Allen Chapman’s full-time whistle was met with sheer ecstasy and joy in the away dugout.
With Oscar Pareja leaping up into assistant coach Josema Bazán‘s arms, Papi then fist pumped towards Felipe Martins, demonstrating Orlando City SC’s hunger, passion, and determination to prove our early season doubters wrong, go all the way to lifting 2023 MLS Cup, and deliver the city of Orlando its first ever major sporting title.
Considering it was goals from two loan players that sealed Orlando City SC‘s safe passage through to the Eastern Conference Semi-Final stage in the form of Wilder Cartagena and Iván Angulo, nothing sums up City’s unity, togetherness, and tight-knit brotherhood more perfectly.
A super sweet post-season triumph, it was great getting one over the under pressure Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith too.
Outspoken in his criticism of Orlando City SC after the clubs’ recent October meetings, Smith’s quotes of “It’s not anything I would want for my team” and “You’ve still seen them jumping up and down like they’ve won the World Cup” are nothing but sour grapes with the Lions having undoubtedly got under the Englishman’s skin.
Not a bad trait to have when you’re in #HuntingSeason and chasing down ultimate Major League Soccer glory!
Furthermore, Nashville SC captain and Winter Park, Orlando native Dax McCarty corroborated the theme of ill-feelings between either side when speaking in the lead-up to game two.
In a pre-match press conference, McCarty stated: “Throughout the last couple years, we’ve actually developed a pretty good, organic little rivalry with Orlando. That type of stuff happens on the field.”
As for final footnotes prior to our massive Eastern Conference Semi-Final against Columbus Crew, Orlando City SC will have to be wary of dangerous Designated Player Cucho Hernández.
Not only scoring in Crew’s crazy 4-3 defeat at Exploria Stadium back on September 16, the former Watford forward recently scored three goals across the first two games of Crew’s Round One Best-of-3 series triumph over Atlanta United.
Combining the MLS regular season and the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, Cucho Hernández has now scored 19 goals this year and is undoubtedly Crew’s biggest attacking threat, alongside decorated mid-season recruit Diego Rossi.
Elsewhere, it is the second year in a row that Oscar Pareja has faced Wilfried Nancy in the post-season.
Before becoming Crew head coach, Nancy was in charge of the CF Montréal side that eliminated the Lions from the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs last October.
Under Nancy, Crew are an all-action side with a gung-ho approach to soccer, underlined by the fact they scored the highest number of goals (67) in all of MLS during the 2023 regular season.
Favouring a 3-4-3 formation with natural wing backs Steven Moreira and Malte Amundsen bravely deployed narrowly either side of Rudy Camacho, Crew’s cavalier approach often leaves them exposed at the back.
An entertaining approach, yet one that certainly has limitations, we saw Crew’s soft underbelly exploited firsthand at Exploria Stadium back on September 16.
On the night, Crew blew a two-goal lead with the Lions roaring back to dramatically win 4-3 thanks to Ramiro Enrique‘s buzzer beater with virtually the last kick of the game.
Heading into Saturday, Columbus Crew are basically at full strength with only Will Sands (knee) out injured.
Thankfully, Orlando City SC are at full strength too. Only the inexperienced Favian Loyola (left arm) and Jack Lynn (left thigh) are both out of contention.
Again, we must reiterate that Rodrigo Schlegel deserves huge credit for his newfound poise and solidity that has given Oscar Pareja a positive selection headache at centre back.
Starting both Round One games against Nashville SC, our 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs hero is a player brimming with confidence and belief right now, and is likely to keep fan favourite Antônio Carlos on the bench yet again on Saturday.
Since becoming Robin Jansson’s centre back partner after Antônio Carlos‘s injury that coincided with our 2023 Leagues Cup exit, Schlegel has started 13 consecutive MLS games, hasn’t looked back, and is arguably the most improved player on City’s roster right now.
Previously unpredictable and reckless, Rodrigo Schlegel is now defending with greater calmness and maturity having enjoyed his longest run of games as a starter.
The fact that we can call on the calibre of a defender like Antônio Carlos from the substitutes’ bench speaks to the quality of City’s squad depth this season.
Indeed, the experienced and battle-hardened Brazilian is the perfect candidate to come on late as an extra defensive body, helping to do the dirty work to protect an advantage, no matter how slender.
Now that Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC have maturely evolved into a side that can play on the counter, suffer for long periods, and still prevail 1-0 / 0-1, or alternatively go toe-to-toe with top opponents by outscoring them, just like our aforementioned 4-3 comeback win over Crew, the Lions’ newfound resilience and tactical versatility underlines our MLS Cup winning credentials even further.
With all that said, let’s now go further than we ever have before in the post-season.
Right now, I’m a mixture of nerves, yet optimism, anxiety, yet expectation.
Let’s do this thing!
Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew
Last 3 head-to-heads
- October 9, 2022: Orlando City SC 2 Columbus Crew 1 (2022 MLS Decision Day)
- May 13, 2023: Columbus Crew 2 Orlando City SC 2 (MLS)
- September 16, 2023: Orlando City SC 4 Columbus Crew 3 (MLS)
2015/23 head-to-head stats
- It was 4-3 to Orlando the last time the sides met (September 2023)
- Played Crew 19 times in MLS – Orlando 9, Draws 4, Crew 6
- Orlando have won 8 of the last 10 MLS head-to-heads
- Orlando have won 5 of their last 6 MLS fixtures “to nil”
- Crew have scored at least 2 goals in 5 of their last 6 MLS fixtures
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew will be shown live on Apple TV at the earlier time of 22:30 (GMT) on Saturday, November 25.
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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