FLORIDA IS PURPLE!! 😈😏 I don’t know about you but I’m still on a HUGE high after last night! Our 0-3 demolition of Inter Miami at Chase Stadium was a statement win – and our first-ever against Lionel Messi! Oscar Pareja’s Lions have surged from eighth to fifth in just two MLS gameweeks, extending our MLS unbeaten streak to 11 matches – just one shy of our longest MLS run (12 matches, Aug–Oct 2020). With dominant shutout derby wins over Atlanta United (3-0), Tampa Bay Rowdies (0-5), and now Inter Miami (0-3), Papi is masterminding important victories against all the sides we love to hate. So, massive credit to him, the coaching staff, and the players!
Now, focus shifts to this crucial Round of 16 Open Cup tie against Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium. Our first home game in the competition this year, it’s a key chance to move closer to a second U.S. Open Cup title in four seasons. With the likes of Los Angeles FC and Columbus Crew absent, Orlando City SC’s strong form makes a deep cup run very achievable. And make no mistake – we’ll be taking this tournament very seriously as we look to add more silverware to “The Vault”!
Last time out
In front of a global audience on ‘Sunday Night Soccer’, Orlando City SC finally got the better of a Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami side at the third attempt! In a commanding 0-3 performance, we silenced Fort Lauderdale and claimed our first derby day victory there since May 2023. Goals from Luis Muriel, Marco Pašalić, and Dagur Dan Thórhallsson sealed the deal, while Pedro Gallese delivered an outstanding performance when called upon. Extending our unbeaten run to 11 games in MLS (5-6-0), and 12 in all competitions, the Lions were tactically disciplined and ruthless in transition. Ultimately, we executed Oscar Pareja’s game plan to perfection! Muriel opened the scoring with a clinical finish after a brilliant long ball from Gallese. Then Pašalić doubled our advantage early in the second-half with a deflected strike. With Miami throwing numbers forward, City held their shape, blocked everything, and punished an embarrassing defensive display on the break. Thórhallsson’s late third put the exclamation mark on a truly dominant showing where we never looked like conceding. Messi huffed and puffed (literally!) but was largely kept quiet, with Robin Jansson and Rodrigo Schlegel marshalling the backline superbly. It could’ve been more, too, with missed chances for Martín Ojeda, Iván Angulo, and Ramiro Enrique. Not only did we hand Messi his heaviest-ever home league defeat in a match he’s featured in (his 313th such appearance). City also became the first side to shut out Inter Miami at Chase Stadium since FC Cincinnati in October 2023. This snapped The Herons’ 24-game home scoring streak. In truth, this was as complete a performance as we’ve seen from the Lions this season – clinical, composed, and commanding in enemy territory. Bloody beautiful!
Last head-to-head
On August 31, 2024, Orlando City SC bounced back from a 3-0 humbling at Sporting Kansas City by defeating Nashville SC 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium. The win extended City’s dominant run over the Boys in Gold, marking a fifth straight shutout victory in MLS play against the Tennessee side. Iván Angulo opened the scoring on 11 minutes before Facundo Torres netted twice – first via a volley at the back post, and later a powerful finish set up by Duncan McGuire. After Pedro Gallese helped weather the early storm, City took full control, with Martín Ojeda running the show and cheekily nutmegging Tah Anunga in the build-up to Torres’ opener. Orlando’s attacking fluency was matched by defensive resilience as Oscar Pareja’s side restricted Nashville’s chances, with a disallowed goal deep into stoppage time preserving our clean sheet. A milestone night for Torres, his brace saw him surpass Nani’s all-time goal contributions record for Orlando City SC (52).
What’s at stake this time?
After dumping out Tampa Bay Rowdies 0-5 in the Round of 32, a spot in the U.S. Open Cup quarter-finals is on the line! And if we qualify, it would be Orlando City SC’s fifth-ever appearance at that stage. But standing in the way are B. J. Callaghan’s Nashville SC – a side unbeaten in their last six across all competitions. Drawing 0-0 with D.C. United at home on Saturday, Nashville are usually a tough and resilient opponent. With no fixed bracket beyond this round, future opponents will be determined by a draw, factoring in travel and logistics. Unbeaten in 12 straight across all competitions, the Lions will be eager to keep this streak alive. And who knows, maybe our name could be on the U.S. Open Cup for a second time in just four seasons? The last time we did it, we knocked out Rowdies and Nashville en route – a good omen indeed!
Opposition danger men
🇩🇪 Hany Mukhtar (6 goals, 4 assists – 2025 MLS)
🏴 Sam Surridge (6 goals, 3 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇺🇸 Daniel Lovitz (2 goals, 4 assists – 2025 MLS)
New opposition faces
🇺🇾 Gastón Brugman (LA Galaxy)
🇳🇴 Edvard Tagseth (Rosenborg)
🇭🇳 Bryan Acosta (Real España)
🇩🇴 Xavier Valdez (Houston Dynamo)
🇨🇴 Jeisson Palacios (América de Cali)
🇺🇸 Chris Applewhite (Huntsville City FC)
🇭🇳 Andy Najar (C.D. Olimpia)
🇺🇸 Brian Schwake (CD Castellón)
🇺🇸 Matthew Corcoran (Birmingham Legion FC)
🇸🇪 Ahmed Qasem (Elfsborg)
Injuries
🇨🇴 Eduard Atuesta (neck) – out
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇨🇴 Nicolás Rodríguez (thigh) – out
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
🇺🇸 Tyler Boyd (knee) – out
🇺🇸 Maximus Ekk (knee) – out
🇺🇸 Julian Gaines (thigh) – out
🇺🇸 Taylor Washington (knee) – out
🇺🇸 Walker Zimmerman (head) – out
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
None
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Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- November 7, 2023: Nashville SC 0 Orlando City SC 1 (2023 MLS Cup Playoffs)
- July 17, 2024: Nashville SC 0 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
- August 31, 2024: Orlando City SC 3 Nashville SC 0 (MLS)
2020/24 head-to-head stats
- It was 3-0 to Orlando the last time the sides met (August 2024)
- Played Nashville 13 times in MLS – Orlando 6, Draws 4, Nashville 3
- Orlando have won the last 5 MLS head-to-heads by an aggregate score of 9-0
- Orlando have scored 3 goals in 4 of their last 5 MLS fixtures
- Hany Mukhtar has scored in 3 of Nashville’s last 5 MLS fixtures (4 goals)
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC will be shown live on Paramount+ at 00:30 (GMT) on Thursday, May 22.
Subscribe to Paramount+ now by clicking here.
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