ALL HAIL EL PULPO!! 🐙🧤 Orlando City SC head into Saturday’s six-pointer against Nashville SC riding high, having qualified for the 2025 Leagues Cup semi-finals with a 0-0 (5-6 on penalties) win over Toluca in Carson, California. Booking a semi-final with Inter Miami at Chase Stadium, we’re now just 90 minutes away from clinching a place in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Now back in MLS action, we have a golden chance to leapfrog Nashville into third place in the East. B. J. Callaghan’s side come into this one flat after three consecutive MLS defeats. But the Music City side are really strong at home (9-3-1). Something has to give in Tennessee, and with Papi’s men hitting their late-season stride, this showdown could prove pivotal in shaping the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Last time out
Last night, Orlando City SC booked their first-ever trip to the Leagues Cup semi-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Toluca at Dignity Health Sports Park. In a cagey quarter-final that ended 0-0, it was Pedro Gallese who stole the show. El Pulpo made two huge saves in sudden death before stepping up himself to bury the winning spot kick as City triumphed 5-6. Far from our fluent best, we created just four shots all night. But we showed defensive grit to grind it out against the Liga MX high-flyers. Twice denied by the offside flag in the first-half, City struggled to build rhythm in attack. And ultimately, it was Gallese’s heroics that made the difference, snapping Orlando’s two-game shootout skid against Mexican opposition. The result guarantees Orlando two more Leagues Cup games, starting with a huge semi-final against Inter Miami, who advanced with a 2-1 win over Tigres UANL. Having already swept The Herons (0-3 and 4-1) this season, we have every reason to believe we can push on to the 2025 Leagues Cup Final — and secure a 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup spot. Remember, both finalists and the third place playoff winner qualify for the competition. Now unbeaten in eight straight games (6-2-0), let’s carry our momentum back into MLS play.
Last head-to-head
On May 21, Orlando City SC crashed out of the U.S. Open Cup in gut-wrenching fashion, falling 2-3 to Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium. Despite Marco Pašalić’s rocket and Ramiro Enrique’s equaliser, a late strike from Wyatt Meyer sealed our Round of 16 exit. In truth, Oscar Pareja’s strong XI was undone by two sloppy first-half goals and some questionable officiating. Rodrigo Schlegel endured a rough night with an unfortunate own goal and lapses in concentration, while Ahmed Qasem punished a lack of pressure to put the visitors ahead at the break. The Lions responded after half-time with some slick interplay between Alex Freeman, Pašalić and Enrique. But a blatant handball in the box went unpunished – a decision Pareja later called “incredible”. Despite leaving Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge at home, a heavily rotated Nashville side still looked the livelier team and ultimately prevailed.
What’s at stake this time?
After 27 games, Orlando City SC (47 points) sit fourth in the East — but the table couldn’t be tighter. Nashville sit just above us in third, making Saturday’s clash a true six-pointer. On level points, Nashville only edge us due to their superior win record (14 to our 13) – the first tie-breaker in MLS Cup Playoffs qualification. The good news? Nashville are stumbling badly under B. J. Callaghan, losing three straight MLS games and looking vulnerable in their push for a home playoff spot. That said, Nashville are formidable at home (9-3-1) and have only lost once to FC Cincinnati (1-2) back in March. Lurking just behind us are Inter Miami (45 points), who still hold three games in hand after their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup run. Ultimately, the margin for error is razor thin. Thankfully, the Lions are firing on all cylinders. With 53 goals in MLS play, we’re tied with Inter Miami as the league’s top scorers. Fittingly, this clash will showcase two of Major League Soccer’s leading scorers – Nashville’s Sam Surridge, second in the 2025 MLS Golden Boot race with 18 goals, and Martín Ojeda, joint-fourth with 14. Late-season surges have become our trademark under Papi — and this trip to GEODIS Park could be the moment we truly stamp our authority in the Eastern playoff race.
Opposition danger men
🏴 Sam Surridge (18 goals, 4 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇩🇪 Hany Mukhtar (12 goals, 9 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇭🇳 Andy Najar (1 goal, 10 assists – 2025 MLS)
New opposition faces
🇺🇸 Tate Schmitt (Houston Dynamo)
Injuries
🇺🇸 Tyler Boyd (knee) – questionable
🇺🇸 Julian Gaines (thigh) – out
🇺🇸 Dan Lovitz (foot) – questionable
🇺🇸 Wyatt Meyer (foot) – out
🇺🇸 Taylor Washington (knee) – out
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇺🇸 Duncan McGuire (shoulder) – out
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
None
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Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- July 17, 2024: Nashville SC 0 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
- August 31, 2024: Orlando City SC 3 Nashville SC 0 (MLS)
- May 21, 2025: Orlando City SC 2 Nashville SC 3 (2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup)
2020/25 head-to-head stats
- It was 2-3 to Nashville the last time the sides met (May 2025)
- Played Nashville 13 times in MLS – Nashville 3, Draws 4, Orlando 6
- Orlando have won the last 5 MLS head-to-heads by an aggregate score of 9-0
- Nashville have won their last 3 MLS home fixtures ‘to nil’
- Orlando have scored within 2 minutes in their last 2 MLS fixtures
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Watching the game
Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 01:30 (GMT) on Sunday, August 24.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC’s 2025 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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