We’re feeling the pressure, aren’t we? 😬 After a costly 1-1 draw at bottom-placed D.C. United, Orlando City SC return home for a massive showdown with Nashville SC. Winless since advancing past Toluca, the Lions must rediscover their form with the playoffs fast approaching – or at least we hope! Dropping points at Audi Field was criminal, and with only five regular season games left, the margin for error is now razor thin.
The stakes couldn’t be clearer. Orlando currently sit EIGHTH on 48 points but have one game in hand and trail fourth-placed Nashville by just two. A win at Inter&Co Stadium would put us right back in the top four fight. But Nashville have been a nightmare opponent this year, knocking us out of the U.S. Open Cup and hammering us 5-1 only two league games ago. Nothing less than three points will do if we’re serious about chasing a home playoff spot. No more excuses!
2025 MLS Cup Playoffs: Clinch scenarios
Orlando City SC will clinch a berth in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs if:
- Orlando City SC win against Nashville SC AND New York Red Bulls lose/draw at CF Montréal
Last time out
Last Saturday, Orlando City SC were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw against bottom-placed D.C. United at Audi Field. The result means we’re now winless in our last five games across 90+ minutes (all competitions). Despite creating chance after chance, the Lions once again failed to turn dominance into three points. D.C. struck first on 33 minutes when Conner Antley beat Iván Angulo and squared for Jackson Hopkins, who was left unmarked to finish easily. Orlando piled on the pressure throughout, but were thwarted by Luis Barraza time and time again. In an inspired performance, the D.C. keeper denied Martín Ojeda, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Marco Pašalić before the break. On 53 minutes, we finally broke Barraza’s resistance, with Alex Freeman heading home after a powerful Pašalić strike. A brave effort, Freeman was caught in the head by Lukas MacNaughton during the play, with VAR upgrading the defender’s yellow to a straight red. Despite playing over 40 minutes against 10 men, we pushed but just couldn’t find a second. On 80 minutes, Duncan McGuire had a goal ruled out for handball. And deep in stoppage time, Alex Freeman nearly snatched the winner, with Shakur Mohammed just inches from prodding it home. In the end, Orlando’s 25 shots (10 on target) and 57% possession produced only a point. It was a really costly result against the East’s bottom side.
Last head-to-head
On August 23, Orlando City SC saw their eight-game unbeaten run come to a crashing halt with a heavy 5-1 defeat away to Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. With Oscar Pareja opting for a heavily rotated lineup just days after our 2025 Leagues Cup quarter-final win over Toluca, the Lions looked second best from the outset. Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar each struck twice before half-time to put the hosts out of sight at 4-0. Orlando hit the post twice and created a handful of chances but were punished repeatedly for sloppy defensive play. Luis Muriel came off the bench to net a late consolation on 76 minutes, only to be sent off moments later in a moment of frustration. The result snapped Orlando’s four-game MLS winning streak and denied us the chance to leapfrog Nashville in the Eastern Conference standings.
What’s at stake this time?
Orlando City SC have slipped from fifth to eighth in the East with 48 points from 29 games played. Failing to beat bottom-placed D.C. United at Audi Field was criminal, and only time will tell how costly it proves in the hunt for a top four home playoff spot. D.C. away was our easiest game left, and while the race isn’t over, we could and should’ve made it much easier for ourselves. Right now, the gap to fourth-placed Nashville SC is just two points. Crucially, we still hold one game in hand and face them head-on this Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium — making three points an absolute must. The problem? Nashville have had our number in 2025. B. J. Callaghan’s side dumped us out of the U.S. Open Cup back in May and thrashed us 5-1 at GEODIS Park only two MLS games ago. The only saving grace from Matchday 33 was that Nashville and Inter Miami both lost — to FC Cincinnati (2-1) and Charlotte FC (3-0) respectively. However, Columbus Crew edged Atlanta United 4-5 in a wild game, before two more setbacks last night. Inter Miami beat Seattle Sounders 3-1 and New York City FC beat Crew 3-2. These results mean NYCFC, Miami and Crew are now above us. With just five regular season games remaining, our winless run is deeply worrying. For all the promise we’ve shown across the campaign, we risk throwing it all away at the worst possible time. Oscar Pareja and his squad must rally now, because if this slide continues, serious questions will be asked about his ability to deliver an MLS Cup. Lastly, Nashville SC come into this game buoyant after beating Philadelphia Union 3-1 on Tuesday to reach the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
Opposition danger men
🏴 Sam Surridge (21 goals, 4 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇩🇪 Hany Mukhtar (14 goals, 11 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇭🇳 Andy Najar (1 goal, 10 assists – 2025 MLS)
New opposition faces
🇨🇦 Jordan Knight (Huntsville City FC)
Injuries
🇺🇾 César Araújo (back) – questionable
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇪🇸 Adrián Marín (thigh) – questionable
🇺🇸 Zakaria Taifi (thigh) – out
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
🇺🇸 Julian Gaines (thigh) – out
🇺🇸 Wyatt Meyer (foot) – out
🇲🇽 Jonathan Pérez (thigh) – out
🇸🇪 Ahmed Qasem (ankle) – questionable
🇺🇸 Taylor Washington (knee) – out
🇺🇸 Walker Zimmerman (knee) – questionable
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
None
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Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- 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)
- August 23, 2025: Nashville SC 5 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
2015/25 head-to-head stats
- It was 5-1 to Nashville the last time the sides met (August 2025)
- Played Nashville 14 times in MLS – Orlando 6, Draws 4, Nashville 4
- Orlando have won 5 of the last 6 MLS head-to-heads
- Orlando have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 MLS fixtures
- Nashville have lost 5 of their last 6 MLS fixtures
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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, September 21.
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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