THE CARDIAC CATS ARE BACK, BABY!! 🫀🦁 And just in the nick of time! Duncan McGuire’s last-gasp winner against Nashville SC wasn’t only massive for him personally. It could prove huge in our push for a top four home playoff spot. When Jacob Shaffelburg made it 2-2 after our hard-earned 2-0 lead, every Lion felt that familiar sinking feeling.
But credit to the boys – and to McGuire – for playing to the whistle, keeping the belief, and snatching what might be a season-defining goal. A trademark poacher’s finish, it was McGuire’s first City strike since May 24, and it keeps our playoff hopes alive heading into the final four games. Next up is a tough trip to TQL Stadium, where Pat Noonan’s FC Cincinnati are pushing hard in the 2025 Supporters’ Shield race. In our third ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ slot of the season, let’s hope we can make it back-to-back wins after busting our five-game winless slump.
2025 MLS Cup Playoffs: Clinch scenarios
Orlando City SC will clinch a berth in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs if:
- Orlando City SC win at FC Cincinnati on Sunday or…
- New York Red Bulls lose/draw against New York City FC on Saturday
Last time out
Last Saturday, Orlando City SC finally snapped their winless streak with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium. In front of 20,516 fans, Martín Ojeda fired the Lions into a commanding first-half lead, striking twice in just three minutes. His delightful free-kick off the post and a precise finish inside the right corner moved him past Facundo Torres as the club’s all-time leader in goal contributions (74). With those two goals, Ojeda (16 goals, 14 assists) also became the first player in club history to record 30 goal contributions in a single MLS season. We looked comfortable, but Hany Mukhtar pulled one back on the stroke of half-time before Jacob Shaffelburg levelled just after the restart. Nashville threatened to complete the turnaround, but Sam Surridge headed a gilt-edged chance wide, while Iván Angulo wasted a golden opportunity when clean through on Joe Willis. As the game edged into stoppage time, substitutes Tyrese Spicer and Duncan McGuire combined for the winner. On 90+5 minutes, Spicer broke down the left and whipped in a pinpoint ball for McGuire, who poked home at the near post to send The Wall wild! Nashville even threw keeper Willis forward for a last-gasp corner, but Pedro Gallese saved his header to secure a vital three points.
Last head-to-head
On June 28, Orlando City SC lost 1-2 at home to FC Cincinnati in a super frustrating match. A cagey, tactical contest between two sides on short rest, the Lions fell behind in first-half stoppage time when Evander’s free-kick snuck past Pedro Gallese at his near post. It was a costly misjudgement from El Pulpo, especially so close to half-time. The classy Evander struck again on 74 minutes to double the visitors’ lead, and although Marco Pašalić pulled one back late on with a powerful finish, it proved too little, too late. Despite bossing possession (59%) and outshooting Cincy 17-9, we couldn’t make our dominance count. Ramiro Enrique and Luis Muriel both threatened in a frantic finale, but the best chance fell to David Brekalo, who sent a golden opportunity over the bar on 90+9 minutes. An agonising miss, the final whistle sounded just two minutes later.
What’s at stake this time?
Orlando City SC climbed to sixth place in the East after last Saturday’s dramatic win. We’re now on 51 points from 30 games played. Both New York City FC and Inter Miami won last weekend, with Miami also thrashing NYCFC (0-4) on Wednesday. Right now, our gap to fourth-placed Charlotte FC is two points after the midweek MLS action. The good news? Charlotte were dragged back towards the chasing pack after their recent 2-0 loss at Yankee Stadium. The bad news? Third-placed Miami still hold one game in hand over us and two over the current top two. Arresting our five-game winless streak was absolutely crucial, both for confidence and momentum, and importantly, we’ve also shown we can finally overcome B. J. Callaghan’s Nashville SC, who had been a thorn in our side all year. This Sunday is another massive test, as Orlando head to TQL Stadium to face second-placed FC Cincinnati. Pat Noonan’s side have enjoyed a strong season, sitting second with 58 points from 31 games. And they are buoyant having just beaten LA Galaxy 2-3 in Carson. Back for his second spell with the Orange and Blue, Brenner scored twice to remind everybody of his quality. Time is now running out to break into the top four, and in a super-tight Eastern Conference, only the most consistent sides will get there. Travelling to Cincinnati is never easy, but encouragingly, Orlando have a respectable record at TQL Stadium, going 2-1-2 since 2021.
Opposition danger men
🇧🇷 Evander (17 goals, 13 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇹🇬 Kévin Denkey (13 goals, 2 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇧🇷 Brenner (3 goals, 0 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇦🇷 Luca Orellano (2 goals, 6 assists – 2025 MLS)
New opposition faces
🇫🇷 Kenji Mboma Dem (FC Cincinnati 2)
🇻🇪 Ender Echenique (Caracas)
🇲🇦 Ayoub Jabbari (on loan from Grenoble)
🇸🇰 Samuel Gidi (MŠK Žilina)
🇧🇷 Brenner (on loan from Udinese)
🇵🇱 Dominik Marczuk (on loan from Real Salt Lake)
Injuries
🇺🇸 Roman Celentano (leg) – out
🇺🇸 Matt Miazga (leg) – out
🇳🇬 Obinna Nwobodo (quad) – out
🇦🇺 Brad Smith (leg) – out
🇺🇸 Paul Walters (foot) – questionable
🇺🇾 César Araújo (lower back) – questionable
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇫🇷 Joran Gerbet (concussion protocol) – questionable
🇪🇸 Adrián Marín (thigh) – questionable
🇺🇸 Zakaria Taifi (thigh) – out
🇮🇸 Dagur Dan Thórhallsson (thigh) – questionable
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
None
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FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- May 4, 2024: Orlando City SC 0 FC Cincinnati 1 (MLS)
- October 5, 2024: FC Cincinnati 1 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
- June 28, 2025: Orlando City SC 1 FC Cincinnati 2 (MLS)
2020/25 head-to-head stats
- It was 1-2 to Cincinnati the last time the sides met (June 2025)
- Played Cincinnati 12 times in MLS – Cincinnati 4, Draws 3, Orlando 5
- Five of the last 8 MLS head-to-heads have been separated by one goal, including four 0-1 / 1-0 results
- Cincinnati have lost 3 of their last 4 MLS home games 0-1
- Orlando have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 12 MLS fixtures
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Watching the game
FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:00 (GMT) on Monday, September 29.
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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