Martin Ojeda scores first goal off a free kick. His 15th of the season. Picture by Mario Casamalhuapa
In a heart-stopping finale that encapsulated everything thrilling about Major League Soccer, Duncan McGuire's stoppage-time heroics lifted Orlando City SC to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night.
What began as a masterclass from Martín Ojeda, who struck twice in a span of two minutes during the first half to give the Lions a commanding 2-0 lead, transformed into a tense battle of wills as Nashville mounted a spirited comeback to level the match. But it was McGuire's late substitution—coming on for Luis Muriel in the 63rd minute—that proved the difference, the young American forward injecting pace and urgency into Orlando's attack before delivering the knockout punch in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Ojeda, the Argentine playmaker, put on a clinic in the first half, opening the scoring in the 30th minute with a perfectly placed free kick from 20 yards out. After Nashville's Edvard Tagseth was booked for a foul on Luis Muriel, Ojeda stepped up and curled a left-footed laser that caromed off the inside of the right post and nestled into the bottom corner.
Just two minutes later, Ojeda doubled the advantage with another moment of brilliance. Fed by Kyle Smith, the Orlando designated player slipped a left-footed shot across his body from the left side of the box, beating Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis with precision and power. With his brace, Ojeda now has 16 goals for the season, further cementing his status as Orlando City's all-time leading scorer and one of MLS's most consistent performers.
Nashville, under head coach B.J. Callaghan, refused to fold despite the early deficit and had a resilient response. The visitors controlled possession for much of the match (62.3% to Orlando's 37.7%) and created numerous chances against Oscar Pareja's side.
Their persistence paid off just before halftime when Hany Mukhtar pulled one back in the 45th minute. The German midfielder capitalized on a rebound opportunity, firing home from close range after his initial shot from outside the box was blocked by the Orlando defense.
The equalizer came six minutes into the second half through substitute Jacob Shaffelburg, who had been introduced at halftime. Daniel Lovitz provided the assist with a cross from the left, and Shaffelburg finished with an unbalanced shot to make it 2-2 and set up a frantic final 40 minutes.
It set up McGuire's moment of magic. With the match heading toward what seemed like an inevitable draw, McGuire stepped up to play the hero. In the 95th minute, Tyrese Spicer—another Orlando substitute—delivered a perfect cross from the left side that found McGuire unmarked at the left post. The 24-year-old striker showed his predatory instincts, converting with a deft right-footed touch from very close range to send Inter&Co Stadium into delirium.
McGuire has battled back from injury and transfer speculation to remain a crucial part of Orlando's attack. His introduction brought the pace and directness that Orlando needed to break down Nashville's organized defense.
Despite Nashville's dominance in possession, Orlando proved more clinical in front of goal, converting six of their 14 shot attempts. Pedro Gallese was crucial for the Lions, making four saves including a spectacular stop in the dying moments when Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis ventured forward for a corner kick, only to see his header saved by the Peruvian keeper.
The match was physical throughout, with Nashville committing 14 fouls to Orlando's six. Three Nashville players—Edvard Tagseth, Hany Mukhtar, and late substitute Jacob Shaffelburg—picked up yellow cards, while Orlando's Rodrigo Schlegel was the only Lion cautioned.
The victory was particularly sweet for Orlando as it ended their recent struggles against Nashville, including a devastating 5-1 loss in Music City just four weeks ago. It also snapped a four-match winless streak for the Lions across all competitions, providing crucial momentum as they enter the final stretch of the regular season.
For Ojeda, this performance continues a remarkable individual campaign that has seen him emerge as one of MLS's premier attacking midfielders. His ability to create and finish chances has been instrumental in Orlando's success, and performances like Saturday's showcase why he was brought in as a designated player.
The victory moves Orlando City back to 6th place in the Eastern Conference with 51 points (14-9-7 record), keeping it firmly in playoff contention with just four matches remaining. The three points proved crucial as Orlando now sits just one point behind 5th place Inter Miami and within striking distance of home-field advantage for the first round of playoffs. The loss drops Nashville (15-5-11, 50 points) to 7th place, level on points with 8th place Columbus but ahead on goal difference.
The battle for playoff positioning couldn't be tighter, with just three points separating 3rd place Charlotte (53 points) from 8th place Columbus (50 points). Orlando sits in 6th with 51 points, sandwiched between 5th-place Inter Miami (52 points) and 7th-place Nashville (50 points). Notably, Inter Miami has played just 28 matches compared to Orlando's 30, meaning the Herons have two games in hand that could significantly impact the final standings.
This compressed table means every result carries enormous weight - a single win can move a team up multiple positions, while a loss can drop them out of playoff contention entirely.
Orlando's upcoming schedule features crucial matches against Cincinnati (Sept. 28), Columbus (Oct. 4), Vancouver (Oct. 11), and Toronto (Oct. 18) – a challenging run that will test their playoff resolve. Nashville, meanwhile, must regroup quickly to maintain their postseason positioning in what promises to be a thrilling finish to the regular season.
