Orlando City (2-1-2, 8 points) vs. Nashville SC (2-2-1, 7 points)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Exploria Stadium, Orlando
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (subscription required)
Radio: 96.9 The Game (English), Accion 97.9 FM (Spanish)
Tickets: View Seats
Here are five storylines to watch on Saturday as Orlando City looks to make it back-to-back wins against Nashville SC at Exploria Stadium:
Last go around
Although the Lions did not face off against Nashville SC in league play in 2022, the two sides did meet in the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Exploria Stadium.
Down a goal in the waning minutes of stoppage time, it looked as though City’s Open Cup run was coming to an end until Rodrigo Schlegel was able to net a late equalizer in the 94th minute to force extra time and an eventual penalty-kick shootout.
A denial of Eric Miller from the spot by Lions goalkeeper Pedro Gallese sent City through to the next round of the competition it would eventually win to lift its first trophy in the MLS era.
Tincho Time
MartÃn Ojeda found the back of the net for City for the second time in as many matches on Saturday night, opening the scoring for the Lions in the second minute at Subaru Park.
Less than 10 minutes later, Ojeda would help City add to its lead, earning the assist on Iván Angulo’s eventual game-winner. For his performance in Chester, Ojeda earned MLS Team of the Matchday honors, his first such honor as a member of the league.
The Angulo answer
Iván Angulo scored his first goal as a Lion on Saturday night, accounting for the game-winner to send City home with all three points.
Since joining the Club midway through the 2022 campaign, Angulo has tallied three assists to add to his finish over the weekend.
El Maestro
Lions captain Mauricio Pereyra notched his first goal contributions of the campaign on Saturday night, recording a pair of assists in the match.
"El Maestro" played the ball over top for Ojeda for City’s first of the evening before finding Ojeda once more moments later to lead to the Angulo game-winner. The helpers served as the 36th and 37th of Pereyra’s City career, respectively, extending his own Club-record.
Next man up
Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar stepped in between the sticks on Saturday night in Philadelphia for his first start of 2023. The Lions’ Homegrown registered five saves in the match, including a point-blank denial of Alejandro Bedoya in the 75th minute to preserve all three points for the visitors.
Stajduhar is Orlando City’s longest-tenured player, joining the Club in 2015.
