Orlando City pulled off a 3-2 win over Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium in a match that went right down to stoppage time. Duncan McGuire found the net at the very end, sealing all three points and pushing the Lions to 51 on the season. That keeps them in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, just two points shy of third with four regular season games still left.
Ojeda sets records and earns his coach’s praise
Martín Ojeda took center stage in the first half. At the 30-minute mark, he broke the deadlock with a free kick that smacked off the post and crossed the line. That strike lifted him to 73 goal contributions for the club, moving past Facundo Torres. Barely two minutes later, he was at it again, finishing first-time inside the box for his 20th of the year, a tally that now ties the club’s single-season scoring record.
After the match, head coach Oscar Pareja made sure to single him out: “I want to congratulate Martín [Ojeda] for the contribution he’s made with his goals for this franchise, for the importance he’s had for the club and the importance he’s had this year.” With those comments, Pareja not only recognized the goals themselves but underscored the player’s role as a driving force this season.
Nashville hit back, but McGuire delivers late
Orlando looked comfortable after jumping to a 2-0 lead, yet Nashville didn’t go quietly. Hany Mukhtar scored in first-half stoppage time, cutting the deficit, and just a few minutes into the second half Jacob Shaffelburg turned in a cross from Daniel Lovitz to bring the game level at 2-2. From there, the contest had the feel of a playoff clash.
Only in the dying seconds did Orlando find the breakthrough. Tyrese Spicer sprinted down the left and whipped in a ball for McGuire, who got a touch at the near post and lifted it over Joe Willis. It was only the forward’s second goal of the season, but one that may end up carrying real weight for the Lions as the stretch run heats up.
Pareja on intensity and the role of the fans
Speaking afterward, Pareja didn’t shy away from describing the edge to the game: “Regarding the game, it was very competitive from the first minute. I think we started with the feeling of playoffs for all of us.” His choice of words underlined the pressure of the matchup and suggested how he’s already framing things with a playoff mindset.
He also pointed out the atmosphere created by the crowd: “In those last 10 minutes, I felt the pressure that our fans put on the players. They’re part of our games.”For Pareja, that late push from the stands wasn’t just noise. It was something he actually felt on the field, especially when the game looked like it was slipping toward a draw.