Nashville SC beat Orlando City 3-2 away and secured a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarterfinal spot. In the process, it also broke Orlando's record-equaling 12-match unbeaten streak. By scoring through Ahmed Qasem and Wyatt Meyer and on an own goal, the Boys in Gold defeated an opponent and proved they're getting better at the right time of the season.
The victory followed a script for a cup-tie. They trailed, came from behind, gave away the equalizer and scored the winner in the dying minutes. Meyer scored the winner in the 79th minute and wrote his own chapter: his very first professional goal, in a winner-takes-all encounter and away from home.
Quick turnaround and targeted trading in the first half
The match at Inter&Co Stadium began at a quick pace. Forward Marco Pasalic opened the scoring for Orlando City in the 17th minute of the match. Pasalic made a run on his preferred left foot after a through ball from right-winger Alex Freeman on the right side of the pitch, outmaneuvered his marker, and shot in the upper right corner of the goal for the game's opening goal.
Six minutes later, however, Nashville equalized. Midfielders Matthew Corcoran received the ball at the top right side of the box and passed it on to forward Ahmed Qasem, who crossed it all the way to forward Teal Bunbury in the six-yard box. Orlando City's defender Rodrigo Schlegel blocked off Bunbury by sliding in, but the ball bounced off his foot and in.
Nashville opened the scoring in the 40th minute when forward Ahmed Qasem found the net. Midfielder Matthew Corcoran passed through to Qasem on the line of the Orlando’s box. The Swede beat a defender and found himself inside the box before shooting low and hard at the bottom right corner of the goal.
Qasem has made a name for himself as an attacking central player. He was influential, incisive and committed in areas where he could score against Orlando.
Enrique levels but Nashville hold their calm
Early on in the second half the match became level through a goal from striking midfielder Ramiro Enrique. Forward Marco Pasalic received a through ball on the right and passed it straight away to Enrique who was two Nashville players behind him. Enrique netted on a first-time effort which found the far corner of the goal, the second for Orlando.
Orlando was trying to uphold the unbeaten record and the atmosphere at the stadium was tense.
What followed was a focused Nashville. In spite of losing, the team maintained their structure, made their substitutions early, and kept on manufacturing chances.
Meyer scores and breaks club record
Decision time and the 79th minute. Midfield Patrick Yazbek received a kick in the center of the field and also caught sight of Meyer making a run and released a backheel through ball that was open. The midfielder added curve on the ball and lofted it over goalkeeper Pedro Gallese's outstretched hands.
It was Nashville's third and occurred on fewer than 15 minutes of constant forecheck pressure.
The goal was Wyatt Meyer's inaugural professional goal and came in a highly uncommon match. Finishing away in a straight-up match in a knockout situation is not something easy to do. Additionally, Meyer became the first player in the history of Nashville SC to score his initial professional goal in a US Open Cup match.
Finally, goalkeeper Brian Schwake did see some action. Orlando put pressure on through crosses and flank attacks, but Schwake stood firm. The win represented Schwake's second in two starting appearances. He already posted a shutout in his inaugural starting on May 6 vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. Now he shut the door on the victory in a much tougher matchup.
The unbeaten run fuels impressive campaign
The result in Orlando is not an exception. Nashville has not lost in their last seven appearances in all competitions and has five victories and two draws. The last loss occurred nearly a month ago. The team has actually dominated their rivals 16-7 since then. The team is maintaining a good level of performance and the group of players looks much more confident and at ease. The month of May has been also favorable. Four victories and two draws so far for the club see them on a good streak. The victory in the Round of 16 reinforces this trend and highlights hard work on and off the pitch paying dividends.