For the second time in three seasons, Orlando City and Nashville SC will face each other in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs, this time in a best-of-three series beginning on Monday at Exploria Stadium.
The Lions ended the regular season with a 2-0 win versus Toronto, finishing second in the Eastern Conference, while the Boys in Gold wound up seventh after losing their last encounter 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls.
Match preview
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The 2023 regular season for Orlando appeared to be following a similar path to those of the past before things changed dramatically in the final few months.
With only four wins from their opening 12 domestic affairs, this team seemed destined to be in another dogfight for a playoff berth, but to their credit, they turned it on in July, losing just two MLS fixtures from the beginning of that month until the end of the campaign.
This team reached new heights in 2023, finishing with their best-ever total for points in a single MLS or the United Soccer League (USL) season (63), and a victory on Monday would be their first in the playoffs since 2020, when they eliminated New York City FC on penalties in the opening round.
Monday will be the first time since 2020 that Oscar Pareja's men begin the post-season at home, where they have never won in normal time, though they enter this contest unbeaten in 13 successive matches in all competitions at Exploria Stadium.
During the regular season, they were much more clinical in the attacking third, equalling their MLS single-season record for goals (55), including 13 in the last five home outings.
Orlando have not led a playoff fixture for longer than three minutes, though the only time they found themselves in front in the post-season was also the only time they wound up winning in 2020.
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The 2023 campaign was another winning season for Nashville, who have never missed the playoffs since becoming an MLS franchise in 2020.
It was, however, their worst regular season regarding points in a 34-match campaign, as they failed to get to 50 points for the first time over that span (49).
Gary Smith's men were, however, stingy as usual along the back end all season long, finishing tied for the fewest goals conceded in MLS (32) for the second time in three years.
Nashville have never won a playoff contest away from home in normal time, though they did advance from one post-season affair outside of the Music City, defeating Toronto behind closed doors in East Hartford in 2020.
The Boys in Gold finished the regular season tied for the second-fewest goals scored among the 18 MLS playoff teams (39), failing to find the back of the net in four of their final five domestic encounters.
Their only playoff victory in normal time came against Orlando City at home in 2021 (3-1), while they are unbeaten in their last three visits to Exploria Stadium.
Team News
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Adam Grinwis is questionable for the Lions because of a sore left thigh, while Favian Loyola will likely be out due to an injured left arm.
Martin Ojeda served as captain on the final match of the regular season, his first time wearing the armband, Cesar Araujo suffered his 100th foul of the campaign, having suffered more than anyone in the league this year, while Luca Petrasso made his return to Toronto for the first time as an Orlando City player.
Duncan McGuire had a brace in Toronto last weekend, while Mason Stajduhar made three stops to collect a clean sheet in place of first-choice goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
Lukas MacNaughton and Nick DePuy may both be unavailable for Nashville on Monday because of lower body injuries.
On Decision Day, Anibal Godoy led the team in duels won (nine) and possessions won (10), Daniel Lovitz had the most touches among Nashville players (85), Sam Surridge and Walker Zimmerman finished tied for the most aerial duels won (six), while Shaq Moore had four successful tackles to lead them in that category.
Hany Mukhtar lost his Golden Boot crown to Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC, as the German striker failed to score in their final six regular-season affairs, while Joe Willis finished the year with 99 saves, matching Djordje Petrovic for the fourth-most among MLS goalkeepers in 2023.
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Halliday, Schlegel, Jansson, Smith; Araujo, Pereyra; Torres, Ojeda, Urso; McGuire
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Moore, Zimmerman, Maher, Lovitz; Shaffelburg, Davis, Godoy; Picault, Bunbury; Mukhtar
We say: Orlando City 2-0 Nashville SC
When your one reliable goalscorer is struggling as much as Mukhtar is at the moment, it is not a good sign for Nashville, who seem to rely almost exclusively on him to do everything in the attack.
Orlando, meanwhile, have found balance and consistency in all facets this season, and that should serve them well for this opening encounter.
How to watch
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Joel Lefevre
