Orlando City was back to winning ways last time out on Sept. 20, prevailing at home over Nashville SC 3-2 thanks to a last-minute goal from Duncan McGuire.
The Lions (14-7-9, 51 points) next play at FC Cincinnati (18-9-4, 58 points) on Sunday at 7 p.m. in what promises to be an exciting matchup with playoff implications.
“They’re a good team, so I’m expecting a hard match,” Orlando City defender Kyle Smith said. “They have a good stadium. They pack it out; [they have] good fans.
“It’s a playoff game at this point. It’s a playoff-caliber team, and we’re trying to win from here on out to get the momentum into the playoffs.”
For Cincinnati, every game is a must-win in its race with Philadelphia (60 points) for the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
The MLS East’s second-place team is led by midfielder Evander, whose 29 goal contributions are good for third-best in the league. The 27-year-old Brazilian assisted on all three of Cincinnati’s goals in a 3-2 victory over the LA Galaxy last weekend, and Orlando will need to be in top form to shut him down.
The sixth-place Lions finally solved their scoring woes against Nashville, and McGuire’s goal could not have come at a better time. The young American forward has missed significant time due to a serious shoulder injury, and having him back and in form for a postseason push is a must for Orlando.
Despite the improved scoring, Orlando is still struggling defensively. The Lions have not kept a clean sheet in their last five matches, conceding 13 goals across all competitions during that period. Pedro Gallese and Co. will have their hands full against Cincinnati, but a strong defensive performance will build plenty of confidence as the regular season winds down.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/27/challenging-task-in-cincinnati-looms-for-orlando-city/
