Orlando City got out to an early lead in a must-win MLS home match Saturday night but defensive lapses allowed Nashville SC back into the game before the Lions were saved by Duncan McGuire’s last-minute winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory.

“It was a tough game. We went up early, but that was a very good team and they battled back and didn’t make it easy for us,” McGuire said. “I feel like we had some struggles in the second half with the shaping, with their build-out. They did a good job at holding possession against us, but in the end, it’s a good team win, and glad we got the job done.”

Orlando City (14-7-9, 51 points) moved ahead of Nashville (15-11-5, 50 points) into sixth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Martin Ojeda opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a beautiful free kick. The Argentinian forward placed the ball in the top right corner, where it went past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Joe Willis and hit the post before going into the back of the net.

Ojeda added a second goal just minutes later, this time on a fast break for the Lions.

Kyle Smith stole the ball off Nashville’s Patrick Yazbek, played a one-two with Luis Muriel and then laid it off for Ojeda for a 2-0 lead in the 32nd minute.

The two goals made Ojeda the club’s all-time leader in goal contributions (74), passing Facundo Torres (72).

Nashville pulled one back in the first minute of first-half stoppage time thanks to some sloppy defending by Orlando. Hany Mukhtar’s shot hit the post, and he was able to get to the rebound and put it past Pedro Gallese to make it 2-1 heading into halftime.

Jacob Shaffelburg made it 2-2 with his goal in the 51st minute. Daniel Lovitz had the assist with a low pass into the box, and Gallese was unable to keep it out as Nashville erased Orlando’s lead.

Tyrese Spicer sent a cross into the box in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, and McGuire was well-positioned to meet it. His first-time shot was powered into the roof of the goal, giving Orlando the 3-2 victory.

“Funnily enough, like 20 seconds before the goal, there was a stop in play, and Spicer told me to go first post,” McGuire said. “He’s a quality player, and when he gets the ball in the wing, I have a pretty good feeling he’s going to beat the guy. So he took a gamble, and he played a great ball.”

Next up for the Lions is a trip to Ohio to take on FC Cincinnati on Sunday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/21/orlando-city-hosts-nashville-on-saturday-night/