Orlando City surge into road clash vs. Nashville SC
Jul 6, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Facundo Torres (10) celebrates with forward Duncan McGuire (13) after scoring a goal against D.C. United in the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports What a difference a month makes for Orlando City.
On June 20, the Lions were winless over their last five matches and sat second to last in the Eastern Conference table.
Fast forward and Orlando (8-9-6, 30 points) has won three straight and four of its past five to move up to seventh in the standings as it gets set to visit Nashville SC on Wednesday.
The Lions have outscored the opposition 14-4 over their last four wins. Most recently, they scored three times in the second half Saturday to rally for a 3-1 road victory over the New England Revolution.
Facundo Torres tallied twice in the match, moving him past Duncan McGuire for the team lead in goals with eight. The 24-year-old Torres has three goals in his past two matches and six in the past six overall.
"This year, I see that his (maturity) is rising," Orlando coach Oscar Pareja said. "I think not just understanding it but he's executing that part, and the way he's participating on the scoreboard, it shows in the team's results."
Nashville (6-9-8, 26 points), meanwhile, is looking to snap a four-match losing streak. The club is coming off a 2-1 road loss to D.C. United on Saturday and has been outscored 10-3 during its skid.
"I do think there's some frustration, especially because we've given up four set pieces in three games, which is a little bit uncharacteristic of us as a club," interim coach Rumba Munthali said. "I think it's always tougher to swallow losses when you're giving up goals that you shouldn't have. I think that's where the frustration is."
Nashville has doubled its win total under Munthali, who replaced Gary Smith on May 16, but hasn't been able to find consistency. The club sits ninth in the Eastern Conference, tied with CF Montreal in points and record but owning the advantage in the table by virtue of goal differential.
Offense has been a struggle for the club; its 26 goals scored are third-fewest in the league. Hany Mukhtar is second on the team with five, well below his pace of the past three seasons, having scored 15 in 2023, 23 (a career high) in 2022 and 16 in 2021.
--Field Level Media