This isn't the day for Orlando City SC to move up on Nashville FC | OneFootball

Orlando City SC brought its greatest momentum to Nashville SC. Unfortunately, the home team and their greatest bank of scouting reports awaited the Lions.

Orlando City SC fell 5-1 to a perfectly prepared Nashville SC organization. Besides the three points, Nashville gathered a dazzling array of records in its 90-minute rout of Orlando.

Orlando City players arrived on the Nashville pitch with utmost confidence. Their success pushed them to fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference. Newly acquired winger Tyrese Spicer set a record for fastest goal scored by a newcomer at one minute, 10 seconds.

But MLS wasn’t all.

They made the semifinals in the Leagues Cup for the first time after defeating a tough Deportivo Toluca squad. Should they finish in the top three, it gets them a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup competition.

They peaked at the best spot in the season for all competitions, including MLS. But then they met Nashville FC.

Nashville scouts had put together the perfect book on Orlando City. They marked everything the Lions had working well and every spot where they could be vulnerable to attack. It’s the vulnerable spots they hit.

The Lions haven’t exposed their weaknesses often in recent matches. But those flaws include defending attacks on the wings. Nashville went after them early and hard on the wings, scoring four of their five goals in the first half.

Orlando had ideas about threatening Nashville’s spot in the Eastern Conference. They started a new defender, Adrian Marin, who recently transferred from Portugal’s SC Braga. Forward Luis Muriel scored his ninth goal of the MLS season and 12th across all competitions in the losing effort.

But the club with multiple MVP candidates unleashed fury on the Lions. They won their 10th regular-season home match for the first time in club history. They matched their 2023 record for wins in a single season across all competitions with 18. MVP candidate Sam Surridge moved past Lionel Messi with his 19th and 20th goals of the season.

Fellow MVP candidate Hany Mukhtar added two goals of his own plus two assists. That makes him only the fifth player in MLS history to record at least 10 goals and 10 assists in four different seasons. He’s also the fourth player to contribute 10 or more assists in five straight seasons.

Aug 10, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City forward Luis Muriel (9) celebrates after scoring a goal against Inter Miami CF in the first half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Designated Player duo of Surridge and Mukhtar leads MLS with 49 goal contributions by two teammates. They’re the only teammates with at least 20 goal contributions apiece. Surridge has 20 goals, four assists, and Mukhtar has 14 goals, 11 assists. They’ve combined for 13 goals this season.

Nashville keeper Joe Willis made his 300th MLS start, placing him 10th in MLS history among goalkeepers. As the starting netminder for Nashville, DC United, and the Houston Dynamo, he tallied 107 wins, 78 clean sheets, and 928 saves, counting regular-season and playoff matches.

Orlando City SC players have stepped up their game for the rest of this season. But before taking on another powerhouse and Nashville FC, the Lions' scouts will have to step up their performance, too.