Nashville SC head coach B.J. Callaghan expressed his want to win trophies with the membership this season after reserving their place within the U.S. Open Cup remaining in midweek.
Nashville beat Jap Convention leaders Philadelphia Union 3-1, led by Sam Surridge’s hat-trick, establishing a gathering with Austin FC within the showpiece match on October 1.
The Coyotes are inside touching distance of a primary main trophy, having come near the Leagues Cup title in 2023, however misplaced to Inter Miami within the remaining.
The U.S. Open Cup champion will earn a berth within the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup, and Callaghan is aiming to ship subsequent month.
“They’re so dedicated to one another,” Callaghan stated. “They’re dedicated to the whole lot that they’ve talked about that they need to accomplish.
“This season has helped us be battle-tested. To make that hurdle to the ultimate is only a nice accomplishment.”
However earlier than that date with future, Nashville are in MLS motion this weekend, making the journey to Inter&Co Stadium to tackle fellow playoff hopefuls Orlando Metropolis SC.
Nashville can safe their spot within the postseason with a win if the New York Pink Bulls drop factors to CF Montreal, and Surridge believes their midweek win has given the crew confidence.
“It’s nice as a result of from that Leagues Cup remaining we nonetheless have lots of lads which were there and skilled it,” Surridge stated. “We will take that into the Open Cup.
“It’s nice for the membership, however our subsequent step is successful trophies. That’s what we need to do that season. We’re in a remaining, however we additionally need to do effectively within the league.
“We’ve hit a little bit of a sticky patch, however a sport like Philadelphia is sort of actually going to present us lots of confidence.”
See you within the @opencup Remaining, @AustinFC pic.twitter.com/korX8Niwq4
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) September 18, 2025
Orlando, in the meantime, have slipped out of the highest seven within the Jap Convention after failing to win their final two league matches, the newest seeing them draw with D.C. United.
It was a dominant show by Oscar Pareja’s crew, who generated an anticipated targets (xG) complete of 1.6 from their 25 pictures, whereas additionally enjoying the final half-hour with a person benefit following Lukas MacNaughton’s pink card.
Whereas the Orlando boss was happy together with his aspect’s show, he bemoaned the shortcoming to discover a scientific edge within the remaining third, one thing he highlighted can be wanted in opposition to Nashville.
“We’ve causes to really feel pissed off tonight for not successful the sport and getting the three factors,” Pareja stated. “Particularly after we tied the sport and we’ve yet one more participant.
“That feeling is there. However on the identical time, I need to recognise that from the primary minute, I believed Orlando dictated the tempo and the tempo of the sport and the vast majority of the choices and most of the performs we may have scored, as effectively, needs to be evaluated.
“And this frustration is a part of the sport. We’ve to shine within the final third once more and be the crew that we’re after we create the choices and rating and that’s what makes you win video games.
“However aside from that, I believed the behaviour of the boys tactically and the general sport, it was as you all noticed it, very dominant for Orlando.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Orlando Metropolis – Alexander Freeman
Freeman scored his fifth objective of the MLS season in Orlando’s highway draw with D.C. United, and he might be out to extend his league tally right here.
Certainly, Freeman is the fifth Metropolis participant with 5 or extra league targets this season, the second-most such gamers by any MLS crew in 2025 (Charlotte FC with six).
Nashville – Sam Surridge
Surridge prolonged his Golden Boot lead over Miami’s Lionel Messi together with his twenty first objective of the common season final outing and now leads the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner by one.
He’s the second English participant to attain greater than 20 targets in an MLS season, becoming a member of Bradley Wright-Phillips, who did so in each 2014 (27) and 2016 (24).
MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY WIN
Nashville’s 5-1 dwelling win over Orlando final month was the biggest margin of victory by both aspect within the 16 all-time matches in all competitions between the golf equipment. These 5 targets additionally equalled the Coyotes’ objective output from the earlier seven conferences mixed.
However Callaghan’s crew come into the sport off the again of a defeat to Cincinnati, the membership’s fifth defeat of their final six MLS matches (W1). Previous to the present span, Nashville had simply 5 league losses this season in 24 matches (W14 D5).
Orlando, in the meantime, are on a four-match successful streak at dwelling in all competitions, scoring 15 targets throughout that run. The 15 targets are essentially the most in a span of 4 dwelling matches (all competitions) within the membership’s MLS period.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Orlando Metropolis – 54.7%
Draw – 23.3%
Nashville – 22%
