Nashville SC v Orlando City SC: Callaghan aiming to transfer ´relentless spirit´ into MLS play

BJ Callaghan believes the “relentless spirit” within his Nashville SC squad will take them to new heights this season as they prepare to take on Orlando City SC.

Nashville progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup in midweek after a 1-1 draw with Inter Miami, reaching the next round of the competition on away goals.

Liga MX giants Club America are next up for Callaghan’s side, who have also made an impressive start to their 2026 league season with 10 points from their first four matches.

New York City FC are above the Coyotes in the Eastern Conference on goal difference, though Callaghan is confident his players will keep their positive momentum going.

“We have a group right now in that locker room that has a lot of belief in what we’re doing,” Callaghan said.

“I think you saw that throughout the night, just a relentless spirit that continued to fight no matter what was happening on the field.

“They stuck together the whole time, they were rewarded with the goal, and they finished the game strong. Just really proud of the entire group, and a real team performance.”

KNOCKOUT PUNCH pic.twitter.com/56QjQZG66F

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) March 19, 2026

Orlando, meanwhile, got their season up and running with a 2-1 win over CF Montreal last time out in what was Martin Perelman’s first game in charge of the Lions.

Oscar Pareja was relieved of his duties after overseeing three straight losses against the New York Red Bulls, Inter Miami and New York City FC in the MLS in 2026.

But goals from Duncan McGuire and Martin Ojeda got Orlando off the mark, and Perelman urged his team not to get overconfident with their first victory of the season.

“The team, I think, will raise confidence,” Perelman said. “With confidence, it’s always about being balanced, not over, not low, because low balance is related to low performance.

“So if we want to perform high, we need to keep confidence at a balanced level. Nashville did a really good job with this coach. It’s a team that we respect a lot.

“They have a clear game model, and you can see the work, the job there. Our club is huge, and we will make it in the same way, anywhere and against any team.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville – Hany Mukhtar

Hany Mukhtar has scored 10 goals in 12 career matches against Orlando City in all competitions, including scoring in both meetings last season.

No player has scored more goals against the Lions in all competitions (tied with Josef Martinez and Ignacio Piatti).

Orlando City – Martin Ojeda

Ojeda and McGuire scored Orlando City’s goals on Saturday, with the former going level with a club legend.

It was his 29th regular-season goal for Orlando, matching Nani for third-most in regular-season play in club history, while McGuire’s goal was his 27th, fifth all-time in club history.

MATCH PREDICTION: NASHVILLE WIN

Nashville are off to their best start to a season in club history with 10 points from their first four matches (W3 D1). They have already collected more points in their first four matches of 2026 (10) than they did in their final 10 matches of the 2025 regular season (seven).

However, Orlando have won six of their last eight matches against Nashville in all competitions (L2). Both of the Coyotes’ wins over the Lions in that time came in the first two meetings of 2025, a US Open Cup win in May and a home league win in August.

And Orlando earned their first points of the season last time out in Perelman’s first match in charge. He is the first coach, full-time or interim, to win his first match in charge of the Lions.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville – 52.4%

Draw – 24.3%

Orlando – 23.3%