.643 - Our man Oscar
Oscar Pareja is no stranger to tournament soccer. Since becoming head coach of the Colorado Rapids nearly 10 years ago, Pareja is 18-10, including penalty-kick shootouts, in single-elimination knockout games, a .643 winning percentage. That includes a five-game sweep to the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with FC Dallas and Orlando City’s run to the MLS is Back Tournament final last year.
18 - Quick on the draw
Nashville SC has gained a reputation for stingy defense and strong organization in two years under Gary Smith, and they’ve gotten used to taking a point this year. The Boys in Gold tied an MLS record with 18 draws this season, including seven scoreless ties. If Orlando and Nashville (who have already tied each other three times this season) end in a draw on Tuesday, the game will go to 30 minutes of extra time and then, if still tied, to a penalty-kick shootout.
0 - Titanic home field advantage
Famously, Nashville has not lost a game at home this season, the seventh team in MLS history to accomplish that feat. However, as noted above, you don’t actually have to lose to get knocked out of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs due to the deciding penalty-kick shootout. There’s also some revenge involved here for Orlando City – the Lions were undefeated at Exploria Stadium last year before a stunning 3-2 loss to Nashville on the final day, the only time Nashville has ever beaten Orlando.
5 - Revenge of the Mummy
Daryl Dike debuted his famous “mummy” celebration with a brace against Nashville last summer in his first Exploria Stadium start, beginning a scorching run of form that’s barely slowed in the 15 months since. Through all of it, Nashville has been the big man’s favorite target – Dike has scored five times against the Boys in Gold in five appearances, with goals in both games he played against Nashville this season. Dike will be hunting another goal against Nashville after he was controversially called for a foul on Video Review that wiped out Orlando’s game-winner in the team’s last meeting on Halloween.
