Orlando City strikes first to take control in MLS playoffs

Orlando player Ramiro Enrique (top left) is hit in the face by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis (top right) during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Rodrigo Schlegel (top) knocks down Nashville player Hany Mukhtar (bottom) during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players block a kick by Nashville player Hany Mukhtar (left) during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Facundo Torres is pictured during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Fans cheer during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese (middle) makes a stop between Nashville player Alex Muyl (19) and Orlando player Rafael Santos (3) during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese makes a stop during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Facundo Torres moves the ball during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Mauricio Pereyra (10) collides with Nashville player Sean Davis (right) during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Ivan Angulo moves the ball during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Nashville player Daniel Lovitz (left) knocks down Orlando player Junior Urso (21) during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando coach Oscar Pareja points during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando coach Oscar Pareja coaches during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Ivan Angulo (right) kicks past Nashville player Sean Davis (54) during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Junior Urso (top) celebrates with children after winning the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Fans cheer during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Robin Jansson celebrates after winning the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Facundo Torres celebrates after winning the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Junior Urson kicks during the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Junior Urso celebrates on the pitch after winning the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players celebrate on the pitch after winning the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando coach Oscar Pareja celebrates after winning the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players Rafael Santos (3), Junior Urson (middle), and Antonio Carlos (25) celebrate with children on the pitch after winning the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Junior Urso celebrates with a child after winning the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Junior Urso celebrates after winning the MLS Playoff match of Nashville Soccer Club at Orlando City Soccer at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Monday, October 30, 2023. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

By Kyle Foley | kylefoleywrites@gmail.com

PUBLISHED: October 30, 2023 at 9:23 p.m. | UPDATED: October 31, 2023 at 7:39 a.m.

The 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs have officially begun for Orlando City with a chippy 1-0 win over Nashville in Game 1 of their first-round series Monday night.

A sensational goal from midfielder Wilder Cartagena and stellar performance by goalkeeper Pedro Gallese were enough for the Lions as they head to Nashville with a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Game 2 is Nov. 7 at 9 p.m. ET.

Please, Orlando City, bring us our first real championship | Commentary

“I thought we had a good game. Especially that first half where we connected much more in the final third and then we created so many options,” said Orlando coach Oscar Pareja. “Happy for this first playoff win but we have to get ready for the next one”

The Lions broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion in the 41st minute. Cartagena received the ball 30 yards from goal and smashed it into the top right corner. The ball made it past goalkeeper Joe Willis’ outstretched hands before hitting the post and bouncing in for the lead.

Both sides came out swinging in the second half in a game that had more than 30 combined shots. Nashville superstar Hany Mukhtar had a chance in the 59th minute but Gallese was able to get the tip of his toes on it to keep it out.

“Pedro is a fantastic goalkeeper for us that always shows up when we need it the most,” Pareja added. “I’m happy to see Pedro on that level and happy for the city, happy for the club, happy for the community enjoying this playoff game that we won tonight.”

Pareja made the switch to playing with five at the back for the last 10 minutes of regulation to close out the victory. They were able to withstand late-game surges from Nashville and will need to tighten things up on the road for Game 2.