Orlando City rescues draw with late Nashville own goal

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:03 am
Orlando City SC came from 2-0 down to secure a draw.
Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Orlando City SC benefited from a Nashville SC own goal off a corner kick deep in second half stoppage time to rally for a 2-2 road draw on Wednesday.

Amid plenty of congestion inside the box, Orlando's Benji Michel positioned himself to strike off a corner, and the ball ultimately was directed in by Nashville's Brian Anunga in the third minute of second half stoppage time.

Down 2-0, Orlando City (10-8-9, 39 points) got back in the match with Daryl Dike's penalty kick in the 76th minute.

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Orlando, which had lost a season-high four in a row entering this contest, continued to press and was eventually awarded with a needed point.

Hany Mukhtar scored off the rebound of his own penalty in the 11th minute, and Randall Leal struck for some insurance right before the hour mark for Nashville (11-3-13, 46 points), which is 8-0-7 at home this season.

The excitement started in the eighth minute when Orlando's Jhegson Mendez was whistled for a foul on Nashville's Anibal Godoy just on the edge of the left box. Mukhtar then stepped to the spot, but his initial strike was stopped by diving City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

However, Mukhtar beat a rush of Orlando players to the rebound, and drove the ball home for his 13th goal of the season.

Leal's sixth goal of the campaign came on an impressive sprint, set up by Dax McCarty, in the 59th minute. However, City would not go quietly as Dike was fouled in the box by Nashville's Jack Maher. He easily converted from the spot to make things interesting.

Orlando, who held 63.2% of the possession on the night, continued its relentless pressure and put itself in position to halt its skid and remain above the playoff line in the Eastern Conference.