Here are five storylines to watch for Saturday's away fixture as the Lions head to Nashville:
Lions Roar Against Crew
Orlando City has fared exceptionally well against the Columbus Crew for nearly a decade, posting nine wins and two draws against Major League Soccer’s first-ever club in 14 regular-season meetings since October 2018. The Lions took four points from the Crew in 2025 across the two regular-season matches, with Designated Players Martín Ojeda and Marco Pašalić each scoring in the series.
Haunting the Crew
Midfielder Martín Ojeda has consistently found success against the Columbus Crew, recording two goals and three assists in just 408 career minutes against the Black & Gold. Ojeda’s fellow Designated Player, forward Marco Pašalić, also made his mark in the rivalry, scoring in the most recent meeting between the two clubs during the 2025 season.
Life on the Road
Orlando City will head back on the road this weekend to face the Columbus Crew on Sunday Night Soccer, presented by Continental Tire. The match marks the Lions’ third consecutive away from home. Orlando will conclude the monthlong road swing on Wednesday, April 15, when it visits USL League One side FC Naples at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples in the Round of 32 of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Youth Movement
The Lions continue to hand young players opportunities as they transition into a new era under interim head coach Martín Perelman. U22 forward Tiago earned his first start for the Lions against LAFC, while fellow Brazilian U22s Iago (90 minutes) and Luís Otávio (22 minutes) also featured in the match. Homegrown midfielder Colin Guske and rookie center back Nolan Miller, a first-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, both got the start, with Homegrown Players Tahir Reid-Brown and Zakaria Taifi featuring in the second half.
Late Surge in Columbus
Orlando City rallied late in its most recent trip to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, turning a one-goal deficit into a 3-1 victory. After the Crew’s Diego Rossi converted a penalty in the 66th minute to give Columbus the lead, forward Ramiro Enrique came off the bench and scored twice in a four-minute span, with forward Iván Angulo and midfielder Martín Ojeda assisting on both goals. Ojeda sealed the result deep into second-half stoppage time, finishing a counterattack off a through ball from defender Alex Freeman to hand Columbus just its second home loss of the season at that point and cap a decisive Lions comeback.
Milestone Tracker:
-Duncan McGuire’s next goal will be his 32nd for Orlando City in all competitions, passing former captain Nani for fourth all-time
-Martín Ojeda is two starts away from 100 in his Orlando City career in all competitions
-With an appearance, forward Harvey Sarajian would make his club debut
