Now that the wonderful palate cleanser that was MLS All-Star week is in the rear view, it’s time to turn our focus back to the regular season. Sunday’s matchup between Minnesota United and Nashville SC will bring the teams into the home stretch of the season, with both teams looking to solidify their hold on their playoff spots. This will be an opportunity for one of these teams to reverse their form and start a valuable run towards the end of the season.
The Occasion: MLS Week 25; Game No. 25; Road Game No. 13
The Opponent: Nashville SC
Head-to-Head:
This week’s matchup history is pretty thin. These teams have only played one another twice in league play, with both matches ending as draws. This time around, both teams will be hungry for all three points, especially since they are separated by just two points on the league table.
This season, Nashville was MNUFC’s opponent for their home opener on March 5. That game played out to a 1-1 draw, and it was an exciting one. Right from kickoff, Nashville looked sharp. True to form, Nashville striker C.J. Sapong found the back of the net in the 5th minute of play. While early goals are nice and all, it’s hard for any team to defend a lead for 85 minutes.
When Nashville failed to capitalize on the remainder of their chances, the Loons stepped up instead. Creative attacking play put the home team on the front foot, paying off in the 72nd minute when Hassani Dotson pulled his team level. Chances for both teams went begging, but no one was able to find a winner.
Their Run of Form: L-D-D-D-L
Week 20 – 1-2 L vs. LAFC (goal from Hany Mukhtar)
Week 21 – 1-1 D at FC Cincinnati (goal from Teal Bunbury)
Week 22 – 1-1 D vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (goal from Teal Bunbury)
Week 23 – 1-1 D at Portland Timbers (goal from Teal Bunbury)
Week 24 – 3-4 L vs. Toronto FC (goals from Walker Zimmerman, Teal Bunbury, and Hany Mukhtar)
The MLS season is a grind. Game congestion and travel times can wear on a team at different points in the season, leading to streaky runs of form. For Nashville, the last month has been a streak to forget. They have failed to register a single win in their last five games, with the last one coming against Seattle on July 13. Despite the lack of point accumulation, Teal Bunbury’s goal scoring form has been a bright spot for Nashville SC, as the MLS veteran has scored in each of his last four games.
Last Season
Before this season, the Loons have only faced Nashville once. That game was played at Nissan Stadium back in the 2020 season, a tight affair that didn’t produce any goals. They did not meet at all during the 2021 season.
As far as season performance goes, Nashville killed it last year. They ended the season on 54 points, good enough for third place in the Eastern Conference. Their first-round matchup in the playoffs was against Orlando City, a game they won by a score of 3-1. This win brought them to the conference semifinals, where they ran into the Philadelphia Union. Following their 1-1 draw, the Union advanced on penalties, ending Nashville’s season
That was then, this is now
Nashville SC is one of the league’s younger teams, having begun MLS play just two seasons ago in 2020. MLS awarded a spot in the league to Nashville in 2017, giving them three years to build their team and organize the club. The team originally played in the USL Championship for the 2018 and 2019 seasons before making the jump to the big leagues.
Upon entering the league, Nashville played in the Eastern Conference. Following the addition of Charlotte FC, they were promptly moved to the Western Conference this year, and they haven’t really missed a beat. While in the Eastern Conference, they advanced to the conference semifinals in each of their first two seasons in MLS. At the moment, they occupy a playoff spot in the West as they seek to make it a perfect three for three years qualifying for the postseason.
On top of being in a new conference, Nashville SC also moved to a brand-new stadium this season. In season’s past, they played their games at the Tennessee Titans’ Nissan Stadium, but the completion of GEODIS park has given them a 30,000-seat soccer-specific stadium to call home. Quite frankly, this is a team that is doing things right.
The Attack
Going forward, Music City’s team has got one of the league’s most dynamic players in Hany Mukhtar. The German forward leads his team in attacking output, with 13 goals and eight assists on the season. Alongside him, MLS veteran C.J. Sapong has managed five goals and four assists, while the aforementioned Bunbury has scored four goals of his own. Nashville has seen 11 different players get on the scoresheet this year, showing that their attacking threat is not an isolated one.
Nashville’s most frequent formation this year has been a 3-5-2, though they have recently been utilizing a traditional 4-4-2 instead. Assuming the current trend continues, we are likely to see Sapong and Mukhtar line up in front of midfielders Dax McCarty and Brian Anunga. However, it seems more likely that Nashville head coach Gary Smith will want the hot-handed Bunbury on the field, so a front two of Sapong and Bunbury may see Mukhtar shift back into the 10 position.
While there is plenty to like going forward, there could certainly be more. Nashville is one of four MLS teams currently in a playoff position despite having a negative goal differential. They have demonstrated their quality and effectiveness, but they haven’t been able to do it at the level they did last season. Nevertheless, the Loons should be wary of their opponents this week. The return of Michael Boxall from suspension will certainly help contain Nashville’s spirited offense.
The Defense
For many of MLS’ teams, the star names are reserved for attacking threats. However, defense is just as important as attack, if not more. For Nashville, that principle is evident when looking at the way they have built their squad. Designated Player and USMNT regular Walker Zimmerman has been a cornerstone of this team since it joined the league, even scoring their first-ever MLS goal. His consistency and leadership in the back has given his team a base to build on and around, and it has paid dividends.
While Nashville doesn’t have the league’s best defensive record this year, they are at least around the average. The addition of USMNT right-back Shaq Moore has bolstered the ranks in the back, providing both cover and dynamic wing-back type play. With Zimmerman and Moore alongside regulars Daniel Lovitz and Dave Romney, Nashville’s backline is one that should not be taken lightly.
Final Thought
The All-Star break provided teams with a bit of a needed breather. With it out of the way now, the only thing for clubs to look forward to is the postseason, and both of these teams are hopeful that they can make some noise in October. MNUFC will see several key players return to the lineup, and they will be hungry to right the wrongs of the game against Colorado. On the other hand, Nashville will be coming into this game looking to turn their poor form around before it’s too late. Both squads will be motivated to go for the win, which should make for an exciting, impassioned game, no matter how it ends.
MATCH INFO
Nashville SC v. Minnesota United FC
GEODIS Park | Nashville, Tennessee
08.14.2022 | MLS Game No. 25
8:00 p.m. CT (FS1, FOX Deportes, and 1500 ESPN)
