Nashville SC Falls To LAFC 2-1 As Conference Standings Continue To Tighten

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Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

After playing three games in a seven-day stretch, Nashville SC loses a hard fought match to LAFC 2-1 at GEODIS Park on Sunday night (July 17).

LAFC has been one of the best teams all year and, with the win in Nashville, they find themselves back at the top of the Western Conference standings. The already great Los Angeles team saw the debuts of Italian legend Giorgio Chiellini and Welsh legend Gareth Bale.

“It’s always a lot when you have three [games] in one week, and I don’t think we have too many more of those,” said Walker Zimmerman in a postgame press conference. “It’s tough in the summer. It’s hot, humid, and a lot of energy that you put out there… I think we fought really hard in this game. It felt like guys were really pushing to get a result. In that regard, we’re proud of the group. To drop points at home is never a good feeling, but we’ll get some well-deserved rest and prepare for Cincinnati.”

Walker Zimmerman and LAFC’s Giorgio Chiellini. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

Despite the final result, both teams played well and kept up with each other. By the end of the match, both squads had 13 shots, a possession percentage of about 50 and over an 80 percent passing accuracy. Among the biggest differences between the teams were LA’s opportunities to strike while Nashville had their share of blunders on offensive chances.

“I can’t think of a more difficult game to run into than this one at the end of a difficult week,” head coach Gary Smith noted in a postgame press conference. “Those three games this time of year can be hugely challenging. However, I thought for good periods of the game, the teams were evenly matched. I didn’t think there were too many chances either way, but when you look back at the defining moments in the game and the important situations in the end that have separated the teams, [LAFC] executed in a far more clinical passion.”

Nashville came out of the first whistle creating some plays to put shots on the net while Zimmerman and the NSC defense stifled any and all offensive chances by LAFC. But when Los Angeles woke up, Nashville tried to keep up the pace.

The visiting team drew first blood in the 27th minute on a goal from Cristian Arango. He made a hustling move to the ball in the box where he shot the ball to the far side of the net, out of reach of Joe Willis.

From there, the game was fast with many scoring opportunities. Nashville had their fair share of options, but couldn’t get past Maxime Crépeau. On a Nashville corner, CJ Sapong was fouled in the penalty box and was confirmed by VAR. Hany Muktar took the penalty for Nashville and scored as the ball hit the left post, into the net.

Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

Though Nashville went into halftime with hope and positive takeaways from the first 45 minutes, LAFC didn’t waste any time in the second when José Cifuentes scored in the 46th minute after an NSC defensive misstep.

Nashville tried to crawl back and had some fantastic opportunities but couldn’t equalize.

After the loss, Nashville is now 3-4-2 at home this season and currently sits in fifth place with 30 points–just one more than Dallas who Nashville plays in the middle of August.

The Boys in Gold’s next game will be on Saturday, July 23 against Cincinnati FC in Cincinnati. Nashville will return to GEODIS Park on July 30 when the Vancouver Whitecaps come into town.

Brandon Hill Talks Nashville SC’s Growing Community Support & Outreach Initiatives [Interview]

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Brandon Hill. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

Three years into its birth as an MLS club, Nashville Soccer Club has grown to become an extremely popular team, as well as a successful one on the pitch.

But, like many sport teams, the community service and impact it can have on a city is equally as important. Nashville SC Head of Community Engagement Brandon Hill has been leading these initiatives for the club since day one. A product of the James Cayce Homes and graduate of both TSU and Vanderbilt University, Hill has worked in the community outreach world his entire career.

“My first job out of high school was working at the community center in my old neighborhood,” Hill shares in an interview with The Sports Credential. “I was 17 and a business major, but I really fell in love with community work. I’ve done nothing but but community work ever since.”

Hill spent some time in Atlanta working for rapper Usher‘s New Look Foundation before returning to Nashville to receive his masters degree from Vanderbilt. He was working at the mayor’s office when he heard about Nashville SC’s move to MLS and the push and engagement made by so many members of the Nashville community.

NSC fans. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

“I learned about the Nashville Soccer Club from my good friend Marcus Whitney, and I really was interested in how we could use the soccer club as another one of the amazing resources for community engagement in the city,” he explains. “I got to meet Ian Ayre [Nashville SC CEO] as a result of chatting with Marcus about it, Ian and I hit it off and talked a lot about some of the things we could do utilizing soccer to help make the city a more amazing place.

“About eight or nine months later, they reached out and told me about this role. I never wanted to work in sports, but for over 20 years, I just worked in a number of community engagement settings and I really believed very passionately about the possibilities and the potential of soccer to help advance a lot of our goals that we have in Nashville as a city and a lot of our neighborhoods and communities.”

Hill saw the opportunity to reach more people in the Nashville community through the congregation of the soccer club. With international players of different backgrounds and nationalities and the impact the sport has on fans all different walks of life, he saw the organization, owned by Middle Tennessee native John Ingram, as a way to reach Nashvillians like he’s done before.

“There are very few things in the world that brings people together like music and sports,” Hill notes. “It just so happens that in Nashville we have both of those things and large amounts of them. Music is kind of a no brainer, right? We can go back forever to talk about Nashville’s connection with music, but sports is still fairly new. The Titans and the Preds got here in the late 1990’s, and this is just kind of a prime time for a sport like soccer.”

Nashville SC supporter group, The Mixtape 615, hosting a Juneteenth community watch party with in 2021. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

He continues, “Due to the accessibility, the diversity and a communal aspect of it, it’s such a perfect sport for this time and our city’s progression. More than any politician or any particular cause, sports is an arena where everyone comes together, and they’re a part of the same team. So, in turn, for a person like me, who’s really invested in community work, community work is also built on how can we get everyone that’s a part of the community at the table together as part of the same team to help move us forward. I really just understood that sports is just an amazing vehicle.”

From the beginning, the club has made community service and engagement one of its top priorities, getting the word out that Nashville SC isn’t just a soccer team but a new organization that is for the community.

“Within about three months of the club’s launch, we had engaged something like 50 to 60 different community organizations and tied them into our inaugural match,” Hill recalls. “We really just started from from day one introducing ourselves and trying to be engaged with our community partners. We asked them, “‘hat are the priorities that you’re working on in the community? What do you think are the big issues? What’s the best way that we can be a resource and be of assistance here?’ That’s really what’s driven our approach from day one, is really being offensive to the community’s needs.”

Pride Night 2022. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

Hill has been instrumental, along with the NSC organization, to being one of the most accessible and inclusive sports teams in the city, hosting Juneteenth Night as well as Pride Night for a second straight year. Both nights were full of festivities and events that specifically celebrated both the LGBTQ+ and African American communities. Pride Month was also a big month for Hill and the club as it continuously supported and voiced advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and the Nashville LGBT Chamber.

Both nights featured musical artists and special guests from the respective communities to bring everyone in on the celebrations.

Soccer is the most popular sport in almost every Spanish speaking country and Davidson County’s demographic is made up of 10.6 percent Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census. In 1990, the Hispanic and Latino communities were at 0.9 percent.

Nashville SC’s fanbase is extremely diverse and has supporter groups that are Latino run, such as La Brigada de Oro. The club will be hosting a Hispanic Heritage night at GEODIS Park towards the end of the MLS season in September.

It’s extremely important for both Hill and the club to reach as many communities as possible and connect everyone that calls Nashville home. At the beginning of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, MLS and Nashville SC’s inaugural season was postponed, and many Nashvillians were suffering with grocery store shortages and layoffs, as well as those suffering from the illness. The club took action and got involved to help those in need during these unprecedented times.

Members of the La Brigada de Oro supporters group. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

“Our very first game was on February 29, 2020, and that morning we were so excited to get started,” Hill shares. “Then two days after our first game, a tornado disaster in Nashville and Middle Tennessee hit, and then two weeks later the pandemic started. We had all these amazing plans that just got put on pause through the pandemic. We started off our first year–or really our first two years–just trying to be responsive to what the communities said they needed. Instead of us just doing what we thought made the most sense and trying to replicate things we’ve seen in other MLS markets and cities, we wanted it to be true to the needs of Nashville.”

Hill and the club partnered with Fat Bottom Brewery and the National Food Project to help provide meals to displaced workers working in the hospitality industry. They also partnered with Metro Schools to help kids in the community during at-home learning. They partnered with Pencil to promote a program called Kickstarter Reading that helps students to stay on track of their literacy goals. This was something that the community expressed a need for to the club, Hill explained.

General Manager Mike Jacobs signing a Special Olympics of Tennessee athlete to a contract at SOTN event. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

The club has gone on to help and connect many different organizations in Nashville, including the Special Olympics of Tennessee, the National Museum of African American Music and its Greener Goals initiative where they’ve teamed up with MLS to help tackle environmental issues within the community.

As Nashville SC continues to grow alongside the city, Hill and the club will continue to reach as many people in the growing community.

“From the top all the way down, this was a club that was going to be committed to really drive a community change and using this club as another mechanism to make amazing things happen in the city,” Hill summed. “I never in a million years imagined that it would be in a sports organization, but it’s just been a beautiful fit. It’s been amazing and remarkable time so far. We’re having a lot of fun.”

Nashville Picks Up Much Needed Win Over Seattle Sounders

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Hany Mukhtar. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

These past few weeks have been tough for Nashville SC and most fans would agree that it hasn’t been pretty to watch. But thanks to fantastic defense and some beautiful offensive footwork and passing by Randall Leal and MVP candidate Hany Mukhtar, the Boys in Gold pulled out the 1-0 win over a very good Seattle team at GEODIS Park on Wednesday night (July 13).

“The mindset going into the game was to try and be aggressive, and take the game to a fantastic Seattle team,” said head coach Gary Smith in a postgame press conference. “I think you saw that again in the lineup of the group, the shape of the group, a very attacking looking group with a back four. There was some intent in that.”

He continues, “The guys adapted incredibly well to a Seattle group that changed the way that they went about their business. I know they played that way last year, but we’ve not seen it many times from them this year. We didn’t prepare to play against a back five, and I just felt that the whole attitude and look about the group really made a statement in terms of what we were after and what we wanted to achieve in the game.”

The team looked like a completely different squad from Saturday’s terrible 4-1 loss to Charlotte where Nashville only had possession for 39 percent. The Boys in Gold turned around and played one of their best performances yet at GEODIS park.

Defensively, they looked extremely sharp with Walker Zimmerman making brilliant plays to clear the ball out of the Nashville penalty box and stopping any momentum the Sounders attempted to create. Dax McCarty also played a fantastic game with great footwork and intensity, which stifled Seattle’s midfield.

Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

But the stars of the show were Mukhtar and Leal.

Mukhtar scored in the 44th minute, which began with a Leal pass from Nashville’s defensive end to CJ Spaong up the right side. With the Seattle defense too far back to catch up, Sapong brought the ball within 2o yards of the net when he cross into the box to an uncovered Mukhtar.

“That connection yet again between CJ and Hany was the difference in the game,” Smith noted. “We’ve seen it time and time again. I’m only delighted that we’ve seen it against this top-class Seattle group tonight.”

Muktar is really making his case for the MVP with 11 goals and three assists. He is currently third in the league in goals/assists, second in the league in expected goals, and first in shots on target per 90 minutes.

But Leal has also been on the rise these past few weeks after dealing with an ankle injury which sidelined him in May. Against Seattle, he showed some brilliant footwork and a lot of finesse, coupled with his speed. It was his great efforts that led to the game-winning goal.

Because of his injury keeping him off the pitch, he’s had something to prove these past weeks which is only going to benefit the team, Smith explained. Also his motivation to get back in the Costa Rican National Team roster ahead of the FIFA World Cup is only going to make him work harder.

“I think we’ve seen a lot of these qualities when he came back from his ankle problem,” Smith shared. “I think we all wanted to try and work Randall to a point where he’s fully match-fit. You’ve seen the progression of his minutes, and we pretty much played the 90 minutes tonight. He’s been very very effective and he’s no different than any attacking player with the opportunity he has in front of him, which is to get himself back into his national team. I think he’s got the bit between his teeth, and he’s inspired to make that happen.

“He is in a very good place and he’s wanting to impress,” commented Smith.

Randall Leal. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

With the win and the addition of three standing points, Nashville sits in third place in the the Western Conference with 30 points. However, Salt Lake is just below them also with 30 points but a -1 goal differential. Only four points separate Nashville from eight place.

GEODIS Park hasn’t been the fortress they’ve hoped it would be so far this season as they held a home record of 2-4-1 before last night’s match. Team’s have changed their approach to playing NSC in Nashville due to their recent home dominance, Mukhtar explained, making a draw to a visiting team a massive victory, of sorts.

“We have a new, fantastic stadium. It’s not always easy to build your culture in your stadium because you already have expectations,” said Mukhtar. “We earn that expectation, which is a good thing, but on the other hand, we have to play really well. We saw with Portland, Kansas, and other teams that they come here not to play offensive soccer. They come to wait for our mistakes.”

He continued, “In the first two years, I felt like it was more of clubs coming to our place to get the three points. Now, they’re coming to our place and they’re very happy with one point. We saw that with the Portland players. They were so happy with the point, but it felt like a loss for us. They had the expectation to come here and get the point, and that’s a good result for them.”

The Boys in Gold have another massive game on Sunday (July 17) as they face LAFC who’s been one of the best teams in MLS this season. It’ll be the first time the two teams will have ever faced each other, which could be a massive swing in momentum for Nashville if they can pull off the win.

Hany Mukhtar, Walker Zimmerman Named To 2022 MLS All-Star Roster

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After performing brilliantly on the pitch in the first half of the season, Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar and Walker Zimmerman have been named to the 2022 MLS All-Star team.

Nashville’s two all-stars continue to make headlines in the league following the signing of their contract extensions, which will keep them in Music City through at least 2025.

“The selections for Walker and Hany are well-deserved, and we are so proud of them,” notes General Manager Mike Jacobs. “They continue to demonstrate that they are among the elite players in Major League Soccer, and this selection only continues to validate and affirm that. They are both tremendous ambassadors for Nashville Soccer Club and MLS, and are worthy recipients of this opportunity.” 

Mukhtar earns his first MLS All-Star selection after staying true to his MVP caliber form in 2021. The German national is tied for fourth in MLS in goals scored (10), leads the league in shots (75) and shots on goal (42), and is tied for second in MLS in goal contributions (15).   

He is also the first Nashville SC player to reach double-digit goals in back-to-back MLS seasons. The attacker has been responsible for 15 of Nashville’s 25 goals.   

“It feels amazing to be selected, and I’m happy to be on the team,” says Mukhtar. “I want to thank my teammates and the coaching staff for their support in getting me here. I’m looking forward to being in Minnesota representing Nashville. It shows all of our hard work here at the club and that our players have been doing a good job these past three years. I’m very happy to be part of it.” 

Zimmerman is set to appear in his third career All-Star Game, earning the honors in 2019 and 2021. The U.S. international, who became the first All-Star in Nashville SC’s history last season, also holds the back-to-back MLS Defender of the Year award. He is the third-ever MLS player to win the award in back-to-back seasons and the first in over a decade.  

The Georgia-native anchored Nashville to historic heights to start its 2022 MLS season, earning the highest road points per game total (1.37) for any team in MLS history to play over eight road matches to start an MLS season.

“I’m really excited to be a part of the All-Star Game again,” shares Zimmerman. “It’s a special accomplishment that you always strive for each and every season. I’m really happy for Hany to get involved after last year probably deserving the honor, it didn’t quite go his way. Credit to a lot of our teammates for putting us in good positions and helping us stand out enough to be selected for this game. I’m excited to represent Nashville and looking forward to the game.”    

At the international level Zimmerman was crucial in the USMNT’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, captaining the U.S. and appearing in 10 World Cup Qualifying matches.

Mukhtar and Zimmerman will join a cast of MLS All-Stars to compete against a team of All-Stars from Mexico’s LIGA MX. The 2022 MLS All-Star Game will take place Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 7:30 pm CT and will be televised on ESPN and Univision.

Nashville Soccer Club To Launch MLS NEXT Pro Team In Huntsville, Alabama

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Joe Davis Stadium Rendering

Nashville Soccer Club has announced the launch of their MLS NEXT Pro team in Huntsville, Ala. which will debut in 2023, playing at Joe Davis Stadium.

“When we started building our MLS team in Nashville, we talked a lot about the key ingredients that made Nashville a perfect soccer city: great energy, strong business community and a real civic pride,” says Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre. “It’s quite obvious in spending time in Huntsville that the same raw ingredients exist here. We could not be more excited about bringing our MLS NEXT Pro team to Huntsville and the amazing stadium project. There will be a lot of heavy lifting to make it all happen, but with lots of experience and a strong local partnership we are in the best possible position to make this project a huge success.”

Joe Davis Stadium Rendering

In partnership with the City of Huntsville, Nashville SC’s MLS NEXT Pro team will bring professional soccer closer to fans and supporters in north Alabama. The team will make Joe Davis Stadium its home once its renovation is complete in May 2023. When it opens, the 6,000-seat facility will have additional spaces to accommodate groups for its various events. In addition to soccer, its multi-use fields will be available for football, ultimate frisbee, rugby, lacrosse, and other non-sporting events.

“Soccer has consistently been one of the most popular and fastest growing sports in our region,” says City of Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “When the city decided to renovate Joe Davis Stadium and convert its playing field to multi-use fields, we hoped pro soccer would find a way here. Today, we are proud to deliver this exciting sports amenity to our community.”

Joe Davis Stadium Rendering

MLS NEXT Pro, whose inaugural season began in March with participation from 21 clubs, is a new professional men’s soccer league committed to driving a new era of North American soccer by offering opportunities to players, coaches, referees and sports business professionals. The new league completes the integrated player pathway from MLS NEXT through to MLS first teams and allows young players and experienced professionals the opportunity to develop and showcase their talents while competing for an MLS NEXT Pro championship.

“When we launched MLS NEXT Pro, our goal was to bring soccer to new communities and fanbases, and we are thrilled to do that in Huntsville,” says Charles Altchek, President of MLS NEXT Pro. “Having spent time in the city with Mayor Battle and his team, I have seen first-hand the energy and innovation that is driving the city forward. Looking ahead to 2023, we are excited to partner with the city of Huntsville and Nashville Soccer Club to deliver professional soccer to north Alabama and its fans.”

Nashville SC and the city of Huntsville will be announcing more information regarding the team’s identity, brand and schedule in the coming months.

Nashville Soccer Club To Host Club América In Leagues Cup Showcase Match

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Just one day after getting knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup, Nashville Soccer Club has announced that it will play LIGA MX powerhouse Club América on Sept. 21 in its first-ever international match at GEODIS Park as part of the Leagues Cup Showcase.

The Leagues Cup Showcase series will serve as a preview to the highly anticipated 2023 Leagues Cup between all MLS and Liga MX Clubs next summer. In addition to the match in Nashville, the Leagues Cup Showcase will also feature matches in Cincinnati and Salt Lake City as they host Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Atlas FC, respectively.

“We could not be more excited about hosting our first international match at GEODIS Park,” says Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre. “Nashville has been buzzing with excitement for soccer since we started in MLS in 2020 and even more so since we opened the doors to our new home. Facing off here against Mexico’s most decorated club side is an awesome next step on our soccer journey.”

MLS and LIGA MX–which entered a partnership in 2018 rooted in the on-field rivalry as well as the spirit of collaboration off the field–will pause their respective seasons for one month during the 2023 summer to play Leagues Cup, showcasing the soccer infrastructure and capabilities in the region in the years leading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“We’re happy and excited to visit our amazing fans in Nashville as it’s very important to us to stay connected to them and all our fans in the U.S.,” says Sporting President of Club América Santiago Baños. “The timing couldn’t be better as we will face our rival just days before Liguilla (LIGA MX playoffs). As a result, fans can expect our team to be in top shape and at our best moment. It will be a great match.”

Nashville SC season ticket holders will be able to opt into this match starting on July 5 through July 19. Starting the following day, season ticket holders, deposit holder members and groups will have priority access to purchase tickets through an exclusive one-day presale. Tickets to the public will be go on sale on Thursday, July 21 at 9 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster.

The Leagues Cup Showcase, sponsored by BODYARMOR, will be broadcast on Univision and ESPN platforms in the United States, and TUDN platforms in Mexico.

Additional information on the September matches, including media accreditation, will be announced at a later date.

Nashville SC Falls In Penalty Shootout To Orlando, Ends U.S. Open Cup Run

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Pictured (L-R): Dax McCarty, Hany Mukhtar, Dan Lovitz. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

After a great run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Nashville SC’s journey has ended after falling to Orlando City in a penalty shootout in the tournament’s quarterfinals.

MLS Player of the Week Hany Mukhtar put the Boys in Gold up 1-0 in the 52nd minute, but a late and controversial call set up a free-kick for Orlando where they equalized 1-1 at the 90+4 minute. Nashville would go on to lose 6-5 in penalties as Alex Muyl and Eric Miller both missed their shots.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this group, honestly,” said head coach Gary Smith in a postgame press conference. “I thought that in the opening exchanges and the first half, in general, we created enough moments and enough opportunities, and we played with some real drive. The guys really got after the game and to be honest, looking back now, we probably missed the boat a little bit.”

Elliot Panicco was in the net for Nashville and made some fantastic plays and great saves, but conceded the late goal off of a misread where he came out of his line and left the net wide open for Orlando to score.

“Elliott had been absolutely magnificent all night. We got caught up in a difficult challenge inside on the edge of the six-yard box from the free kick and  of course, it rebounds, they get their fortune and we end up going to penalties,” Smith added.

One of the biggest discussions after the game was the officiating.

Nashville received an unprecedented 11 yellow cards and Sean Davis received a red card after getting his second yellow in the first minute of extra time. Nashville was then forced to play with only 10 men in extra time.

The Boys in Gold were never able to create a clear scoring opportunity in extra time. Panicco and even coach Smith received yellow cards throughout the match.

Because the U.S. Open Cup doesn’t have Video Assistant Referee (VAR), it leaves all calls up to the lead referee on the field regardless of how detrimental a call may be.

“They played very, very well in a tough environment and we were let down a little bit by the officials in a situation where we needed someone to be strong,” Smith noted. “We needed somebody in the middle tonight in a tough game against a side that are not the easiest to contend with. Unfortunately, I felt [the officials] fell short.”

Orlando will now host the New York Red Bulls for the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on July 27.

Next up for NSC, they will be heading back home to play Portland on Sunday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m. CT. A win against Portland could put the Boys in Gold in second place in the Western Conference.

Hany Mukhtar Named MLS Player of the Week, Nashville SC Reaches Season Midpoint

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Hany Mukhtar. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

The MLS season has come to its midway point and Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar played one of his best games of the season against D.C. United on Saturday (June 25) where he scored twice and was named MLS Player of the Week.

Mukhtar has been excellent so far this season, recording his third brace in Nashville’s 3-1 road win at D.C. United helping the club to surpass 100 goals in MLS regular season history in the process. The German national has accounted for 49 of Nashville’s 101 goals in their regular season history.

Since the start of 2021, Mukhtar leads all players with 41 goal contributions (24 goals, 17 assists). Additionally, Mukhtar’s 24 goals are the third-most in MLS during that span and he is the only player with at least 20 goals and 15 assists. Of his 49 career goal contributions, 25 of those have come on the road, which is also a league best since 2020.

His contributions will be needed if the Boys in Gold want to have a better performance in this second half of the season. Nashville SC finds itself in fifth place in the Western Conference standings with 26 points and a record of 7-5-5.

Randall Leal celebrating his equalizing goal against Philadelphia at the GEDOIS Park opener. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

Nashville opened the season with eight straight road games as GEODIS Park finished construction. They were able to pick up 11 points in eight games before they opened their new permanent home at the Nashville Fairgrounds.

GEODIS Park was nicknamed “El Castillo” or “The Fortress,” but so far it hasn’t been the impenetrable home-field the club and its fans had hoped for. They’ve played six league home games since May 1 and have only won two, with draws against Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Jose.

Most recently and notably, NSC had back-to-back games at home where they drew 0-0 with San Jose, and then suffered a brutal loss to the league’s worst in Sporting Kansas City.

Only picking up one point and scoring one goal after playing the two worst teams in the league at home is something this team isn’t very familiar with, but will need to bounce back from.

They picked up a solid 3-1 win against D.C. United in the nation’s capital and will face Orlando City in Orlando for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals today (June 29). Nashville SC head back to GEODIS Park on Sunday (July 3) to face Portland and start the second half of its season.

Joe Willis. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

The Boys in Gold have scored 22 goals and conceded 19 goals with starting goaltender Joe Willis struggling compared to his first two seasons with the club. He’s conceded 18 goals and has a save percentage of 72 percent. He has had some great performances this season, but he’s also had some doozy’s making poor choices which ended with the ball in the back of Nashville’s net.

Injuries have had an impact on the team as Randall Leal has finally recovered from an ankle injury he sustained in early May. Nashville’s midfield also suffered when Dax McCarty and Walker Zimmerman weren’t in the lineup. The poor performances against San Jose and Kansas City are results from this.

Nashville is just three points behind Real Salt Lake, who sit in second place in the conference.

This July, NSC will play Portland, Charlotte, Seattle, LAFC, Cincinnati, and Vancouver. Only two of those games are away and LAFC is the only team they’re facing with a better record.

CJ Sapong. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

July could be a major step for Nashville. If they can pickup at least 11 points this month, the Boys in Gold find themselves at the top of the standings with an opportunity to hold and eventually secure a home playoff game.

However, the offense needs to turn up. CJ Sapong (five goals), Alex Muyl (two goals), and Ake Loba (one goal) will be extremely important factors if the club wants to compete at the top of the Western Conference table.