Nashville SC Update
May 1, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Nashville SC News Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Following a dominant 3-1 victory over rival Atlanta United FC, Nashville Soccer Club (4W-3L-3D, 15 pts.) will wrap up its four-match homestand at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday against Chicago Fire FC (2W-2L-5D, 11 pts.) presented by Cat Financial. Limited tickets are available at www.NashvilleSC.com/Tickets.
For those not in attendance, the match will be available on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV App and on radio at 104.5 The Zone.
Saturday marks Chicago's first-ever visit to GEODIS Park and the first meeting between the sides since Sept. 26, 2021. Reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar made MLS history on July 17, 2021, as he scored the fastest hat-trick in the span of six minutes (10', 13', 16') in a 5-1 victory over the Fire. Nashville SC, who has never lost to Chicago, owns a 1W-0L-2D overall record against the visitors.
At the conclusion of the match, fans are encouraged to stick around to cheer on the Nashville SC Special Olympics Unified Team as they take on Chicago Fire's side. The Nashville SC Special Olympics Unified Team will also be the club's guests in Section 615, a special section in GEODIS Park dedicated to community members in the Middle Tennessee region.
Carrying the GEODIS Community Flag on Saturday will be guests from Fifty Forward which is the leading resource for adults 50+ in Middle Tennessee who seek to live longer, more fulfilling lives. The Hero of the Match will be Janet Jernigan, who as the former executive director of Fifty Forward, led the expansion of centers and supportive care services across the area. Nashville SC will also honor Specialist Christopher Rochelle of the United States Army as the Hyundai Military Salute.
Saturday's win over Atlanta United marked the seventh consecutive match across all competitions in which the Boys in Gold have earned a result over the Georgian rivals, a streak that dates back to Sept. 12, 2020. Captain Walker Zimmerman notched an assist on the opening goal as Mukhtar registered two assists, extending his goal contributions to 13 (6 Goals + 7 Assists) in nine matches across all competitions against Atlanta. Both players were named to the MLS Team of the Matchday 10 together for the second week this season (also Matchday 6).
On the MLS NEXT Pro front, Huntsville City FC will travel to Ohio to take on Columbus Crew 2 at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, May 5, for the first of three matches between the two sides this season. Fans can catch the action at the official watch party at BeeZr or watch it on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app
104.5 The Zone for English radio
GEODIS PARK'S ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP FOR MAY 6:
Main Act: Nashville SC vs. Chicago Fire FC
Opening Act: Hannah Anders Band
In-house DJ: SHEA-K
National Anthem: Jericho Rose
Guitar Riff: Raul Oyarce
Halftime Performance: Jericho Rose
MEDIA NOTES:
Nashville SC:
is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference
scored its highest goal total of the season this past weekend (3)
is tied for the fewest goals allowed in MLS this season (6) along with LAFC; Nashville SC has played two more matches
is tied for second in MLS in clean sheets (5) along with FC Cincinnati
leads MLS in save percentage at (85%)
is fourth in the Eastern Conference in Duel Percentage (51.6%)
has not lost in its last 33 matches when scoring the first goal of a match, a streak that dates back to Aug. 8, 2021
is 25W-1L-10D all-time when leading at the half and is unbeaten in its last 34 matches when leading at the half (24W-0L-10D)
is 28W-1L-8D when scoring two or more goals in an MLS match
is 13W-1L-0D all-time when scoring three goals in a match
Against Chicago Fire FC:
will meet twice this season
has never lost to Chicago (1W-0L-2D all-time record)
MLS Matchday 11 will mark the first meeting in GEODIS Park; played their previous fixture at Nissan Stadium on July 17, 2021
Head Coach Gary Smith
has tied personal record for most wins at an MLS club (also, Colorado Rapids, 43 wins) with a pair of wins last week against San Antonio FC and Atlanta United FC
spent three and a half seasons with Colorado (2008-11) managing 111 matches, while managing the same total of matches (111) with NSC in MLS since 2020
Teal Bunbury
scored his first goal of the season this past weekend, his 70th career goal
made his 346th career regular season appearance, ranking seventh all-time among active players
Aníbal Godoy
leads the team in passing accuracy at 90.1% (minimum 90 minutes played)
has led Nashville SC to a 13W-7L-5D record in his appearances since 2022
Jack Maher leads the team in accurate passes (409)
Dax McCarty
ranks second all-time in MLS history among outfield players in games played (447), first among active players
is three regular season starts shy of tying Chad Marshall (404) for second all-time among outfield players
Shaq Moore
leads the team in tackles (17)
is one assist shy of tying his total from last year (3)
Hany Mukhtar
leads the team in assists (5)
is tied with Jacob Shaffelburg for the team-lead in goals (3)
recorded his sixth multi-assist match of his MLS career
has been involved in over half of Nashville SC's regular season goals in club history (78 of 142)
Since the 2022 season, Mukhtar has scored or assisted on 42 of Nashville SC's 63 goals (66.7%) which is the highest percentage in MLS in that span
Jacob Shaffelburg
recorded his third goal of the season, tying his career-high in 11 less matches played
is tied for the team-lead in goals (3) with Hany Mukhtar
Joe Willis
leads all goalkeepers in save percentage at 85.5 % (minimum 3 matches played)
ranks tied for fifth in MLS with 34 saves
appeared in his 99th MLS regular season match for Nashville SC, the most of any player in club history
Walker Zimmerman
recorded his first assist of the season
has 24 career goals, including the playoffs, 23 of which have been scored on set pieces (15 corners, eight free kicks)
Major League Soccer Stories from May 1, 2023
- Chicago Fire Weekly Update: Fire Win Chicago Derby, Kamara Nets #143, & Terán's New Contract - Chicago Fire FC
- Earthquakes to Host Ninth Annual Wine and Dine on July 13 - San Jose Earthquakes
- Sounders FC Celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Seattle Sounders FC
- Orlando City SC Players & Front Office Receive 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship Rings - Orlando City SC
- Nashville SC Update - Nashville SC
- Leonardo Campana Voted MLS Player of the Matchday for Week 10 - Inter Miami CF
- Inter Miami CF Forward Leonardo Campana Voted MLS Player of the Matchday Presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 10 - MLS
- Nashville Soccer Club Mutually Agrees to Terminate Aké Loba's Contract - Nashville SC
- Cristian Espinoza Selected to MLS Team of the Matchday - San Jose Earthquakes
- Hany Mukhtar, Walker Zimmerman Named to MLS Team of the Matchday - Nashville SC
- Head Coach Neville, Campana and Negri Named to MLS Team of the Matchday - Inter Miami CF
- Evander Named to MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 10 - Portland Timbers
- FC Bayern Munich and LAFC to Host Elite ID Camp in Los Angeles - Los Angeles FC
- Yerson Mosquera Named to Team of the Matchday 10 - FC Cincinnati
- Sporting KC Weekly - Sporting Kansas City
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