MLS Nashville SC

Nashville SC Update

Published on July 5, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville Soccer Club (11W-5L-5D, 38 pts.) will travel to the Windy City to take on Chicago Fire FC (5W-7L-8D, 23 pts.) at Soldier Field at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, July 8. The match can be seen on MLS Season Pass in the Apple TV app and heard on 104.5 The Zone.

The Boys in Gold have dominated Chicago Fire in its young history having never lost to them (2W-0L-2D) and outscored them 9-2. Nashville SC has not allowed a goal to the Fire since July 17, 2021.

Nashville SC is coming off a terrific 2-0 home victory over D.C. United at GEODIS Park after Randall Leal scored his second career brace, while Joe Willis earned his seventh shutout of the season. With the victory, Nashville SC returned to second place in the Eastern Conference, trailing FC Cincinnati in the Supporters' Shield race by six points.

Leal was named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 22 after his two-goal performance against D.C. United. Leal became the second player in Nashville SC history to be named Player of the Matchday, joining Hany Mukhtar (eight times) and is the first Costa Rican player to win the award since Real Salt Lake striker Álvaro Saborío in 2013 (Matchday 22).

Reigning MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar registered an assist over the weekend, pushing his goal contribution to 21 this season (13 goals + 8 assists), a league lead. Mukhtar is the Golden Boot leader in MLS with 13 goals.

Mukhtar has feasted against the Chicago Fire in his MLS career, scoring a total of six goals in two hat tricks on July 17, 2021 and May 6, 2023.

Nashville SC is the best defensive side in the league having allowed the fewest goals (16) and has only allowed more than one goal in a match twice through 21 matches. The Boys in Gold have the lowest goals against average all-time in MLS history at 1.00.

Nashville SC's MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Huntsville City FC (4W-7L-4D-3SOW, 19 pts.) will host Orlando City B on Sunday at 6 p.m. CT at the Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium. Fans can purchase their tickets here or follow the action live on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.

BROADCAST INFORMATION:

Nashville SC vs. Chicago Fire FC (July 8, 2023)

MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app

104.5 The Zone

Huntsville City FC vs. Orlando City B (July 9, 2023)

MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app

MEDIA NOTES:

Nashville SC:

is in second place in the Eastern Conference

has the best goal differential (+14) in the Eastern Conference

has allowed the fewest goals in MLS this season (16)

owns the highest save percentage (80.5%) in MLS

is 5W-2L-5D all-time in the month of July

has not lost when scoring first since Aug. 8, 2021; owns an 9W-0L-2D record this season and a 39W-4L-16D all-time

is 27W-1L-10D all-time when leading at the half and is unbeaten in its last 36 matches when leading at the half (26W-0L-10D)

is 35W-1L-8D when scoring two or more goals all-time and 11W-0L-0D this season

is 16W-1L-0D all-time when scoring three or more goals in an MLS match and 4W-0L-0D this season

International Report

Fafà Picault (Haiti) made his international debut for Haiti in a 2-1 win over Qatar

Haiti was eliminated after finishing in fourth place in Group B

Aníbal Godoy (Panama) were the Group C winners and will take on Qatar at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, July 8 on FS1

Jacob Shaffelburg (Canada) finished second in Group D and will face the United States on Sunday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT on FS1

Teal Bunbury

has appeared in 356 MLS regular season matches in his career, sixth most among any active player

Sean Davis

leads the team in interceptions (23)

Randall Leal

has scored 16 goals and recorded 20 assists in 89 career regular season matches for Nashville

Dan Lovitz

has appeared in 100 MLS regular season matches for Nashville SC

is one assist shy of tying his total from lats year (4)

Jack Maher

is the only NSC outfield player to play every minute this season (1,890)

leads the team in accurate passes (982); has 187 more passes than the second highest on the team (Lovitz 795)

leads outfield players in duel percentage (66.2%)

Dax McCarty

has appeared in 458 MLS regular season matches with 410 starts, the most among any active player

played for Chicago Fire from 2017-19

will speak to the media at the club's Matchday-2 media availability

Hany Mukhtar

is the MLS Golden Boot Leader at 13 goals

has recorded a goal or assist in 12 of his last 17 matches

has recorded 36 goals and 20 assists since 2022, the most of any MLS players

has been involved in 91 of Nashville's 161 MLS regular season goals in his career

Joe Willis

is one win shy of tying his career-high for wins in a season (12)

leads MLS in save percentage (80.5)% (minimum three matches played)

ranks fifth in the league with 66 saves

has recorded double-digit wins in three consecutive seasons

Check out the Nashville SC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 5, 2023


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