MLS Nashville SC

Nashville Soccer Club Records Best Start to a Major League Soccer Season in Club History with 2-0 Victory Over CF Montréal

March 11, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville Soccer Club remains unbeaten in 2023 with a 2-0 victory over CF Montréal on a rainy night at GEODIS Park. Jacob Shaffelburg opened the scoreboard in the first half while defender Taylor Washington scored his first career MLS goal off a volley in the box in the second half to secure the win.

Best Start In Club History: Nashville SC improved to 2W-0L-1D, 7 pts. with the win, marking the best start to a season through three matches in club history.

Joe Makes History: Goalkeeper Joe Willis made MLS history on Saturday night becoming the seventh goalkeeper in league history to keep three consecutive clean sheets to start a MLS season. Willis has recorded four consecutive regular season shutouts dating back to last season.

Heroic Hany: In his first start of the season after gaining fitness from an injury, the league's MVP Hany Mukhtar recorded the game-winning assist on Shaffelburg's goal. Mukhtar has been involved in over half of Nashville SC's regular season goals in club history (72 of 134)

Next Match: Nashville SC will take on the New England Revolution next Saturday, March 18 at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on the MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV App, and available on radio at 104.5 The Zone.

Match Timeline

NSH 37': Hany Mukhtar dribbles through the midfield bringing CF Montréal defenders towards him, Mukhtar dishes a pass to Shaffelburg who drills home the opening goal

NSH: 89': Off a cross from Shaq Moore, Taylor Washington delivers a one-timer cutting across the box and straight to the back of the net

Notes:

Nashville SC:

finishes the night tied for first place in the Eastern Conference along with Atlanta United FC and FC Cincinnati

has not allowed a goal to start the 2023 season, posting three straight shutouts

held CF Montréal without a shot on target tonight

has never lost to CF Montréal in its club history, improving to 4W-0L-2D; has won its last three matches against CF Montréal

had a higher expected goals tonight than CF Montréal (1.34-0.29)

has scored in its last 14 home games

has scored two goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half, more than any team in MLS this season

scored the first goal of an MLS match for the 50th time in club history

has not lost in its last 29 matches when scoring the first goal of a match, a streak that dates back to Aug. 2021

is 22W-7D-20D all-time at home

owns an all-time record of 24W-13L-26D against the Eastern Conference

is unbeaten in its last 31 matches when leading at the half (22W-9D-0L)

is 26W-1L-8D when scoring two goals or more in an MLS match

Head Coach Gary Smith earned his 150th career victory, 40 have come with Nashville SC in MLS

Teal Bunbury made his 340th career regular season appearance

Dan Lovitz led the team in touches with 58

Dax McCarty started his 397th career MLS match

Shaq Moore recorded his first assist of the season

Hany Mukhtar played the longest amount of minutes this season (91)

Alex Muyl recorded his first assist of the season in his 195th MLS appearance

Jacob Shaffelburg has scored four goals in 11 starts for Nashville SC

Taylor Washington scored his first MLS goal while leading the team in shots and shots on goal

Joe Willis earned his 52nd career shutout, 34th with Nashville

Box Score:

Nashville SC (2W-0L-1D, 7 pts.) vs. CF Montréal (0W-3L-0D, 0 pts.)

March 11, 2023 - GEODIS Park

Final Score

NSH: 2

MTL: 0

Scoring Summary

NSH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Hany Mukhtar) 37'

NSH: Taylor Washington (Shaq Moore & Alex Muyl) 89'

Discipline

MTL: Victor Wanyama (caution) 34'

NSH: Taylor Washington (caution) 67'

Lineups:

NSH Starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz, Jack Maher, Walker Zimmerman (C), Shaq Moore; Dax McCarty (Tah Brian Anunga 75'), Sean Davis, Jacob Shaffelburg (Taylor Washington 66'), Fafà Picault (Alex Muyl 66'); Hany Mukhtar (Ethan Zubak 90+1'), Teal Bunbury (CJ Sapong 75')

Substitutes: Ethan Zubak, Laurence Wyke, CJ Sapong, Josh Bauer, Tah Brian Anunga Elliot Panicco, Ben Martino

MTL Starters: Jonathan Sirois; Kamal Miller (Zachary Brault-Guillard 72'), Rudy Camacho, Joel Waterman, Aaron Herrera; Victor Wanyama (C). Lassi Lappalainen (Nathan-Dylan Saliba HT), Mathieu Choiniere, Sunusi Ibrahim (Chinonso Offor 72'), Sean Rea, Romell Quioto

Substitutes: Ketterer, Ilias Iliadis, Ahmed Hamdi, Mason Toye, Rida Zouhir, Jules-Anthony Vilsaint

REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez

AR1: Corey Parker

AR2: Walt Heatherly

4TH OFFICIAL: Ted Unkel

VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero

AVAR: Joshua Patlak Logan

Weather: Rainy, 46 degrees

Attendance: 25,958

Check out the Nashville SC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from March 11, 2023


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