Player Ratings: Nashville SC fall to Monterrey

Nashville's journey in the Leagues Cup came to an end Wednesday night after a 2-1 loss to CF Monterrey. The Boys in Gold took the lead within 25 seconds of kickoff, but conceded twice in the second half, including a 92nd-minute winner by Rayados.

Here's a look at how each player performed.

Recap: Nashville SC eliminated from Leagues Cup with loss to CF Monterrey

The ’Yotes fall 2-1 to the Mexican powerhouse at Geodis Park

SixOneFive SoccerBen Wright

Xavier Valdez - 7.0

Xavier Valdez came up with a huge save in the beginning of the second half to keep Nashville's lead at the time. He could've made himself a bit bigger for Monterrey's goal, but was caught a bit off guard due to poor defending. The Dominican was good on his feet, especially with Monterrey's press, but struggled a bit with his long distribution.

Stock: Unchanged

Josh Bauer - 5.0

Josh Bauer has always been one of the hardest workers, and this game was another display of that. That said, it seemed like he reached his physical limit in the last 10 minutes of the match. Whether it was fatigue or injury, the defender looked clearly spent. He could've recovered faster on both of Monterrey's goals, especially in the second, where he seemed lost.

Stock: Down

Jack Maher - 5.0

Another questionable performance from Jack Maher. The center-back was good for large stretches of the game, but just like his last few appearances, he is prone to some lapses in concentration. While he's not fully to blame, he could've been more alert in both of the goals Nashville conceded.

Stock: Down

Thomas Williams - 7.5

Thomas Williams had another strong showing, leading the match in defensive contributions with 10. The 21-year-old also played a key role in advancing the ball forward for Nashville and made a few impressive passes. He still needs more development, but the talent is clearly there.

Stock: Up

Reed Baker-Whiting - 6.0

Reed Baker-Whiting wasn't at his best, but still found a way to contribute to the game. While he didn't have many opportunities on the ball, he still won most of his duels and put in the effort on both sides of the ball. Found the back of the net, seemingly giving Nashville a 2-0 lead, but his goal was pulled back for a handball. Being pulled at half probably means he'll get the start on Saturday night, which is a huge opportunity for him.

Stock: Unchanged

Charles-Emile Brunet - 6.5

Charles-Emile Brunet is still finding his rhythm with Nashville SC, but overall, he made a good impression during this Leagues Cup. He positioned himself well and was solid defensively. On the ball, he could've taken more risks, as most of his passes were lateral or backward. Got lucky not to concede a penalty as well.

Stock: Unchanged

Bryan Acosta - 7.0

A good game for Bryan Acosta, who was a key player for Nashville. He was able to drive the ball forward on the dribble or with a pass. He was also a menace in pressing and helped create Nashville's only goal. He had a chance to score Nashville's second goal, but ripped his effort wide.

Stock: Up

Alex Muyl - 6.5

More of the same for Alex Muyl, who took care of his duties well, but this time on the right side. Being versatile enough to play a hybrid midfielder/wiger role on both flanks certainly has its perks. Also, being the hardest-working player on the pitch helps. Those two traits have allowed him to play 2000+ minutes every season.

Stock: Unchanged

Shak Mohammed - 5.5

It was a different flank for Shak Mohammed, spending the bulk of the time on the left, but his role remained the same. Overall, he probably would've wanted to be more involved with the ball, but Monterrey made it difficult for him to find rhythm. He ended up with 19 touches and completed 12 of 16 passes, which isn't ideal.

Stock: Down

Ahmed Qasem - 6.5

Ahmed Qasem scored Nashville's only goal of the match, but otherwise struggled to get into any dangerous areas. He was at the right place and finished the chance well. However, that was his only shot of the match, and he only completed 10 passes. He had a couple of chances to break through and pose a real threat, but he wasn't able to take advantage of them.

Note on the rating: one point for the goal, and half a point for it being the only one Nashville scored. Otherwise, this is a 5/10.

Stock: Unchanged

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Hany Mukhtar - 7.5

A great half for Hany Mukhtar, who was the best player for Nashville on the ball. Even though he won't get the official assist on the opening goal, he more or less made that happen. He also came close with his free kick hitting the bar. Despite playing a slightly different position, the German still covered a lot of ground and pressed consistently.

Stock: Up

Substitutes

Dan Lovitz - 6.0

Dan Lovitz was forced to take on more defensive duties due to Monterrey's push. He was very limited when Nashville had the ball, completing only 7 of 14 passes.

Stock: Unchanged

Jordan Knight - 6.0

Jordan Knight was lively, playing in a position different from his usual. Due to the nature of the game, he spent most of his time defending and going into duels. He also could've been cleaner on the ball in the limited opportunities he had.

Stock: Unchanged

Elias Saad - 6.0

Nothing to write home about for Elias Saad. While not directly responsible for Nashville's shortcomings, he also didn't provide a solution. He got into fantastic spots, but his shooting left a lot to be desired.

Stock: Unchanged

Sam Surridge - 6.0

A good run-around for Sam Surridge as he prepares for Saturday's match. Big Woobens Pacius energy from this performance.

Stock: Unchanged

Julian Gaines - N/A

Julian Gaines needed to get some minutes with Nashville, and he did that. He was more involved than anticipated, but still not sure there's much to take from playing the last 10 minutes or so.

Stock: Unchanged

Manager

BJ Callaghan - 7.5

BJ Callaghan ultimately played his cards right. Nashville SC have eight matches in August, and some rotation was needed. Considering Nashville is in the driver's seat of the Supporters' Shield race, it only made sense for Callaghan to rotate in the Leagues Cup.

Despite the results, he gained a much better understanding of many of his players who don't usually get these opportunities. He was also able to manage the players' minutes and ensure their full recovery.