Nashville SC rolled into Saturday’s road trip across the Appalachian Mountains to Charlotte with one eye on Tuesday’s decisive CONCACAF Champions Cup second leg against Club América.
Despite heavy rotation, the Coyotes still maintained control of much of the game, and grabbed what could prove to be a crucial 2-1 victory off the back of goals from midfielders Eddi Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek.
Let's dig into the player ratings.
• Players begin with a base grade of 6 and can increase or decrease their rating based on performance.
• Players must play a minimum of 15 minutes to earn a rating.
Brian Schwake - 8.5
Brian Schwake was tidy on the ball and made some big saves in the run of play. His biggest moment of the game was saving a penalty from Charlotte’s Idan Toklomati in the 65th minute. He would commit a foul and face a second spot kick in the 80th, and Archie Goodwin would convert, but a very good performance nonetheless.
Stock: Unchanged
Sofascore Rating: 7.1
Dan Lovitz - 6.0
Dan Lovitz did not have his best game in Gold by any means, picking up a yellow card and giving away a cheap penalty. At the moment, it feels like the gulf between him and Reed Baker-Whiting for first-choice left back is as large as ever.
Stock: Down
Sofascore Rating: 6.9
Maxwell Woledzi - 7.5
Maxwell Woledzi put in what is becoming a fully typical performance: he was absolutely integral in killing just about anything Charlotte had to throw at him and his teammates. Sure, some things got through, but on the ball and in defense, Woledzi was a big part of a good defensive performance.
Stock: Unchanged
Sofascore Rating: 6.8
Jack Maher - 7.0
Jack Maher once again donned the armband and once again commanded a leadership role at the back. He got caught on the ball a time or two, and got caught out of position a time or two, but nothing that would have you in any level of concern. He has to be one of the best backup center backs in the league.
Stock: Unchanged
Sofascore Rating: 6.9
Josh Bauer - 6.5
It was a Josh Bauer night for the full 90 minutes on the right-hand side, as Andy Nájar was given the night off. Bauer filled his role to expectations. He isn't likely to blow you away on any given day, but he is almost always dependable, and he was certainly that in Charlotte.
Stock: Unchanged
Sofascore Rating: 6.5
Patrick Yazbek - 9.0
Patrick Yazbek was the engine that made this team go. With an assist on the first goal, and then the winner all on his own, the Australian further cemented his place among the best midfielders in the league. He may just be the most important piece in Nashville's team.
Stock: Up
Sofascore Rating: 8.4
Eddi Tagseth - 8.0
Eddi Tagseth returned to the starting lineup and found his first goal in Gold with a fierce long-range effort, proving the efficacy of Magic 8-Balls to everyone watching. In addition to this, he was also his usual self, anywhere and everywhere on the pitch and involved in anything and everything, both in and out of possession.
Stock: Up
Sofascore Rating: 7.9
Warren Madrigal - 6.5
Warren Madrigal played more of a second striker role compared to the usual left wing he has been playing, and got some decent action here and there. However, he wasn't able to really affect too much, all things considered. The Costa Rican did register one key pass, however, and tested 'keeper Kristijan Kahlina with a speculative curler from range.
Stock: Unchanged
Sofascore Rating: 6.6
Ahmed Qasem - 7.0
Ahmed Qasem has quietly improved pretty significantly in just about every appearance he's made this season. He's playing with good energy and the confidence to take on defenders 1v1, which is exactly what you want to see out of the young Swede. One of his best performances in Nashville before hobbling off late with an injury.
Stock: Up
Sofascore Rating: 6.7
Alex Muyl - 6.0
Alex Muyl had a night he'd love to do over, if we're being honest. Loose touches were a bit too common, and one of them led to a yellow card for a foul on Toklomati. The night also ended with Muyl being helped off the field with what looked to be a pretty painful knock at the least. We'll see if he's able to play Tuesday night in Mexico City.
Stock: Unchanged
Sofascore Rating: 6.1
Woobens Pacius - 5.5
Woobens Pacius got another start up top, and the game state simply didn't allow for the Canadian to get too involved. Pacius does great work in hold-up play, but the Coyotes never really had to rely on long balls to get the ball forward, so Pacius' involvement was limited.
Stock: Unchanged
Sofascore Rating: 6.0
Substitutes
Hany Mukhtar - 6.5
Hany Mukhtar came on a bit earlier than he probably would have imagined after the blow to Muyl, but the German did have some good moments here and there. It must be said Nashville doubled the lead not long after his introduction to the game, and Charlotte pressed harder with the ball, giving less opportunities for Mukhtar going forward. Still a good showing nonetheless.
Stock: Unchanged
Sofascore Rating: 6.5
Sam Surridge - N/A
Sam Surridge had a chance to kill the game and make it 3-1, but couldn't get the ball past former Goalkeeper of the Year Kristijan Kahlina. It wasn't a long shift for Surridge, or else he might've found more opportunities.
Stock: Unchanged
Sofascore Rating: 6.2
Cristian Espinoza - N/A
Cristian Espinoza also came on in the 76th minute along with Surridge and Baker-Whiting, and he tried to help Nashville regain control of the ball and the pace of play. The Crown weren't really having it, however, and Espinoza, much like Surridge and Mukhtar, just didn't have the space to perform his usual magic.
Stock: Unchanged
Sofascore Rating: 6.5
Reed Baker-Whiting - N/A
Reed Baker-Whiting came on and put in a pretty solid shift, but the interesting part is where he played. It's long been known that Baker-Whiting can play either fullback or winger, and Saturday was his first look at the left wing spot, with Dan Lovitz also on the field behind him. It will be interesting to see him in that spot — perhaps in a more open game — but it's definitely worth noting the possibility for later.
Stock: Up
Sofascore Rating: 6.2
Manager
BJ Callaghan - 8.5
BJ Callaghan made seven alterations to the lineup from midweek, and it paid off beautifully. The team went back to a 4-2-2-2 that was closer to the tactic the Coyotes primarily used in 2025, with some slight tweaks for personnel.
To get this result between two very important continental games, against one of the best home teams in MLS, is nothing short of impressive. Much had been said about this run of league games being indicative of Nashville's seriousness as a Supporters' Shield contender, and at least at this point, they certainly look deep enough to challenge for it.
