Saturday in Orlando, Nashville's attacking struggles post-World Cup came home to roost as the Coyotes were handed just their second league defeat of the season, again by a 1-0 scoreline.
Ben Wright
Let's try to ascertain where it went wrong.
• 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 - 7.5
Brian Schwake did just about all he could for as long as he could, even as Orlando put on sustained pressure throughout both halves. Schwake made three saves and looked good with his feet, but couldn't stop an absolute laser from Tyrese Spicer that proved to be the difference in the game.
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Sofascore Rating: 7.0
Andy Nájar - 7.0
Andy Nájar makes this team go, but he simply ran out of energy late in his stint on the field, and that probably cost Nashville the game. Nájar did log two key passes and one big chance created, as well as completing four of his five long balls, but the memory that sticks in the mind will be Spicer's goal. That's the life of a defender.
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Sofascore Rating: 7.1
Andy's vision is insane 😮💨🇭🇳 pic.twitter.com/TsmIiUUMB5
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) July 26, 2026
Maxwell Woledzi - 7.0
Maxwell Woledzi took on a bigger role in possession with Jeisson Palacios getting the night off, and looked calm and composed with the ball at his feet. Woledzi completed 53 of 55 passes and won all four ground duels he attempted.
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Sofascore Rating: 7.1
Jack Maher - 7.0
Jack Maher got the start in the absence of Palacios, and actually completed the most passes of anyone on the team, being successful on 72 of his 77 attempts. While the majority were lateral in the defensive half, the Orlando press did cause Maher to attempt 15 (!!!) long balls, of which 12 were completed.
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Sofascore Rating: 7.4
Josh Bauer - 6.5
Josh Bauer is in a tough spot because he does offer Nashville solid performances, but the gulf between him and Nájar or Reed Baker-Whiting is visually obvious, especially in possession.
The width that Nájar and Baker-Whiting provide when the Coyotes have the ball is a huge part of what makes this team so dynamic, and when one or both is out, it becomes much easier for opposing defenses to force Nashville to play ineffective soccer.
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Sofascore Rating: 6.4
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Matt Corcoran - 6.5
Matt Corcoran didn't have his best game in possession in this one, and really that was a function of Orlando's ability to put sustained pressure on Nashville in their defensive third, no matter who had the ball.
Corcoran had one really poor giveaway in the defensive third, but other than that nothing stands out as being obviously poor; it was just a disjointed effort all around with the whole team.
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Sofascore Rating: 7.0
Bryan Acosta - 7.0
Bryan Acosta looked as good as he has been for some time. His passing range is a boost for a much thinner Nashville team, and on Saturday, Acosta completed six of his nine attempted long balls.
The problem for Nashville in this game is that it's not exactly encouraging when your two midfielders only combine for 98 completed passes.
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Sofascore Rating: 7.1
Alex Muyl - 6.0
Alex Muyl's night was largely defined by one moment. Muyl again had a chance that some might think he could've done better with in the 42nd minute. In reality, it was a much more difficult chance, as the onrushing Maxime Crépeau was always going to get there roughly the same time as Muyl.
The real unfortunate part is that Muyl came out of that exchange worse for wear, and was subsequently substituted at halftime. If there's one thing Nashville can't afford, it's more injuries in the attack.
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Sofascore Rating: 6.2
Shak Mohammed - 6.5
Shak Mohammed was much more polished against his former club than last time out against Montréal, but on a night where Nashville were lacking quality in the final third all around, that could only take the Coyotes so far.
Mohammed did have one really nice opportunity, but unfortunately put his effort right at Crépeau.
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Sofascore Rating: 6.7
Hany Mukhtar - 6.5
Hany Mukhtar is doing all he can, but when Nashville are missing the pieces they are, teams know they can expect most of the Coyotes' threat to be generated by the former MVP.
Mukhtar logged 46 touches and completed 25 of his 28 passes to go with two successful dribbles, but frankly, that just didn't result in anything substantive.
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Sofascore Rating: 6.4
Sam Surridge - 6.5
Sam Surridge just isn't getting service. That's really all there is to say. Surridge logged 17 touches, three touches in the penalty area, and zero shots. Nashville has to find a way to get the ball to their oft-times talismanic number nine in dangerous spots, full stop.
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Sofascore Rating: 6.5
In three matches since returning to play, Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar have combined for 20 touches in the penalty area and six shots from open play. You can't win games without your best players getting the ball in dangerous areas and producing.
— Ben Wright (@benwright.bsky.social) July 25, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Substitutes
Eddi Tagseth - 6.5
Eddi Tagseth came on as Nashville were trying to flip the script on Orlando and pretty desperately needed his ball-winning and link-up play, but Tagseth wasn't able to be fully effective, missing out on his one ground duel and only completing 76% of his passes. He at least raised the energy level.
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Sofascore Rating: 6.5
Ahmed Qasem - 6.0
Ahmed Qasem feels like he's close to a breakthrough, but it just hasn't happened thus far. He's getting into dangerous areas and getting on the ball, but on the ball also appears to be his biggest weakness right now.
Qasem attempted four dribbles but completed just one, in addition to losing possession ten times. Even then, he did manage two shots, both of which were blocked, and completed 14 of his 15 passes.
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Sofascore Rating: 6.3
Dan Lovitz - 6.5
Dan Lovitz got a bit of a rest, this time coming off the bench, and while he did what he could after coming on, completing nine passes in the Orlando half, it just wasn't enough.
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Sofascore Rating: 6.7
Jordan Knight - 6.5
Jordan Knight made by far his longest substitute appearance in league play and got into some good spots, but lacked just a little quality to really create good chances.
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Sofascore Rating: 6.4
Woobens Pacius - N/A
Woobens Pacius came on in kitchen sink time for Nashville, and the ball never found him.
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Sofascore Rating: N/A
Manager
BJ Callaghan - 7.0
BJ Callaghan is still being forced into suboptimal starting lineups, but there was probably also a rare in-game error from Callaghan as well. Andy Nájar was absolutely gassed by the time he came off, and he came off about five minutes after a goal was conceded down his defensive side.
Perhaps Nájar was left in a bit too long, but it also must be considered just how much better Nashville is with the ball when he's playing. It cuts both ways, but maybe a decision Callaghan will want back.
