Nashville SC picked up an important three points on the road against Charlotte FC, with midfielder Eddi Tagseth scoring his first Nashville goal as the 'Yotes held on for a gutsy 2-1 win.
The vibe check (TL;DR)
- What happened: Even with a heavily rotated lineup, Nashville put in a composed performance and weathered a late onslaught to hold on for three points.
- What we learned: Nashville showed off their depth. Even with seven changes to the lineup from BJ Callaghan ahead of Tuesday's Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinal in Mexico City, the 'Yotes were the superior team against an incredibly difficult Charlotte side.
- Big picture: Nashville extended their lead on top of the Eastern Conference table, and managed to rest key players ahead of what should be one of the most difficult matches they've played yet.
Highlights
Key moments
- 5' | A looping cross from Liel Abada catches Brian Schwake off balance, looping over his head and off the post. Schwake somehow stuck out a hand and pushed the ball off the line, avoiding a early and fluky goal.
- 14' | Eddi Tagseth got his first Nashville goal in style, hitting a shot on a frozen rop past Kristijan Kahlina into the top corner to give Nashville the lead.
- 62' | Nashville extended the lead through Patrick Yazbek, driving with the ball through midfield and lashing a shot past Kahlina, via a heafty deflection off of Tim Ream.
- 66' | Just when Charlotte looked to establish a foothold, Schwake stepped up, saving a penalty kick from Idan Toklomati to give the 'Yotes a huge lift.
- 90' | Charlotte pulled a goal back late via a rare mistake from Schwake. The 'keeper came out to the edge of his box to try and win a loose ball, but was a step slower than Archie Goodwin. Schwake conceded the penalty kick and was unable to save for the first time in his Nashville career.
Standout performers
- Eddi Tagseth has been a fan favorite since the moment he put on a Nashville shirt, but it took the Norwegian 48 matches to bag his first goal. An absolute laser from the top of the box, it's a strike he's not likely to forget.
- Despite conceding the late penalty, a decision he'll be frustrated by, Brian Schwake had a Man of the Match-caliber performance. The young 'keeper saved one PK, and made a few other crucial interventions.
- Patrick Yazbek continued his stellar season. He set up Tagseth's goal, and grabbed the winner himself after a driving run from midfield. He's been instrumental to everything Nashville have done this year.
Lineup notes
Head coach BJ Callaghan rotated heavily ahead of Tuesday's trip to Mexico City, making seven changes to the side that drew Club América 0-0 on Tuesday night. Brian Schwake, Maxwell Woledzi, Patrick Yazbek, and Warren Madrigal were the sole players to keep their places.
What it means
Winning on the road is incredibly difficult in MLS. Winning on the road with wholesale rotation is even tougher. The fact that Nashville were able to snag three points is a testament to their depth.
They've played six matches on the road in all competitions, winning three and losing just once. If Nashville are serious about their MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield ambitions, these are the types of performances and results they'll need.
Up next
Nashville will head to Mexico City on Tuesday for the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinal against Club América. After a 0-0 result in the first leg, an away goal would give them leverage, but it's a daunting task in the famed Estadio Azteca.
Stats
Possession: CLT 45% – 55% NSH
Shots: CLT 8 – 11 NSH
Shots on goal: CLT 3 – 6 NSH
Penalty kicks: CLT 2 – 0 NSH
Goals: CLT 1 – 2 NSH
Expected goals: CLT 2.29 – 0.51 NSH
Total Passes: CLT 423 – 523 NSH
Fouls: CLT 9 – 15 NSH
Yellow cards: CLT 0 – 3 NSH
Red cards: CLT 0 – 0 NSH
Announced attendance:
