Recap: Nashville concede late winner in Cincinnati

Nashville SC's run of poor form continued in Cincinnati, losing for the fifth time in six matches via a last-second winner from MVP-candidate Evander.

With Nashville's Supporters' Shield hopes already on a knife's edge, the loss feels like a crucial blow, and extends their run of poor form heading into Tuesday's US Open Cup semifinal against Philadelphia.

The XI

Even with Tuesday's match looming, head coach BJ Callaghan put out a strong lineup. Andy Nájar and Patrick Yazbek were dropped to the bench after playing extensively with their nations during the international break, and both Jeisson Palacios and Alex Muyl missed the match with illness. Otherwise, the squad was as full-strength as it could be.

Callaghan was forced into an early change when Jonny Pérez pulled up with an apparent thigh issue inside the first 20 minutes, forcing Ahmed Qasem into a more extended appearance than initially planned.

On the pitch

The match was unsurprisingly open. Sam Surridge and Brenner each had chances to put their side ahead, curling efforts wide and high. Josh Bauer also had a gilt-edged chance to give Nashville the lead after a fantastic transition from Nashville, smashing his shot right at backup 'keeper Evan Lauro when a more composed finish could have lifted it over.

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The second half saw more of the same. Kévin Denkey, on at halftime for the hosts, saw a pair of efforts flash just wide before Brenner finally found the opener. A poor ball from Dan Lovitz clattered off a pressing Cincinnati attacker and fell into the path of Evander, who picked out his fellow Brazilian with a pinpoint pass to finish off.

Just 11 minutes later, Surridge extended his lead on top of the Golden Boot race with his 21st strike of the year. Substitute Tyler Boyd, making just his second appearance after returning from a 14-month injury layoff, set up Surridge's thumping volley with a gorgeous cross.

Nashville looked set to leave Cincinnati with an incredibly valuable point, but Evander had other ideas. The hosts threw absolutely everything at Nashville's backline for the final 15 minutes, and the 'Yotes uncharacteristically struggled to deal with it. They could neither clear the ball to safety or maintain possession through Cincy's press, consistently coughing up possession outside their own 18-yard-box. Eventually, it cost them.

Evander picked up the ball after Ender Echenique's run left Nashville's defenders chasing shadows, and the star attacker laced the ball past a helpless Joe Willis to deal Nashville yet another demoralizing loss.

Goals

• 73' | CIN | Brenner (Evander)
• 84' | NSH | Sam Surridge (Tyler Boyd, Gastón Brugman)
• 90+8' | CIN | Evander (Ender Echenique, Pavel Bucha)

The big picture

Nashville have had several losses in this stretch that probably deserved a win, or at least a draw. And while they created more than enough to leave Cincinnati with a point, they have only themselves to blame after a unusually poor defensive showing.

Even before Evander's late winner, they'd been flirting with disaster for much of the night, giving Cincinnati attackers clear looks at goal in space, kept off the scoresheet via a combination of Joe Willis and bad finishing. That luck typically doesn't last, especially not against an elite side like Cincinnati playing in their own stadium.

"We don't manage the last 10 minutes of the game the right way," Callaghan said afterwards. "So yeah, I have to do a better job at getting that team organized and we have to do a better job executing... If we want to be a winning team, uh, we're, you know, we have to learn to close out games in hard-fought, really good games."

The performances for Nashville haven't been miles off during this stretch. Perhaps that makes the losses even more painful. Nashville are doing just enough to lose these matches, and with just four regular-season games left before the playoffs begin, they have little time remaining to figure out how to win games against elite teams.

Up next

Nashville have a quick turnaround before one of the more important games in their history. They'll return to Geodis Park on Tuesday to take on Philadelphia Union in the US Open Cup semifinal.

Stats

Possession: CIN 49% – 51% NSH
Total Passes: CIN 357 – 373 NSH
Shots: CIN 19 – 10 NSH
Shots on goal: CIN 6 – 4 NSH
Penalty kicks: CIN 0 – 0 NSH
Goals: CIN 2 – 1 NSH
Expected goals: CIN 1.65 – 1.55 NSH
Fouls: CIN 15 – 14 NSH
Yellow cards: CIN 2 – 0 NSH
Red cards: CIN 0 – 0 NSH
Announced attendance: 24,749

Highlights