NASHVILLE, TN – In the biggest game of their regular season, Nashville SC put in one of the best performances in club history, making a statement in a 4-1 demolition of Inter Miami.
The vibe check (TL;DR)
- What happened: Nashville were simply incredible. Their attack, bolstered by a star turn from Elias Saad, was on fire from the opening whistle. They peppered Miami's goal with eight shots on goal and scored half of them, earning their 11th win at Geodis Park in all competitions.
- What we learned: Nashville were as good as advertised – better, even – against the best MLS team they'll face all season. Aside from Telasco Segovia's goal just before the break, and a few lucky breaks, Nashville limited chances for Miami, getting a huge three-save performance from goalkeeper Brian Schwake, who also grabbed the assist for Hany Mukhtar's second goal of the night.
- Big picture: Head coach BJ Callaghan dedicated the win to the late Martha Rivers Ingram, mother of Nashville SC majority owner John Ingram, who passed away last week. Callaghan called it "the hand on our back" that inspired their most complete performance to date.
Highlights
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Key moments
- 7' | A fantastic chance falls to Cristian Espinoza on the top of the box, and his drive is saved well by Rocco Ríos-Novo.
- 13' | Exceptional pressing from Elias Saad to quickly win the ball back in Miami's box. He beats Facundo Mura on the dribble and almost squares for Hany Mukhtar. Out for a corner...
- 17' | Andy Nájar opens the scoring with a darting run and bullet header at the back post. Huge miscommunication from the Miami defense, with the ball from Saad allowed to bounce on the edge of the six-yard box.
- 19' | Nashville get right back on the attack and look to double their lead. Mukhtar finds Espinoza on the break, and his shot is parried out for a corner.
- 22' | Luis Suárez gets in behind Nashville's backline, and is clumsily taken down in the box by Jeisson Palacios. Brian Schwake does well to block the spot kick, though, and while Sergio Reguilón puts the rebound into the net, a video review shows that he entered the penalty area before the ball was kicked and the goal is called back.
- 41' | Inches too high from Mukhtar. He curls a free kick just over the top corner. Ríos-Novo is fully frozen.
- 45+3' | Miami equalize against the run of play just before the break. Several poor decisions compound, starting with Mukhtar's failure to press Rodrigo De Paul carrying the ball out of the back, a really poor angle from Maxwell Woledzi, and missed tackles from Nájar and Palacios. Telasco Segovia curls the ball into the far post to level the score.
- 49' | Mukhtar puts Nashville ahead straight out of the halftime break, and it's another assist from Elias Saad! What a slick little pass from the Tunisian winger.
- 57' | What a move from Nashville, starting with a brilliant ball over the top from Woledzi, an excellent run from Reed Baker-Whiting, a perfect cross from Espinoza, and a heel-flicked finish from Surridge. Nashville up 3-1.
- 63' | Nashville go up 4-1 with an assist from goalkeeper Brian Schwake! Ríos-Novo gets it all wrong, and Mukhtar rounds him for a tap-in. Nashville are making a statement in the biggest game of their MLS season.
- 78' | Another golden chance for Surridge after an excellent cross from substitute Shak Mohammed. Great block to keep it out.
- 81' | Incredible close-range save from Schwake to deny Segovia.
- 90+10' | Some extracurriculars after the final whistle from Miami. Players weren't happy with Woledzi, who threw a few stepovers in Miami's half in the dying seconds of the match.
Standout performers
- Elias Saad was the man of the match in his fifth Nashville appearance. The winger set up two goals, but his impact went much deeper. He was electric with the ball at his feet, beating every member of Miami's backline at least once on the dribble and combining with Mukhtar and Surridge. He looks like a stellar signing.
- Hany Mukhtar set the tempo for Nashville in the attack, and has begun rounding into form after the break. A vintage performance from the captain.
- While four or five other Nashville players could get a shout, Eddi Tagseth hardly put a foot wrong in midfield. He was everywhere defensively, cutting off distribution from Casemiro, but was also really tidy with the ball.
Lineup notes
Head coach BJ Callaghan was able to name his strongest possible lineup, with Elias Saad getting his first minutes alongside Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar, and Cristian Espinoza. Aside from the continued injury absences of Warren Madrigal and Patrick Yazbek, the matchday squad was as good as it gets.
What it means
Nashville needed a big performance, and they got it. The win sees them go five points clear of Miami in the Supporters' Shield race, fully securing their spot as the team to beat in MLS.
Up next
With another three points in the bag, Nashville head on the road midweek. They'll play Red Bull New York on Wednesday night, before returning to Geodis Park on Saturday for another Eastern Conference clash with Columbus Crew.
Stats
Possession: NSH 45% – 55% MIA
Field tilt (per Futi): NSH 52 – 48 MIA
Shots: NSH 18 – 16 MIA
Shots on goal: NSH 8 – 4 MIA
Penalty kicks: NSH 0 – 1 MIA
Goals: NSH 4 – 1 MIA
Expected goals: NSH 2.41 – 1.83 MIA
Total Passes: NSH 394 – 499 MIA
Fouls: NSH 15 – 10 MIA
Yellow cards: NSH 1 – 3 MIA
Red cards: NSH 0 – 0 MIA
Deserved win (per Futi): NSH 17% – 26% MIA
Announced attendance: 30,109
