Recap: Nashville bounce back with ascendent win over Orlando

NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville SC made a statement at Geodis Park on Saturday night, breaking a three-match losing streak with an authoritative 5-1 win over Orlando City.

The XI

With Dan Lovitz still injured, Josh Bauer got another start in a new left back role. Gastón Brugman partnered Patrick Yazbek in midfield, with Alex Muyl returning from suspension to resume his spot on the left. Tyler Boyd also made his first appearance in a match-day squad in 402 days after tearing his ACL last July.

After a Leagues Cup match midweek, and a semifinal against Inter Miami looming, Orlando rotated heavily. MVP candidate Martín Ojeda didn't start, along with a swath of changes in attack and at both fullback positions.

On the pitch

For the second week in a row, Nashville got off to a roaring start. Hany Mukhtar played Sam Surridge through on goal with a defense-splitting through ball, setting up the striker for a simple finish.

Less than 15 minutes later, with Nashville creating a flurry of chances, Mukhtar doubled Nashville's lead, pouncing on the end of a long throw-in from Josh Bauer to smash a volley into the roof of Pedro Gallese's net. The 2022 MLS MVP made it a brace just before halftime, snapping a low volley into the bottom corner after a perfect cross from Jacob Shaffelburg.

Less than three minutes later, Surridge grabbed a brace of his own, taking sole possession of the Golden Boot lead with his 20th goal of the season.

Nashville came out of the half brightly, with Alex Muyl nearly scoring seconds in. As the match went on, though, the tempo slowed down, with Orlando switching to a back five to try and mitigate some of the damage. DP attacker Luís Muriel came onto the pitch and pulled a goal back within two minutes, and promptly got himself sent off for throwing a hand into the face of Ahmed Qasem.

With the match already over, Jeisson Palacios added a fifth for good measure. The Colombian defender bagged his second of the year with a perfectly-executed short corner routine, heading in from close range after a pinpoint delivery from Bauer.

Goals

• 3' | NSH | Sam Surridge (Hany Mukhtar)
• 17' | NSH | Hany Mukhtar (Josh Bauer)
• 40' | NSH | Hany Mukhtar (Jacob Shaffelburg)
• 43' | NSH | Sam Surridge (Jacob Shaffelburg, Jeisson Palacios)
• 76' | ORL | Luís Muriel
• 90+4' | NSH | Jeisson Palacios (Josh Bauer, Hany Mukhtar)

The big picture

Yes, this wasn't a full-strength Orlando team. But it's hard to caveat a win this one-sided. Nashville were clinical in ways they haven't been over the last three matches. They took advantage of every inch of space they got in midfield. And while they allowed some decent chances to the Lions, as a whole their defending was vastly improved.

Not only did Nashville pick up a crucial three points, but they denied three points to Orlando. With playoff seeding a major factor in every match down the stretch, winning this six-pointer was vital.

With Joe Willis starting his 300th MLS match, and Walker Zimmerman getting his 250th start of the regular season, Hany Mukhtar became just the fourth player in league history to log 10 assists in five-consecutive seasons. With Sam Surridge moving into first place in the Golden Boot race ahead of Lionel Messi, it was a night to remember for the Nashville attack, and a needed return to form with just six matches left to play.

Up next

After a long stretch of road matches, Nashville stay at Geodis next weekend, taking on Atlanta United on Saturday, August 30. Atlanta will be facing elimination from playoff contention.

Stats

Possession: NSH 50% – 50% ORL
Total Passes: NSH 419 – 403 ORL
Shots: NSH 17 – 12 ORL
Shots on goal: NSH 9 – 4 ORL
Penalty kicks: NSH 0 – 0 ORL
Goals: NSH 5 – 1 ORL
Expected goals: NSH 2.36 – 1.14 ORL
Fouls: NSH 14 – 13 ORL
Yellow cards: NSH 2 – 2 ORL
Red cards: NSH 0 – 1 ORL
Announced attendance: 28,014

Highlights

Post-match media