San Diego FC got the better of Nashville SC in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, earning a 1-0 win at home and holding Nashville scoreless for the first time in 12 matches.
The XI
Both sides had three players at Wednesday night's MLS All-Star Game, and all six started the match. Jonny Pérez slotted right back into the lineup after last weekend's suspension, with Walker Zimmerman and Jeisson Palacios again preferred at the back.
Nashville SC Starting XI vs San Diego FC Willis; Lovitz, Zimmerman ©, Palacios, Nájar; Tagseth, Yazbek; Muyl, Pérez; Surridge, Mukhtar BENCH: Schwake, Maher, Acosta, Brugman, Bunbury, Shaffelburg, Bauer, Gaines, Qasem
— SixOneFive Soccer (@sixonefivesoccer.com) 2025-07-26T01:33:23.943Z
On the pitch
Nashville played themselves into a bit of trouble early. Zimmerman picked up a yellow card inside the opening 20 minutes, taking down Chucky Lozano on a breakaway that went to video review for a potential red card. The captain stayed on, but minutes later Palacios picked up a card himself after a string of fouls in close succession.
With both sides struggling to create much of note in possession – neither managed a shot on target in the first half – the opening goal came from a fittingly sloppy sequence. A poor turnover from Hany Mukhtar exposed a wildly out of position Nashville midfield, allowing San Diego to get the ball from their own half to the feet of Lozano in front of goal in just two passes.
That Dreyer x Lozano connection is unstoppable. 💯
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 26, 2025
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/SVaVJmzvv2 pic.twitter.com/jkJtcSsctj
It looked for a minute that Nashville should have had a penalty, when Mukhtar was apparently brought down in the box. Referee Drew Fischer was never sent to the replay monitor to take a look, but did call a penalty at the other end for a trip from Patrick Yazbek on Onni Valakari. Joe Willis stepped up with a crucial penalty save to keep Nashville in the match, but they weren't able to capitalize at the other end.
It appeared for a minute that Anders Dreyer had doubled the lead with the last kick of the game, tapping into an empty net after Willis pushed forward for a corner kick. However, the final whistle had been blown, although muffled by the roar of the crowd, saving Nashville an added gut punch.
Goals
- 53' | SD | Hirving "Chucky" Lozano
The big picture
Winning on the road is hard in MLS, especially on cross-country road trips. In matches where one team has travelled across two or more time zones this year, the visitors have won just 31% of the matches so far.
Nashville will be frustrated, though, by the way this one played out. They were far too sloppy in the first half, getting drawn into needless fouls and leaving too much space open in midfield, space that was eventually exploited for the winner.
By the time Nashville found ways to systematically create chances, it was too late. Gastón Brugman played an important role off the bench and was able to find a few teasing balls into the box, but the finishing touch simply wasn't there for Nashville.
The final whistle marked the first time in 12 matches that Nashville had been held without a goal.
Up next
With the Leagues Cup about to start, Nashville have two weeks off from MLS play before traveling to St. Louis's Energizer Park on August 9. In between, though, they'll play a friendly match against Aston Villa at Geodis Park on August 2, the first time they've ever played against a Premier League side.
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
Stats
Possession: SD 59% – 41% NSH
Total Passes: SD 547 – 351 NSH
Shots: SD 10 – 7 NSH
Shots on goal: SD 4 – 3 NSH
Penalty kicks: SD 1 – 0 NSH
Goals: SD 1 – 0 NSH
Expected goals: SD 1.56 – 0.77 NSH
Fouls: SD 12 – 19 NSH
Yellow cards: SD 2 – 3 NSH
Red cards: SD 0 – 0 NSH
