Nashville SC (8W-8L-9D, 33 pts.) is back on the pitch this Sunday night with a nationally-televised match against Minnesota United FC (10W-9L-5D, 35 pts.) at GEODIS Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT.
Defender Walker Zimmerman and midfielder Hany Mukhtar come into this match fresh off MLS All-Star Week in Minnesota. The pair helped guide the MLS All-Stars to a 2-1 win over Liga MX in Wednesday’s match. Mukhtar also hit the walk-off crossbar to win the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge for the league.
Mukhtar has been the facilitator for Nashville lately, accounting for 21 of Nashville SC's 33 goals. Mukhtar has scored six goals and recorded three assists in his last eight matches.
Nashville SC enters the final nine matches of the regular season above the playoff line in sixth place. But, with just six points separating third place from 11th, every point will count in the final two months of the season. With a national TV audience and a playoff competitor coming to town, GEODIS Park will be the place to be on Sunday night. Tickets are still available here.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s match:
Date: Sunday, Aug. 14
Time: 8:00 p.m. CT
Location: GEODIS Park (Nashville, Tenn.)
TV: FOX Sports 1
Stream: FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App
English Radio: iHeartRadio Online, Nashville SC App
Spanish Radio: El Jefe 96.7 FM
Tickets
A-Z Matchday Guide
GEODIS Park Policies
Parking and Transportation Info
Matchday Lineup
Western Conference Stretch Run – All nine of Nashville SC’s remaining league matches will come against Western Conference opponents, which means every single match will have implications on the playoff race.
Head Coach Gary Smith knows the task ahead of his team, which starts with Sunday’s match against Minnesota.
“We’re at the business end of the season,” Smith said. “The games we’re going to run into now are the proverbial six-pointers. The Western Conference is so tight. A couple of victories for any team could put them in a very strong position, and that’s what we’re fighting for.”
All-Star Motivation – Zimmerman and Mukhtar returned to the team this week after experiencing MLS All-Star Week together.
Smith says the experience was beneficial for Nashville’s All-Stars, especially for MLS’ new Crossbar Challenge king.
“They’ve come back full of enthusiasm about the event that went on,” Smith said. “Of course, Hany is the greatest crossbar challenge individual in the world, which is a great accolade. I think they had a great time, and the game was a very exciting one with so much talent on the field. I think the two guys had a real good experience.”
Scouting the Loons – Nashville SC will face Minnesota United FC for the second and final time during the regular season. Last time out in March, the sides played to a weather-delayed 1-1 draw. CJ Sapong scored in the fifth minute, then the Loons equalized in the 72’ minute through Hassani Dotson.
Currently, Minnesota sits in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. But with Nashville just two points behind, Sunday’s result could flip the sides’ spots.
Smith says he knows the team is up for a major challenge from the Loons this weekend.
“They are always ultra-competitive and well-organized,” Smith said. “They’re a side that, if offered the opportunity, are very capable of punishing us. They will be very difficult to break down and create chances against. What we know is the group that we can project that they’ll put out will make it a really tough game.”
