CINCINNATI, Ohio (Aug. 4, 2023) – Nashville Soccer Club advanced to the Round of 16 in Leagues Cup 2023 with 5-4 win in penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. Aníbal Godoy scored off a set piece in the 64th minute, and injury time substitution Elliott Panicco delivered the determining save in the shootout round.
Shootout Hero: Substitute goalkeeper Elliott Panicco secured the celebration for Nashville SC with his penalty save over Matt Miazga. Panicco and Cincinnati’s keeper Alec Kann had already met once earlier this season, as both keepers faced each other on April 9 when Huntsville City FC, Nashville’s MLS NEXT Pro affiliate, took FC Cincinnati 2 to shootouts. It was Panicco, once again, who delivered the victory to Huntsville that night with the final save.
Goal for Godoy: Godoy opened his goal-scoring account with his second-half goal in both Leagues Cup 2023 play and across all competitions for Nashville SC this season. The Boys in Gold have seen six total goal scorers across its six Leagues Cup 2023 goals.
On the Attack: Nashville SC extended its goal-scoring form to four matches tonight. Nashville SC started this goal-scoring streak at TQL Stadium on July 15, 2023 in its last MLS regular season match leading into Leagues Cup 2023 play. Nashville SC has scored five goals at home and two away in regulation time in that streak.
On to the Round of 16: Nashville SC will face Club América in the Round of 16 after the Liga MX side defeated Chicago Fire FC 1-0 at Soldier Field Friday night. Nashville SC will host the Round of 16 match at GEODIS Park on Tuesday, Aug. 8. Ticket information will be shared within the next day.
Match Timeline:
NSH 65’: Hany Mukhtar delivers a corner to find Dax McCarty’s head, and Anibal Godoy cleans up a deflected ball from FC Cincinnati’s goalkeeper to find the back of the net
CIN 85’: Brandon Vazquez wins and converts a penalty kick to the lower right corner of the net
Notes:
· Nashville SC:
o went to penalties for the second time in Leagues Cup play history, after taking a Leagues Cup showcase match against Club América 4-3 on Sept. 21, 2022
o saw its sixth different player score a Leagues Cup 2023 goal
o had five shots on goal to FC Cincinnati’s four shots on goal
· Aníbal Godoy led the team with 0.48 expected goals (xG) and goals
· Dan Lovitz led the team with 13 duels, a duel percentage of 83.3% and four tackles
· Dax McCarty’s header and rebound led to Nashville’s goal
· Jack Maher returned to the field for the first time since July 8, 2023 against Chicago Fire FC
· Hany Mukhtar led the team with 0.33 expected assists (xA)
· Elliott Panicco appeared as an injury time substitution, being instrumental in Nashville SC advancing to the Round of 16 by stopping the one penalty kick to take the edge
Box Score:
Nashville SC (1W-1L-0D, 0SOW, 3 pts) vs. FC Cincinnati (1W-0L-1D, 1SOW, 5 pts) through Group Stage
Aug. 4, 2023 – TQL Stadium
Final Score:
NSH: 1
CIN: 1
Scoring Summary:
NSH: Aníbal Godoy (Unassisted) 64’
CIN: Brandon Vazquez (Penalty Kick) 85’
Discipline:
NSH: Lukas MacNaughton (Caution) 59’
Lineups:
NSH Starters: Joe Willis (Elliot Panicco 90’ + 3); Dan Lovitz, Lukas MacNaughton (Jack Maher 77’), Josh Bauer, Walker Zimmerman (C), Shaq Moore; Dax McCarty, Hany Mukhtar, Aníbal Godoy, Sean Davis (Tah Brian Anunga 77’); Fafà Picault
Substitutes: Ethan Zubak, Laurence Wyke, Alex Muyl, Taylor Washington, Luke Haakenson, Ben Martino
CIN Starters: Alec Kann, Alvas Powell (Bret Halsey 71’), Obinna Nwobodo, Aaron Salem Boupendza (Marco Angulo 80’), Luciano Acosta (C), Yerson Mosquera, Brandon Vazquez, Matt Miazga, Alvaro Barreal, Ian Murphy (Nick Hagglund 90’), Junior Moreno (Yuya Kubo 71’)
Substitutes: Joseph Akpunonu, Roman Celentano, Malik Pinto, Raymon Gaddis, Quimi Ordonez, London Aghedo, Evan Louro, Ben Stitz
Match Officials:
Referee: Nima Saghafi
AR1: William Arrieta
AR2: Kali Smith
4TH Official: Pierre-luc Lauziere
VAR: Luis Enrique Santader Aguirre
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Weather: Clear, 90 degrees
