NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 11, 2023) – Nashville Soccer Club remains unbeaten in 2023 with a 2-0 victory over CF Montréal on a rainy night at GEODIS Park. Jacob Shaffelburg opened the scoreboard in the first half while defender Taylor Washington scored his first career MLS goal off a volley in the box in the second half to secure the win.
Best Start In Club History: Nashville SC improved to 2W-0L-1D, 7 pts. with the win, marking the best start to a season through three matches in club history.
Joe Makes History: Goalkeeper Joe Willis made MLS history on Saturday night becoming the seventh goalkeeper in league history to keep three consecutive clean sheets to start a MLS season. Willis has recorded four consecutive regular season shutouts dating back to last season.
Heroic Hany: In his first start of the season after gaining fitness from an injury, the league’s MVP Hany Mukhtar recorded the game-winning assist on Shaffelburg’s goal. Mukhtar has been involved in over half of Nashville SC’s regular season goals in club history (72 of 134)
Next Match: Nashville SC will take on the New England Revolution next Saturday, March 18 at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on the MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV App, and available on radio at 104.5 The Zone.
Match Timeline
NSH 37’: Hany Mukhtar dribbles through the midfield bringing CF Montréal defenders towards him, Mukhtar dishes a pass to Shaffelburg who drills home the opening goal
NSH: 89’: Off a cross from Shaq Moore, Taylor Washington delivers a one-timer cutting across the box and straight to the back of the net
Notes:
- Nashville SC:
- finishes the night tied for first place in the Eastern Conference along with Atlanta United FC and FC Cincinnati
- has not allowed a goal to start the 2023 season, posting three straight shutouts
- held CF Montréal without a shot on target tonight
- has never lost to CF Montréal in its club history, improving to 4W-0L-2D; has won its last three matches against CF Montréal
- had a higher expected goals tonight than CF Montréal (1.34-0.29)
- has scored in its last 14 home games
- has scored two goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half, more than any team in MLS this season
- scored the first goal of an MLS match for the 50th time in club history
- has not lost in its last 29 matches when scoring the first goal of a match, a streak that dates back to Aug. 2021
- is 22W-7D-20D all-time at home
- owns an all-time record of 24W-13L-26D against the Eastern Conference
- is unbeaten in its last 31 matches when leading at the half (22W-9D-0L)
- is 26W-1L-8D when scoring two goals or more in an MLS match
- Head Coach Gary Smith earned his 150th career victory, 40 have come with Nashville SC in MLS
- Teal Bunbury made his 340th career regular season appearance
- Dan Lovitz led the team in touches with 58
- Dax McCarty started his 397th career MLS match
- Shaq Moore recorded his first assist of the season
- Hany Mukhtar played the longest amount of minutes this season (91)
- Alex Muyl recorded his first assist of the season in his 195th MLS appearance
- Jacob Shaffelburg has scored four goals in 11 starts for Nashville SC
- Taylor Washington scored his first MLS goal while leading the team in shots and shots on goal
- Joe Willis earned his 52nd career shutout, 34th with Nashville
Box Score:
Nashville SC (2W-0L-1D, 7 pts.) vs. CF Montréal (0W-3L-0D, 0 pts.)
March 11, 2023 – GEODIS Park
Final Score
NSH: 2
MTL: 0
Scoring Summary
NSH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Hany Mukhtar) 37’
NSH: Taylor Washington (Shaq Moore & Alex Muyl) 89’
Discipline
MTL: Victor Wanyama (caution) 34’
NSH: Taylor Washington (caution) 67’
Lineups:
NSH Starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz, Jack Maher, Walker Zimmerman (C), Shaq Moore; Dax McCarty (Tah Brian Anunga 75’), Sean Davis, Jacob Shaffelburg (Taylor Washington 66’), Fafà Picault (Alex Muyl 66’); Hany Mukhtar (Ethan Zubak 90+1’), Teal Bunbury (CJ Sapong 75’)
Substitutes: Ethan Zubak, Laurence Wyke, CJ Sapong, Josh Bauer, Tah Brian Anunga Elliot Panicco, Ben Martino
MTL Starters: Jonathan Sirois; Kamal Miller (Zachary Brault-Guillard 72’), Rudy Camacho, Joel Waterman, Aaron Herrera; Victor Wanyama (C). Lassi Lappalainen (Nathan-Dylan Saliba HT), Mathieu Choiniere, Sunusi Ibrahim (Chinonso Offor 72’), Sean Rea, Romell Quioto
Substitutes: Ketterer, Ilias Iliadis, Ahmed Hamdi, Mason Toye, Rida Zouhir, Jules-Anthony Vilsaint
REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez
AR1: Corey Parker
AR2: Walt Heatherly
4TH OFFICIAL: Ted Unkel
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
AVAR: Joshua Patlak Logan
FOR FINAL STATS SEE ATTACHED PDF
Weather: Rainy, 46 degrees
