Nashville SC at Inter Miami CF
Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs | Round One
Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 7 p.m. CT
Chase Stadium | Fort Lauderdale, FL
Broadcast Details
Watch | Apple TV
Listen | 104.5 The Zone
With their first-round series tied 1-1, Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF take the field against one another for the fourth and final time in three weeks on Saturday evening, this time with a berth in the Eastern Conference Semifinals at stake. The sixth-seeded Boys in Gold leveled the best-of-3 series with a 2-1 victory at GEODIS Park last weekend and look to advance to the next round for the first time since 2021.
Key Storylines
A Changing of Tides
This time last week, Miami appeared to have all the advantages it needed to secure its place in the next round of the playoffs for the first time in its history: an MVP finalist and golden boot winner leading the line, a game-1 victory in its back pocket and a favorable recent record against its opponent. But after last Saturday’s game 2, which Nashville dominated under torrential downpours in front of a feisty home crowd, the Boys in Gold now hold the momentum heading into a colossal, win-or-go-home game 3.
An injury bug that has limited Nashville’s bench depth (particularly on the wings) has cleared substantially, allowing head coach BJ Callaghan more flexibility in managing fresh legs and working through Miami’s tactical setup. The Boys in Gold’s defense performed stoutly in game 2 against MLS’s best attacking unit, only allowing a consolation goal after 89 minutes. But most encouragingly, across the board Nashville played with a ferocity and spirit that made Miami visibly agitated, allowing it to feed off the competitive energy of a knockout playoff setting.
Fort Lauderdale’s Chase Stadium has been a tough place for Nashville to play in recent years. But with one of their best performances of the season behind them, Miami star striker Luis Suárez out through suspension, a chip on their shoulder and an aggression they’ve seen unsettle their adversary, the Boys in Gold are as well-equipped as they could hope to be as they look to storm out of South Florida with a win.
Key Tweaks
Head coach BJ Callaghan made numerous changes to the starting XI between games 1 and 2, swapping out Jacob Shaffelburg for Alex Muyl, Bryan Acosta for Matthew Corcoran and the injured Dan Lovitz for Josh Bauer. Although Muyl’s substitution was more like-for-like, adding Corcoran and Bauer to the midfield and left side of defense, respectively, represented a vital tactical shift that ensured Nashville’s 2-1 win last weekend and could well help it to a victory in game 3.
For all Miami’s attacking talent, the sheer number of miles and minutes in the legs of its veteran talismans means it can be vulnerable to aggressive presses and quick counterattacks. Callaghan’s tactical switches allowed Nashville to take full advantage of that, playing at a speed and intensity Miami struggled to match all evening. Throwing Corcoran into the base of midfield allowed Eddi Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek to maraud forward in possession and press tighter on defense, opening numerous opportunities on fast breaks. Bauer—alongside grabbing the decisive goal—offered more than enough zip to counter the Heron’s speed on the wings, limiting how often Nashville had to rush back on defense.
Whether Callaghan opts to stick with the same lineup is in the air. What’s not is that game 2 served as a blueprint for how Nashville can outwork, outplay and potentially knock Miami out of the first round for the second-straight year.
Series History + What's Next
Saturday’s matchup, the 19th in all competitions since the clubs joined MLS in 2020, will further cement Inter Miami as Nashville’s most frequent opponent, as well as the only one it has played in every competition throughout its history. The Boys in Gold’s record against the Herons sits at 5-8-5.
The victor of Saturday’s win-or-go-home clash will advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals on November 21, where it will play one of FC Cincinnati or Columbus Crew. If Nashville beats Miami and Columbus beats Cincinnati on Saturday, the single-elimination match would take place at GEODIS Park due to Nashville’s higher seed.
Watch Party: Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs
Join us at Neighbor's Franklin on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT!
The Boys in Gold have forced Game Three against Inter Miami CF and will play the final match of the Best-of-Three Series at Fort Lauderdale, FL.
