LOS ANGELES (March 23, 2024) – Nashville Soccer Club fell 5-0 Saturday night in Los Angeles to defending MLS Western Conference Champion LAFC. The loss was the first for the Boys in Gold this season in league play, dropping their record to 1W-1L-3D.
Men Down: The Boys in Gold were without four lineup mainstays Saturday night due to injury and international play (Walker Zimmerman (knee) and Lukas MacNaughton (hip) due to injury; Aníbal Godoy (Panama) and forward Jacob Shaffelburg (Canada) on international duty). Midfielder Randall Leal has also been out of the lineup since preseason due to a hip injury suffered during the international break in January.
Next up: Nashville SC returns to GEODIS Park next weekend when the club hosts reigning MLS Cup Champion the Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for Saturday night’s match are available here.
Match Timeline:
LAFC 9’: Timothy Tillman collects a cross in the box and finds the net after a deflection
LAFC 18’: Denis Bouanga converts a Penalty Kick
LAFC 48’: Sergi Palencia sent a cross into Denis Bouanga in the box, who found the corner of the net
LAFC 75’: David Martinez connects with Cristian Olivera who finds the back of the net
LAFC 90’ +6: Denis Bounga crosses a ball into Eduard Atuesta who heads it home
Notes:
Nashville SC:
- dropped its first match of the 2024 MLS season
- extended its record to 2W-6L-4D in March
- extended its record to 17W-13L-6D against Western Conference opponents
- is now 1W-2L-1D against LAFC across series history
Aníbal Godoy
- missed Saturday night’s match for international duty with the Panamanian Men’s National Team
- started for Panama in its Concacaf Nations League Semi-Final appearance against Mexico (a 3-0 loss) March 21 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Randall Leal missed Saturday night’s match due to injury (hip)
Lukas MacNaughton missed Saturday night’s match due to injury (hip)
Elliot Panicco made his third appearance of the season across all competitions
Jacob Shaffelburg
- missed Saturday night’s match for international duty with the Canadian Men’s National Team
- scored his second international goal for the Canadian Men’s National Team earlier Saturday, a stoppage-time goal at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas during a 2-0 Copa America play-in victory over Trinidad & Tobago
Walker Zimmerman missed Saturday night’s match due to injury (knee)
