NASHVILLE (Oct. 20, 2020) – Nashville SC (6W-6L-6D, 24 pts.) put away three goals for the second match in a row to extend its home unbeaten streak to seven with the win over FC Dallas (6W-5L-6D, 24 pts.) on Tuesday night at Nissan Stadium, moving up to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a five-point cushion above the playoff line.
On Friday, Nashville hosts New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. CT. Nashville and the Revs played to a 0-0 draw in their first meeting this season on October 3 at Gillette Stadium.
Fast Start:
Nashville opened scoring in the 19th minute when Leal dribbled toward the goal, ran a give-and-go with Derrick Jones and fired it into the lower-right corner of the net. Abu Danladi started at forward and caused problems: he saw a chance saved by goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer in the third minute after Alex Muyl sent him through on goal. Danladi also headed the second ball off of a corner kick towards the goal, but Dallas center-back Reto Ziegler headed it away before the ball could cross the goal line.
Steady Defense:
Nashville kept its eighth clean sheet of the year thanks to stellar play from the entire defensive unit. Deep-lying midfielders Dax McCarty and Aníbal Godoy combined to win two tackles and eight recoveries, while the center-back duo of Dave Romney and Walker Zimmerman did well to hold their position and cut out through balls intended for Dallas’ forwards. Left-back Dan Lovitz and right-back Alistair Johnston did well on both ends of the pitch. Lovitz assisted Cádiz’s goal and played a key pass, while Johnston and winger Alex Muyl worked tirelessly down the right flank to limit the Dallas attack and press their backline. Joe Willis kept up the form that has put him among the league-leaders in clean sheets, adding another to his tally.
Cádiz Dazzles in Home Debut:
In Nashville SC’s second match with fans back in the stadium, new Designated Player Jhonder Cádiz scored his first goal for the club to put the icing on the cake of an impressive win for the 2020 expansion side against an original MLS club. The Venezuelan international decided to shoot from distance nearly 30 yards from goal, and he left Maurer frozen as it took a slight deflection into the back of the net.
3-0 in Four-Match Series:
Nashville is undefeated in three matches against Dallas this season with a 2W-0L-1D record. The sides will meet one final time on Nov. 4 to close out their regular season series at Nissan Stadium.
Match Timeline
NSH – Randall Leal (Derrick Jones), 19th minute:
Walker Zimmerman slides to cut out a through ball intended for Franco Jara and Dave Romney knocks the second ball to Randall Leal. Leal dribbles into Dallas’ half, lays the ball off to Derrick Jones on the left side, receives the ball back from Jones and fires into the bottom corner of the net.
NSH - Jhonder Cádiz (Dan Lovitz), 73rd minute:
Dan Lovitz gets the ball and has time and space on the left side, Cádiz underlaps him to move centrally, and Lovitz passes to him. Cádiz then shoots the ball along the ground, leaving FC Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer frozen in place.
NSH - Daniel Ríos (Randall Leal), 88th minute:
Randall Leal receives the ball in midfield and plays a well-placed through ball to Ríos. Ríos then takes the ball into the box, fakes a shot to his left, pushes the ball to his right while the defender falls, and sends the ball past the goalie.
Notes
- Nashville SC won consecutive matches for the first time in its MLS history
- Nashville scored multiple goals in consecutive matches for the first time in its MLS history after last Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Houston Dynamo and tonight’s win against FC Dallas. Nashville has scored six goals in the last two matches
- The 3-0 win pushed Nashville to a positive goal differential of +1, with 18 goals scored and 17 conceded Nashville is tied for second in the league in goals allowed with 17, trailing only Columbus Crew, who have allowed 15 Goalkeeper Joe Willis sealed his MLS-leading eighth clean sheet in a single season. Willis now has three shutouts in as many matches against Dallas this season
- Designated Player Jhonder Cádiz scored his first goal for Nashville in the 73rd minute during his home debut
- Dax McCarty moved to a tie for sixth for all-time MLS regular-season appearances for outfield players. He has 378 and is tied with Steve Ralston Randall Leal scored his second goal of the season with his 19th-minute strike. He played all 90 minutes for the first time this season
- Daniel Ríos is now tied with Hany Mukhtar for the most goals in MLS for Nashville with three. Ríos has scored goals in his last three appearances: against D.C. United on Sept. 23, Houston on Sept. 26 and FC Dallas on Oct. 20
- Aníbal Godoy returned to the Starting XI since the 1-1 draw against Houston Dynamo on Sept. 26
- Derrick Jones set a new personal career high for MLS appearances in a single season with 13
- Nashville SC is 6W-2L-1D when scoring the first goal of the match and 4W-1L-2D in weekday games
- Head Coach Gary Smith has 41W-7L-18D record when his team scores the first goal of the match. Smith’s MLS career record at home is 28W-8L-24D
- Tonight’s official attendance was 3,502
Up Next
Nashville SC hosts the New England Revolution on Friday, Oct. 23. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on CW58, ESPN 94.9 and El Jefe.
Video Highlights
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BOX SCORE
Nashville SC (6W-6L-6D, 24 pts.) vs. FC Dallas (6W-5L-6D, 24 pts.)
Oct. 20, 2020 — Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
Final Score
NSH 3
DAL 0
Scoring Summary
NSH: Leal (Jones), 19’; Cádiz (Lovitz), 73’; Ríos (Leal), 88’
DAL: --
Discipline
NSH: Godoy (caution), 54’
DAL: Ferreira (caution), 64’; Bressan (caution), 70’
Lineups
NSH: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz, Dave Romney, Walker Zimmerman, Alistair Johnston; Dax McCarty (Matt LaGrassa, 75’), Aníbal Godoy (Tah Brian Anunga, 57’), Alex Muyl (Taylor Washington, 75’), Derrick Jones (Daniel Ríos, 75’), Randall Leal, Abu Danladi (Jhonder Cádiz, 62’)
Unused Substitutes: Elliot Panicco, Jalil Anibaba, Eric Miller, Jack Maher
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Danladi, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Ríos, Cádiz, 2); FOULS: 17 (Godoy, 5); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2; POSSESSION: 42.5%
DAL: Jimmy Maurer; Ryan Hollingshead, Reto Ziegler, Bressan, Bryan Reynolds; Tanner Tessmann (Brandon Servania, 66’), Bryan Acosta (Dante Sealy, 75’), Andrés Ricuarte; Fabrice-Jean Picault, Franco Jara (Ricardo Pepi, 66’), Jesús Ferreira (Ema Twumasi, 83’)
Unused Substitutes: Phelipe, Callum Montgomery, Thiago Santos, John Nelson, Thomas Roberts
TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 3; POSSESSION: 57.5%
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistant Referees: Kathryn Nesbitt and Walt Heatherly
Fourth Official: Dave Gantar
VAR: Drew Fischer
Weather: Clear
Statistics are unofficial.
