Match Preview: Nashville SC vs DC United
Fresh off a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls, and in the middle of a very busy month of May with both league and US Open Cup obligations, Nashville SC are set to host DC United, in a reunion with several former Nashville players and executives.
Match Details
Date: Saturday May 17th, 2025
Time: 7:30PM CST (local)
Location: GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees:
Head Coaches: B.J. Callaghan (NSH), Troy Lesesne (DC)
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+
Listen: WGFX 104.5FM The Zone (Nashville)
Injury Report
Nashville SC
OUT- Taylor Washington, Walker Zimmerman, Tyler Boyd, Maximus Ekk, Julian Gaines
QUESTIONABLE- None
DC United
OUT- Christian Benteke, Lukas MacNaughton, Dom Badji
QUESTIONABLE- Kristian Fletcher, Joao Peglow, Gabriel Pirani
Lineup Prediction
I’m expecting some pretty heavy rotation against a not-very-good DC United and with a big Open Cup road trip to Orlando looming. Joe Willis remains in goal, and Dan Lovitz and Jack Maher retain their places ahead of him.
Joining them at the back is Chris Applewhite, who would be making his first MLS start, and Josh Bauer. The midfield pairing would be Bryan Acosta and Gastón Brugman, who are just behind the lead duo of Eddi Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek in the pecking order at the moment.
Up front, we still have Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge, who are flanked by Jonathan Pérez and Ahmed Qasem, changes from midweek as well.
Analysis & Prediction
Look, DC United isn’t very good, and they’re missing far and away their best player. In addition, they too have a big Open Cup game coming up, against Charlotte on Wednesday.
Even rotated, you’d expect Nashville, who has been the best home team in Major League Soccer thus far, to outclass DC in this one. It should be a warm welcome on his return for Randall Leal, who spent four seasons in Gold from 2020-23, but he may leave with the sour taste of defeat in his mouth.
Give me Nashville 3-1, with goals from Sam Surridge and a brace from an on-fire Hany Mukhtar, who has four goals against DC in his career.