Match Preview: Nashville SC vs Philadelphia Union
(Image courtesy of Nashville SC)
After picking up their first win of the season in a dominant 2-0 tilt at home against the Portland Timbers, Nashville SC takes to the road to face the hottest team in Major League Soccer, the Philadelphia Union.
Let’s dive in.
Details
Date/Time: Sunday, March 16th, 2025; kickoff 2:25pm EST
Location: Subaru Park, Chester, PA
Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+
Nashville Radio: 104.5 The Zone
The History
Sunday afternoon will mark the ninth occasion Nashville and Philadelphia have met in Major League Soccer, and the eighth in the regular season. In these meetings, Philadelphia holds a 4W3D1L record, with Nashville’s lone victory coming in the very first meeting between these clubs on July 3rd, 2021 in Nashville. On that day it was a 1-0 victory for the Boys in Gold, with a second-minute goal from CJ Sapong providing the difference.
At Subaru Park, Philadelphia holds a 2W1D0L record against Nashville, including a 3-0 drubbing of the Rumba Munthali led visitors courtesy of a Daniel Gazdag hat trick.
These clubs have met on two very big occasions in the past. First, again in 2021, it was the Eastern Conference Semifinal at Subaru Park. Hany Mukhtar opened the scoring in the 38th minute for Nashville, while Gazdag replied for the hosts just before the break.
A scoreless second half and extra time led to a penalty shootout where Philadelphia would walk away 2-0 victors. Four Nashville penalty takers stepped up, and in order, Mukhtar, Anibal Godoy, Alex Muyl and Walker Zimmerman all failed to score.
The following season, it was the Union that would provide the first opponent in the grand opening of GEODIS Park, on May 1st, 2022. Mikael Uhre opened the scoring on that day in the 66th minute, before a Randall Leal penalty drew the hosts level, with the game ending a 1-1 draw.
In 2024, in addition to the 3-0 drubbing previously mentioned, Philadelphia also picked up a win in the Music City to do the double over the Boys in Gold.
Injury Report
Nashville SC
OUT- Bryan Acosta, Tyler Boyd, Maximus Ekk
QUESTIONABLE- None
Philadelphia Union
OUT- Markus Anderson
QUESTIONABLE- Ian Glavinovich
Lineup Prediction
For me, the lineup remains unchanged from the one that saw Nashville 2-0 victors over Portland last weekend. Lovitz-Maher-Zimmerman-Najar is your backline quartet for the fourth game running, while it’s a second consecutive pairing for former Norwegian Eliteserien players Eddi Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek in the middle.
Then, it’s a familiar front grouping as Alex Muyl, Hany Mukhtar and Ahmed Qasem offer support to Sam Surridge up top.
There’s two players that theoretically could start but I doubt will. Both Jacob Shaffelburg and Gastón Brugman enter this one without injury designations, and both figure to be in contention for the left wing spot currently occupied by Alex Muyl when fully healthy. However, Shaffelburg has played zero minutes this season, and Brugman has only made a short cameo.
Thus, I’m going Muyl for this one. I think both Shaffelburg and Brugman play, especially with Shaffelburg headed to Canada camp after this game, but neither start.
Of course, Joe Willis remains the iron man in goal too, can’t forget to tip our caps to him either.
Analysis & Prediction
Philadelphia has been on a tear to start the season. 10 goals in three games is absurd, even moreso that six of those came from one player, that being Tai Baribo.
Bradley Carnell has waltzed into Philadelphia and turned the Union from an underwhelming, underachieving 2024 to the hottest start in all of Major League Soccer. They’re running a similar system to the one Carnell took MLS by storm with in St. Louis, and it fits the roster like a glove.
A similar-ish high intensity pressing system in New York Red Bulls just gave Nashville serious problems a couple weeks ago, so we’re going to find out what adjustments BJ Callaghan and co. have made since then.
I wish it were more complicated than saying that if Nashville haven’t significantly improved their ability to deal with high pressing systems, they will lose. But it isn’t. Under Callaghan, Nashville want to have the ball and build their chances with the ball. They want to move the ball around at all three lines incredibly quick, and pressing teams are designed to make that difficult.
I don’t think Nashville get their first win in Chester and their second win over the Union all-time here. But, I also don’t think Nashville learned nothing from the Red Bulls game. Give me a 1-1 draw. Nashville’s goal is Sam Surridge’s first of the season.