Match Preview: Nashville SC vs Toronto FC
After a hard fought 3-2 Open Cup win over Orlando City, Nashville SC head north to Canada to take on Toronto FC. The Boys in Gold currently sit fourth in the East, having won five of their last seven in all competitions, and being unbeaten in that span as well.
Toronto meanwhile sits 13th in the East, though with two wins in their last three, including a 6-1 road drubbing of their Canadian Classique rivals CF Montréal.
Let’s dive in.
Match Details
Date: Saturday, May 24th, 2025
Time: 7:30PM EST (local), 6:30PM CST (Nashville)
Location: BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Referees: Armando Villarreal (REF), Gerard-Kader Lebuis (AR1), Ben Pilgrim (AR2), Scott Bowman (4TH), Younes Marrakchi (VAR), Jozef Batko (AVAR)
Head Coaches: Robin Fraser (TOR), B.J. Callaghan (NSH)
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+
Listen: WGFX 104.5FM The Zone (Nashville)
Injury Report
Nashville SC
OUT- Tyler Boyd, Julian Gaines, Maximus Ekk, Taylor Washington
QUESTIONABLE- Walker Zimmerman, GastĂ³n Brugman
Toronto FC
OUT- Kobe Franklin, Richie Laryea, DeAndre Kerr, Nicksoen Gomis
QUESTIONABLE- Raoul Petretta, Markus Cimerancic
Lineup Prediction
After Wednesday’s partially forced rotation, we return to normalcy here on the road.
Joe Willis starts in goal behind a back four of Dan Lovitz, Jack Maher, Jeisosn Palacios and Andy Najar. Eddi Tagseth regains his starting spot as the midfield engine alongside Patrick Yazbek as well.
They support a front four of Alex Muyl, Hany Mukhtar, Jacob Shaffelburg and Sam Surridge.
I don’t expect to see Walker Zimmerman in the squad tonight, he’s been out long enough it’s going to be a process rebuilding his match sharpness, and I think his moving to the status of questionable is the first step in that, not his appearance on the bench tonight.
Analysis & Prediction
Nashville is certainly buoyed by their impressive shorthanded win in midweek, though Toronto seems to have found a bit of form as well. The re-integrated Lorenzo Insigne has rebuilt chemistry with Federico Bernardeschi and the attack for the Reds has been improved in recent weeks, even discounting that Canadian Classique affair.
The Reds have scored 16 goals this season, and half of those are in their last three games (yes, again, six were in one game). However, I’m choosing to put more stock in Nashville’s impressive defensive record in recent weeks, having allowed just three goals in their last four league fixtures.
Nashville only has one road win this season, early in the year in Philadelphia, but Toronto has been equally woeful at home, winning just one game in front of their own fans as well.
Nashville won in this fixture last year, under the direction of interim head coach Rumba Munthali by a score of 2-1 courtesy of a brace from Sam Surridge.
Give me Nashville by a score of 1-0, that goal coming from who else but Hany Mukhtar.