Match Recap: Nashville SC Get Revenge, Defeat Charlotte FC 2-1
In one of the most thrilling games to grace the pitch at GEODIS Park in recent times, Nashville SC and Charlotte FC created a playoff-style intensity and atmosphere, but it was the hosts who came away 2-1 victors, a perfect inverse of these clubs’ first meeting on April 5th.
Let’s take a look.
Nashville Lineup
Ronan - It was an unchanged lineup from last weekend’s draw at Atlanta, which was expected. Joe Willis was in goal, with Jeisson Palacios and Jack Maher flanked by Dan Lovitz and Andy Najar ahead of him.
The midfield double pivot of Eddi Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek supported the front four of Sam Surridge, Alex Muyl, Jacob Shaffelburg and Hany Mukhtar.
Off the bench, Bryan Acosta made his league debut in Gold, with Josh Bauer coming on as a third centerback late, and Ahmed Qasem taking over for Shaffelburg late.
Charlotte Lineup
Alex - Not really any surprises here other than Marshall-Rutty getting a start and Tim Ream sliding over to cover the other center back position. I don’t think this is a change that will become regular, I think it was a case of playing three games in seven days and injuries impacting the defense. I’m happy to see Pep Biel back in his usual spot as he is a key in the offensive machine for Charlotte. Scardina has stepped up nicely with Byrne being out and I hope Marshall-Rutty can be a “utility” guy for The Crown. If someone needs a rest, Jahkeele can step up.
The midfield and attack is what I predicted its would look like. Charlotte has scored 19 goals this year and that isn’t something you want to change if you don’t have to.
Between the Whistles
The first serious action in this game came in the 8th minute, as Hany Mukhtar sparked a transition moment off a throw in, performed a couple stepovers, and shot at goal, only for Kristijan Kahlina to easily save. It wasn’t much, but it was a sign of things to come from both teams.
Just four minutes later, Wilfried Zaha found himself 1-on-1 with Nashville’s Joe Willis, but the keeper in Gold made a save with his leg. In the 17th, it was Mukhtar again, this time from about 35 yards. He hit a pure knuckleball that forced a scrambled save from Kahlina, and began a cascade of about five consecutive Nashville corners.
Nashville would continue this period of control right through the end of the first half, but with nothing to show for it. Coming out of the break, however, things would change in a big way.
Warning lights went off in the Nashville defense in the 47th minute as Willis was forced to make another 1-on-1 kick save, this time on Patrick Agyemang. However, Charlotte would find the breakthrough courtesy of Liel Abada just into the 48th minute, courtesy of a great finish into the far post.
I hope you didn’t blink, because a response was instant. Another throw in, this time in the final third, was flicked back by Alex Muyl into the path of Mukhtar, who chested the ball before volleying it past Kahlina to bring the hosts level in the 49th.
Just five minutes later, Jacob Shaffelburg lasered the ball into Kahlina’s near post to give the hosts a 2-1 lead and totally flip the game from where it had been just moments earlier.
Abada nearly found himself alone with Willis and a chance to make it 2-2 in the 66th, but Eddi Tagseth did just enough to put him off and he missed the target. The remaining half an hour or so was largely controlled by Charlotte, without many clear chances to show for it.
Nashville rises to fifth in the East, ahead of Charlotte in sixth, and collects their 20th point through 12 games for the first time in club history. The club’s previous best mark at this stage of the season was 19 points in 2021.
The Numbers
Nashville SC
Shots: 14
Shots on target: 9
Possession: 44.5%
Corners: 12
xG: 0.8
Yellow Cards: 3 (Patrick Yazbek, Jeisson Palacios, Dan Lovitz)
Charlotte FC
Shots: 10
Shots on target: 4
Possession: 55.5%
Corners: 5
xG: 1.6
Yellow Cards: 2 (Idan Toklomati, Ashley Westwood)
Analysis
Ronan Briscoe: Not to pat myself on the back, but I’m gonna pat myself on the back. In our preview, you’ll recall I predicted a 2-1 Nashville win with goals from Mukhtar and Shaffelburg. Don’t ask for lottery numbers or anything, I just wanted to bring that to everyone’s attention, since it’s not likely to happen very often.
This felt like a playoff game. It’s perhaps one of the faults of this particular MLS schedule that, bar a meeting in the latter stages of the US Open Cup, these two clubs can’t meet again until the postseason.
I genuinely think these teams don’t like each other. Both matchups have been incredibly physical, and incredibly emotional affairs. Truly all 22 players were playing with an intensity and a want-to that can sometimes be lacking in a 34-game regular season.
I’m not starting any rivalry talks or anything, lord knows neither of these clubs need that after MLS has tried to pawn both of them off as rivals of Atlanta United, but this is the kind of intensity you see in games like Hell is Real and El Trafico.
This game meant something to both teams, for whatever that’s worth. It showed on the pitch. Nashville did a tremendous job responding to Liel Abada’s goal, taking the lead right back just six minutes later. After that, they did a fabulous job managing the remaining 35 minutes to ensure their lead stayed intact.
It remains to be seen if either of these clubs can break into the top four in the East that feels just a bit out of touch for both of them right now, at least by the eye test if not mathematically.
This may be the last time these clubs meet in the regular season, but I have an inkling this isn’t the last chapter in Nashville-Charlotte; 2025 edition.
Alex McCaskey: Another week, another loss on the road for The Crown. With this loss, Charlotte sits in sixth place in the east on 19 points, one point behind Nashville who are in fifth with 20 points. The road record now sits at 1-4-1 (can every game be played at home the rest of the season?).
Losing isn’t fun but the good thing about a loss is that it gives the team a chance to analyze their performance and sort out the “good” and the “bad”. Starting with “the good”, I liked the chance in the 12th minute. Putting pressure on and threatening the defense early can help a team, especially one that struggles on the road, settle into a rhythm and control the crowd. Chances need to be converted at the end of the day though. The save by Kahlina in the 20th minute and the other one in the 27th helped keep the game even. You can’t win (or draw) on the road if you’re falling behind. The biggest “good” from the match was in the 47th minute when Liel Abada finally broke through and gave Charlotte the lead. Coming out of the break and taking the lead early is a step in the right direction if Charlotte wants to stop this road skid.
Now for the “bad”. Conceding shortly after taking the lead can kill momentum. You just took the lead and quieted the crowd a bit only to wake them back up. That isn’t a recipe for success. Hat’s off to Mukhtar for a good looking goal however. Not responding and giving up another goal mere minutes after the last isn’t “good”. That isn’t something any team wants to do but it can be detrimental to a team who struggles on the road. Hats off to Nashville and to Ronan for his prediction, onto the next one.
As the saying goes, you fall off your bike, you get back on and try again. Charlotte can get back on the bike again this Wednesday as they travel to Orlando for another road game against Orlando City. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
A huge thank you to Ronan for collaborating this week and I hope we get another battle this year (hopefully in the playoffs).