It wasn’t always pretty – Nashville finished with just 31.2% of possession for the contest – but the Boys in Gold got the job done on the road, earning a scoreless draw on the road against the New England Revolution. Whereas Sunday’s draw against a bottom-table Toronto FC team was a disappointment, holding the league leaders (and their explosive offense) to split the points inside Gillette Stadium is a positive result for Nashville SC.
The teams both played primarily in the midfield, with Nashville SC trying to spring quick attacks while forcing New England to build up patiently. In the end, the Revs had the advantage in expected goals largely because of their final chance. Teal Bunbury’s falling header bounced in front of NSC keeper Joe Willis, but just like his other five saves, the veteran made easy work of the attempt.
Nashville went with a new-look starting lineup, keeping midfield captain Dax McCarty on ice – in fact, he remained in Nashville, providing a third voice to the television commentary team for the local broadcast – while strikers Jhonder Cádiz and Aké Loba earned starts over the previously red-hot duo of Hany Mukhtar and CJ Sapong (the third amigo, Randall Leal, also started on the bench as Nashville went with a 5-3-2 and three defense-first midfielders to start the game). Loba’s first MLS start did not see him register a single shot, though his combination play with Cádiz gave the Boys in Gold one of their best opportunities, with Cadiz’s 11th-minute shot saved by Revs keeper Matt Turner.
The contest opened up after the break with the introduction of Mukhtar, with Sapong and Leal joining him over the course of the half. However, dangerous-looking play did not develop into dangerous chances on net, and the Boys in Gold couldn’t find the winner.
Nashville’s three-match roadtrip concludes Sunday with a date at Inter Miami CF. The Herons currently stand last place in the Eastern Conferenced, and represent Nashville’s best chance to earn a win in this three-match stretch. Shoudl NSC emerge from the swing with five points, it would be considered a success – but that’s no given, as the Boys in Gold have yet to find victory away from Nissann Stadium in 2021, with a record now reaching 0-1-5.
Overall, Nashville is 6-1-10, and third place in the Eastern Conference.
Starting lineups
Match events
- 33′ NSH Yellow card – 22 Matt LaGrassa (foul)
- 34′ NE Yellow card – 7 Gustavo Bou (foul)
- 37′ NE Yellow card – 2 Andrew Farrell (foul)
- 45’+1 Half time
- HT NSH Sub – On 10 Hany Mukhtar, off 72 Aké Loba
- 48′ NE Yellow card – 5 Wilfrid Kaptoum (foul)
- 63′ NE Substitutions
- On 26 Tommy McNamara, off 25 Arnor Traustason
- On 11 Ema Boateng, off 5 Wilfrid Kaptoum
- 64′ NSH Substitutions
- On 17 CJ Sapong, off 99 Jhonder Cádiz
- On 20 Aníbal Godoy, off 22 Matt LaGrassa
- 70′ NSH Substitution – On 8 Randall Leal, off 19 Alex Muyl
- 90’+7 Full time
Club and Country 