Nashville SC began the season with a bang, and one of the goalscorers in the 2-0 win over NYCFC has been named to Major League Soccer’s Team of the Matchdate, while the other makes the TOTM bench.
Centerback Walker Zimmerman is on the first team, and winger Jacob Shaffelburg is just behind him.
Zimmerman scored the first goal of MLS’s 2023 season, volleying home a 34th-minute set-piece chance. He also spearheaded the NSC defense to a shutout victory against the Pigeons. He also completed 29/38 passes, won two aerial duels and 1/2 tackles, and took the ball away from the opposition four times. Zimmerman was the MLS Defender of the Year in 2020 and 2021, and while he was a runner-up for the same award last season, he managed to be a Best XI selection.
Shaffelburg makes the TOTM bench for the first time as a member of Nashville SC. He scored the game-sealing goal in the 81st minute, and came close to opening the scoring 10 minutes into Saturday’s contest. He completed 10/18 passes (7/12 in the final third), won 2/3 tackles, and regained possession for the Boys in Gold five times.
Club and Country 