In what was effectively the match that would decide the group winner in the Leagues Cup, Nashville SC’s defensive backline let down their attackers after a 4-3 loss to Toluca. Normally when a Gary Smith led team scores three goals, the odds of them losing the match are slim to none. Thursday night was not one of those nights.

Nashville SC's approach to starting Thursday night’s match against Toluca was to bring all the attacking threats from the jump. Nashville SC’s Manager, Gary Smith, started Fafa Picault, Jacob Shaffelburg, and of course, Hany Mukhtar from the start. This gave Nashville a very attack-minded approach to the match, but also left them with not much threat coming off the bench other than a struggling Teal Bunbury. This was almost the complete opposite approach to how Smith handled the match against Colorado on Sunday night.

The first half on a warm night definitely had plenty of fireworks. A five-goal half between the two teams and there  easily could have been more. Nashville SC’s Walker Zimmerman set the pace in the third minute when the first corner of the match broke free from his man and he glanced a beautiful header into the back of the net. Toluca would go on to tie the match in the 27th minute with Toluca’s Marcel Ruiz's first of two goals in the game. Nashville SC’s Fafa Picault would get what he thought to be a crucial goal right before the half after a fantastic run behind Toluca’s backline. The trend for chaotic defending would not change when Toluca would once again tie the match courtesy of another Ruiz goal. To top it all off, the LIGA MX side would be gifted a penalty after Alex Muyl was called for a handball inside the box and none other than Toluca’s goalkeeper Tiago Volpi would blast home the penalty kick. After all that, Toluca had a 3-2 lead heading into the break.

            All the pressure was certainly on Nashville SC heading into the break, and it certainly didn’t start how they planned. After more brilliant attacking plays off of Toluca’s left flank, Robert Morales finds a patch of space inside the box to slot home the goal that made it 4-2 in the 67th minute. The night wouldn’t end there at least for the home side as substitute Josh Buaer would score Nashville’s third goal which put slight pressure on Toluca to see the match out on top. Bauer’s goal pushed Nashville’s goal differential to zero which depending on how Toluca’s match against Colorado goes on Monday night it could be just enough to push Nashville through to the group stages.

Even though the disappointing result on the field a positive for Nashville SC fans was the unveiling of Nashville’s third designated player, Sam Surridge. After a night that saw Teal Bunbury get sent off after offering very little offensively, it is clear just how badly Nashville needs a striker. Bunbury has certainly had his positive moments for Nashville but those days look to be over. Surridge a player that comes from Nottingham Forest in England will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders to contribute early. However, the 24-year-old certainly is aware and ready for the challenge. No word on when he will officially be able to play for NSC because of a Visa issue but his debut doesn’t seem too far away.

Patton Cook / WNSR Columnist 

Patton_Cook on Twitter 

In their first-ever Leagues Cup, Nashville defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-1 after some second-half subs proved to be the difference. Nashville SC started their inaugural Leagues Cup match on Sunday Night. With how the last few games ended for Nashville SC, Manager Gary Smith had some choices to make on how seriously he wanted to take this new midseason tournament. He had two options: give his players much-needed rest as they were starting to wear down before the all-star break, or play his players back into form in an attempt to get out of the scoring slump they were in. Smith managed to use both strategies, by giving Nashville SC’s Walker Zimmerman & Hany Mukhtar slight rest by not starting them, but also by giving players like Teal Bunbury, Randall Leal, and Jacob Shaffelburg starts to try and re-find their form.

The first half didn’t offer much when it came to notable moments, but it has to be said that Colorado was the team who seemed to be the most threatening. However, there was nothing to show for it on the scoresheet. Once the second half started, it didn’t take long for Smith to bring on his star man, Mukhtar. In literally his second touch, Mukhtar got a goal after a beautiful give-and-go between Dax McCarty and himself. He then went on to give the perfect assist to Jacob Shaffelburg only a few minutes later. It was a nice bit of skill on the right wing and his pass gave Shaffelburg no choice other than to score. Colorado pulled one back in the 80th min for a bit of a consolation goal by Andrew Gutman.

            Sunday night’s performance by Mukhtar was needed on many levels both personally and for Nashville SC. Mukhtar of course expects a lot of himself in front of the goal and for the first time this season, he hit a scoring drought. For him to regain some confidence in front of the net amid all the rumors of a bid coming in for him from a team in Qatar was just what the doctor ordered. For Nashville SC, it was important to see Mukhtar regain his form because this season has been so heavily reliant on his goal contributions. It has shown that when Mukhtar struggles, Nashville SC does too.

Nashville SC will be back in action at Geodis Park on Thursday night as they welcome Liga MX side Toluca.         

Patton Cook / WNSR Columnist 

@Patton_Cook on Twitter 

Nashville SC’s eight-league match unbeaten run at home ended on Wednesday night after Philadelphia Union defeated Nashville SC with two penalty kicks. The game didn’t lack any passion after Nashville SC saw both of their fullbacks sent off.

Nashville SC & Philadelphia Union both put an extreme emphasis on just how aggressive they wanted to be in the first half. Nashville had a couple of big chances courtesy of Lukas McNaughton and Teal Bunbury but were ultimately unable to break the deadlock. It was the away side who were finally able to draw first blood, and that was from a penalty kick. Daniel Lovitz was called for a foul inside the box after he two-hand pushed one of Philly’s players inside the box.

There was already some real pressure heading into Wednesday night’s match for a few reasons. First, Nashville SC was coming off of a loss against Chicago on the road last weekend as they are desperately trying to catch Cincinnati in the standings, and the second is regarding the rumors of Hany Mukhtar being wanted by clubs in Spain and Saudi Arabia. However, with Nashville a goal down heading into the second half, there was even more pressure to perform in front of the home fans.

The effort was certainly there for Nashville SC in that second half based on the number of chances. This situation was very similar to the last match against Chicago where Nashville had nearly 20 shots total, but couldn't find the back of the net. There was even some drama in the second half after what looked like a stonewall penalty shout for Nashville SC was overturned on the field. Two weeks in a row, Nashville SC Manager, Gary Smith, will feel his team has been done wrong by VAR. To make matters worse Nashville would go on to give yet another penalty away, and it was once again against Daniel Lovitz who was shown a second yellow giving Philadelphia a 2-0 lead late in the match. To really top off the disaster of a night, Nashville SC’s Shaq Moore would get into an altercation late into added time and see a straight red card. This now puts Nashville without both fullbacks against the best team in MLS, FC Cincinnati.

Wednesday night’s loss certainly won’t quiet the concerns about where this team is headed going into Cincinnati on Saturday night. As the losses start to mount you just wonder how aggressive Nashville will be in the upcoming transfer window.

Patton Cook / WNSR Columnist 

@Patton_Cook on Twitter 

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Nashville SC’s Randall Leal on Saturday night proved to be the difference versus DC United after two first half goals from the Costa Rican international. Saturday night’s 2-0 home win for Nashville SC was the eighth straight win at Geodis Park. A win that proved to be much needed after two straight losses on the road.

            Before Saturday night’s match Nashville SC’s manager Gary Smith had a few more players to pick from when selecting the Starting XI. Two players specifically were back in contention after returning from injury, that of course is Nashville SC’s Teal Bunbury and Alex Muyl. Two players when fit are almost nailed on to start week in week out for Smith. Bunbury has proved to be a big miss when he misses a match and the player it affects the most is Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar who is happy to have his striker back.

            The first 45 minutes of play contained the only scoring for the entirety of the match and Nashville SC was just ok with that. It only took the home side two minutes to find the back of the net even though it turned out to be offside, however it was a warning shot of what was coming. One of the benefits of Bunbury being back in the action for Nashville SC is that it allowed Mukhtar to play a little deeper which is how the first goal came for Nashville SC. Mukhtar in the 18th min picked the ball up in his own half and saw Leal making a run behind the backline and Mukhtar played a pin point pass which gave Leal a 1v1 with the goalkeeper. Of course, a player with the skill and composure like Leal he buried the chance. Those two players in prior seasons had really put together quite the one two punch and for the first time this season you finally got to see the magic both players could create. The final goal came oddly enough from Mukhtar once again being closer to the halfway line although this time he won’t be getting the assist. Mukhtar almost plays a hit and hope type ball that somehow bounces around and finds Leal inside the box with a lot to do if he wants to find the back of the net. Leal manages to get off one of the sweetest strikes you will see as he puts his laces through it on the right side of the box and beats DC United’s Goalkeeper Tyler Miller who recently got selected in the All-Star game ahead of Joe Willis.

            It is crazy to think about just how dominant Nashville SC has been at home compared to last season. With Saturday night’s win they have now won more games in their first 10 home games (7) than they did all of last season (6). Their strong home form has given them the luxury of not having to go on the road and almost make it seem like a must win game. Even with the two straight losses on the road and with Saturday night’s win they still remain in second place in the Eastern Conference.

Patton Cook / WNSR Nashville SC Columnist

@Patton_Cook on Twitter

PattonCook@gmail.com