Coming off its first road win of 2023, Nashville SC will look to keep its momentum going at GEODIS Park on Saturday night when it faces Toronto FC.
Last weekend’s 2-0 win over Orlando City SC featured a number of firsts for the season. It included Fafà Picault’s first goal for the club, as well as reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar’s first goal of the season. The shutout also marked goalkeeper Joe Willis’ fourth clean sheet in six matches this season, tied for the best in the league.
You won’t want to miss all the action at GEODIS Park. Tickets are still available here. Can’t make the match? Watch exclusively on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
Date: Saturday, April 8
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Location: GEODIS Park (Nashville, Tenn.)
TV: Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: 104.5 The Zone and the 104.5 The Zone App
Tickets
A-Z Matchday Guide
GEODIS Park Policies
Transportation Info
Matchday Lineup
Building on Orlando Win – The Boys in Gold successfully bounced back from two straight 1-0 defeats with last weekend’s positive result.
Head Coach Gary Smith says the victory over Orlando was important for a number of reasons.
“I think, first and foremost, we went to Orlando with the mentality of making sure it wasn’t going to be easy for Orlando, and we wanted to come out of there with some points on the board,” Smith said. “We had a plan, and fortunately for us that plan worked on the day. The things we can take forward are the mindset, the mentality and the focus that the guys had to make life incredibly difficult for Orlando.”
Shaffelburg’s Rematch – Saturday will mark the first time winger Jacob Shaffelburg will face his former club. The Nova Scotia native came up through the Toronto FC Academy and was signed as a homegrown player in 2019. He was loaned to Nashville SC in August 2022 before being permanently acquired over the offseason.
Shaffelburg has four goals in 13 appearances in his Nashville SC career. He says he’s looking forward to seeing his old club across the pitch on Saturday.
“I’m super excited, especially to see a lot of the guys, the staff,” Shaffelburg said. “It’s a cool moment, I’ve never experienced it before. A lot of nerves, excitement, a bit of everything. It should be good. I’m trying not to let it get to my head too much, just take it like any other game.”
Scouting Toronto – Nashville SC has played some intense matches with Toronto FC in the past. In fact, every single meeting between the two sides has been decided by a goal or less.
Last season, Toronto FC came to GEODIS Park and won 4-3 with goals from both of their new star Designated Player signings Federico Bernadeschi and Lorenzo Insigne.
Smith expects yet another tough encounter this Saturday.
“We played them in a very difficult run last year and it was one of those strange blowout games in terms of goals at our place at a time when the two DPs had come in and given them a big lift,” Smith said. “They’re always a very tough test, and you wouldn’t expect anything different from a side that invest so much in their group.”
