Nashville SC returns to road action against Canadian opposition on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Head coach Gary Smith and the squad will spend another matchday away from home as the Boys in Gold travel north of the border to visit Toronto FC. This will be Nashville’s second away match in as many weeks, with last week’s contest against FC Dallas finishing as a 2-1 win. Nashville enters the matchday sitting 2nd in Supporters Shield race with a 9W-3L-4D record and 31 points.
Date: Saturday, June 10, 2023
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: BMO Field (Toronto, Ontario.)
TV: Watch MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: 104.5 The Zone and the 104.5 The Zone App
Watch Party: Third and Home
Scouting Toronto – Nashville SC and Toronto FC played to a scoreless draw on April 8 at GEODIS Park, but this iteration of the matchup will surely have a different look. The Boys in Gold have scored in every league match since then and are currently on an eight-match unbeaten streak in league play.
On the other side of the matchup, the Reds have struggled to put together a positive run of form this season. Toronto has only amassed three wins at home this season against Inter Miami on March 18, NYCFC on April 29, and D.C. United on May 27.
“We’ve had some really tough games against Toronto,” Smith said. “I can cast my mind back as far as the early introduction of [Lorenzo] Insigne and [Federico] Bernardeschi. They gave that group an added dimension and boost. I think along the way, they’ve obviously run into one or two problems if you want to read the press, but it doesn’t seem to be affecting too much on the field.
“I think they’ve adopted a slightly different look. Whilst they’re not winning games week after week, they’re always in games. Through one or two little teething problems, they’re still a very, very competitive side and shouldn’t be taken lightly at all.”
Shaffelburg’s first visit back to Toronto - Forward Jacob Shaffelburg will make his first return to BMO Field since joining Nashville on loan in August 2022. He made 47 league appearances for the Reds as a homegrown player and won the Voyagers Cup in 2020.
“Nervous, obviously, playing against the old team,” Shaffleburg said. “Haven’t done it before away, so there’s more to take on. I hope the fans still like me, I hope there’s good vibes when I go back there, but I’m really excited for it and ready to get after it and it should be a good game.”
