It’s right back to work for Nashville SC (3W-1L-5D, 14 pts.).
After a thrilling comeback victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday night, the Boys in Gold are set to host CF Montréal (3W-3L-3D, 12 pts.) on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium. It will be the second of Nashville SC’s five-match homestand during a crucial stretch in the middle of the season.
Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s Pride Night match. Click here to learn more about our Pride Night initiatives, in collaboration with the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, which will highlight the LGBTQ+ community and raise funds in support of programming and advocacy initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Date: Saturday, June 26
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Location: Nissan Stadium
Tickets: Click Here
TV: MyTV30
Stream: NashvilleSC.com/stream
English Radio: ESPN 94.9
Spanish Radio: El Jefe
Good Vibes Only – Everything feels better after a victory.
Nashville SC midfielder Luke Haakenson scored twice in the final minutes of Wednesday’s match to help the club earn a massive 3-2 victory over the Reds. Kickoff on Saturday night will come just 72 hours later.
Nashville SC has won both of its home matches since capacity restrictions were lifted at Nissan Stadium. With a packed house, tailgating, the first Opening Act fan zone of the year and Pride Night festivities coming up on Saturday, Head Coach Gary Smith says Wednesday’s win should give them a boost going into the weekend, and give the fans something for which to keep coming back.
“There will be a lot of confidence going into the weekend,” Smith said. “When you’ve got a quick turnaround, it’s a hell of a lot easier for those weary bodies to galvanize themselves again when they’ve won a game. It’s the complete opposite if you don’t. Delighted, excited, overwhelmed for the fans. It must’ve been a great game to watch. You don’t get too many won in the final moments in injury time for the victory. A night to remember for everyone.”
Youth Movement – Wednesday night’s victory belonged to two members of the 2020 Major League Soccer SuperDraft class, presented by adidas.
Twenty-one-year-old defender Jack Maher, recalled from his loan spell at San Diego Loyal SC right before the match, scored Nashville SC’s first goal of the night and his first MLS goal. Then 23-year-old Haakenson scored two crucial late goals, also his first two in MLS, to earn the victory.
Smith says Haakenson has been working diligently to earn this moment.
“Over the past six to eight weeks, Luke’s been able to get himself some minutes on the field through some incredible hard work through midweek, showing some signs of incredible improvement,” he said. “Because of the way that the development of our youngsters is set up, Luke is learning on the job. He’s coming onto the first team, and now he’s got to earn the trust not only of the players around him, but also of the coaching staff, and he’s been able to do that. Slowly but surely, he’s taken those moments, and he’s grown, and he’s moved with it.”
Keep Building – This five-match homestand is a major opportunity for the Boys in Gold to earn vital points towards the Audi MLS Cup Playoff race while playing in the comfortable confines of Nissan Stadium.
Smith says Wednesday night’s comeback to kick off a five-match homestand is the kind of performance that can springboard the team towards a successful stretch through the summer.
“The resilience, the determination and character in this group is unquestionable,” Smith said. “But I think to come from behind to get three points for the first time this season is something that should really resonate inside all of these players, and it gives us a great platform to go towards the weekend.”
