NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 8, 2022) – Nashville Soccer Club made history on Sunday afternoon earning the first-ever victory at GEODIS Park with a 2-0 shutout performance against Real Salt Lake. Nashville SC saw goals from Dave Romney in the 62nd minute, while CJ Sapong sealed the victory with an insurance goal in stoppage time.
We’re Going Streaking: Nashville SC’s win on Sunday extended the club’s home unbeaten streak to 21 consecutive matches. The Boys in Gold remain undefeated at home in 2022 with a 1W-0L-1D record after coming off a 2021 season where they became the seventh team in MLS history to go undefeated at home for a full season. Nashville’s last home defeat on Nov. 4, 2020 happened 551 days ago.
Hi, I’m Dave: Nashville SC defender Dave Romney registered the game-winning goal for Nashville SC, securing the first win in the history of GEODIS Park. For Romney, it was his second of the season, tying a career-high also set in 2017. Romney’s goals this season have come against Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake, the same two sides he scored both of his goals against in 2017.
How About That Defense: The Boys in Gold did not allow a shot in the first half, marking the second time in club history Nashville SC did not allow a shot in a half (last came in March 8, 2020 at Portland). This marked the 16th time that Nashville SC did not allow a shot on goal in a half
Nashville SC returns to GEODIS Park this Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. CT when they take on Atlanta United FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. Tickets are available at https://www.nashvillesc.com/tickets/
Match Timeline
NSH 62’: Dave Romney smashes home his shot after RSL desperately attempted to clear a ball off the line from Walker Zimmerman
NSH 90 +3’: Luke Haakenson delivers a ball from the wing to a gliding CJ Sapong who slots home the attempt
Notes
- Nashville SC:
- improved its overall home record to 15W-2L-15D
- has a 21W-4L-7D record when scoring the first goal of the match
- owns a 17W-0D-6L record when scoring two goals or more in a match
- earned its 11th home shutout in 32 all-time home matches
- has always earned a result in the month of May in MLS (3W-0L-4D)
- has suffered just one defeat since April 1, 2022
- has 15 of its remaining 24 MLS matches home at GEODIS Park
- earned its first win over Real Salt Lake in club history
- tied a season high for shots in a game with 19
- set a season high for shots on target in a match with 9
- Sean Davis led the team in passing percentage at 97.6 percent on 42 passes
- Luke Haakenson earned his first career MLS assist
- Dax McCarty wore the Captain’s armband for Nashville SC, starting in his 379th career MLS regular season match
- Hany Mukhtar recorded a team-high seven shots and five shots on target today; The five shots on target tie a career high (July 17, 2021 vs. Chicago Fire FC
- Dave Romney
- is now one goal shy of setting a career-high for goals in a season
- is the only outfield player to have played every minute this season
- CJ Sapong earned his 86th career MLS goal
- Joe Willis has recorded 43 career clean sheets, 25 with Nashville SC
- Walker Zimmerman is three appearances shy of 200 for his MLS career
Box Score: Nashville SC (4W-3L-3D, 15 pts.) vs. Real Salt Lake (4W-3L-4D, 16 pts.)
May 8, 2022 – GEODIS Park
Final Score
RSL: 0
NSH: 2
Scoring Summary
NSH: Dave Romney (Unassisted) 62’
NSH: CJ Sapong (Luke Haakenson) 90+2’
Discipline
RSL: Everton Luiz (caution) 20’
RSL: Pablo Ruiz (caution) 49’
Lineups
NSH: Joe Willis, Dave Romney, Jack Maher, Walker Zimmerman; Dan Lovitz Dax McCarty ©, Sean Davis (Tah Brian Anunga 88’), Dan Lovitz; Randall Leal, (Aké Loba HT), Hany Mukhtar (Luke Haakenson 86’); CJ Sapong, (Ethan Zubak 90+3’)
Unused Substitutes: Handwalla Bwana, Eric Miller, Ahmed Longmire, Taylor Washington, Bryan Meredith
RSL: Zac MacMath; Andrew Brody (Tate Schmitt 84’), Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera, Marcelo Silva © (Nick Besler 75’), Pablo Ruiz, Justin Meram, Maikel Chang (Jasper Loffelsend 62’), Everton Luiz (Scott Caldwell 84’); Bobby Wood, Rubio Rubin (Anderson Julio 76’)
Unused Substitutes: Chris Kablan, Chris Garcia, Tomas Gomez, Jaziel Orozco
REFEREE: Fotis Bazakos
AR1: Cj Morgante
AR2: Brooke Mayo
4th: Kevin Broadley
VAR: Daniel Radford
AVAR: Jeffrey Greeson
Weather: Clear, 75 degrees
