NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 8, 2023) – Nashville Soccer Club advanced to the Quarterfinals in the Leagues Cup 2023 after ending the match 2-2 in regulation and moving on to a thrilling penalty shootout to survive and advance after a 6:5 victory.
Nashville SC was originally declared to have lost the game after a save when the penalty shootout moved into sudden death. However, the final block was overturned by VAR as Club América’s goalkeeper Luis Malagón jumped off his line early. Jack Maher converted his second attempt before Club América hit the crossbar to miss its sixth penalty kick. Dan Lovitz buried the final penalty kick to secure the Nashville SC victory.
Zimmerman Zingers: Zimmerman’s 61st minute goal marked his third goal in the run of play across Nashville SC’s last five matches. The captain also converted a penalty kick in Nashville SC’s Round of 32 shootout on Aug. 4.
Zimmerman has opened the scoring for Nashville SC three times this season after his season-opening goal on Feb. 25 against NYCFC, his opening goal against FC Cincinnati on July 15 and his goal to open scoring tonight.
Nice to Meet You, Sam: Newly signed Designated Player Surridge scored his debut goal at a crucial moment for Nashville SC to level the match and send the Boys in Gold to a penalty shootout for the second Leagues Cup 2023 match in a row.
Pens, again: Nashville SC entered penalties for the second Leagues Cup 2023 match in a row. Nashville SC advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Aug. 8 in a penalty shootout. This marked Nashville SC’s fifth-ever penalty shootout, extending its penalty shootout record to 3W-2L-0D in all competitions. Tonight’s victory marked the second time Nashville SC has defeated Club América in a penalty shootout in Leagues Cup play, after winning on penalties on Sept. 21, 2022 in a Leagues Cup showcase. Both penalty shootouts with Club América have taken place in GEODIS Park.
Panicco’s Heroics: Goalkeeper Elliot Panicco was subbed into the game in injury time once more to act as Nashville SC’s penalty stopper in Leagues Cup 2023. Panicco stopped Miguel Layún’s penalty kick to put Nashville SC and Club América back on level terms early in the shootout.
The Quarterfinals Come to GEODIS: Nashville SC will face Minnesota United FC at GEODIS Park on Friday, Aug. 11 after the Loons moved on over Toluca in a penalty shootout of their own. Tickets will go on sale tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. CT.
Match Timeline:
NSH 65’: Dan Lovitz services a corner to find Walker Zimmerman, who rises up to find the back of the net with his head
CFA 77’: Kevin Álvarez crosses a ball into Nashville’s box for Diego Valdés to poke into the back of the net
CFA 90’ + 3: Lukas MacNaughton is called for a handball, and Julián Quiones converts the resulting Penalty Kick
NSH 90’ + 9: Hany Mukhtar whips a ball in from the left wing to find Sam Surridge in the air to score his debut goal
Notes:
- Nashville SC:
- went to penalties for the third time in Leagues Cup play history, after taking a Leagues Cup showcase match against Club América 4:2 on Sept. 21, 2022 and beating FC Cincinnati 5:4 in penalties on Aug. 4, 2023
- saw its seventh different player score a Leagues Cup 2023 goal
- saw its latest Leagues Cup 2023 goal at 90’ + 9 minutes, and its third goal from a substitute
- extended its record wearing the Man in Black kit to 3W-3L-1D in all competitions
- Aníbal Godoy converted his second penalty kick in Leagues Cup 2023 play
- Dan Lovitz
- recorded his second assist and converted his first penalty kick of Leagues Cup 2023 play
- ‘s 40% of his assists this season across all competitions have been to Walker Zimmerman
- Jack Maher converted his first penalty kick in Leagues Cup 2023 play
- Dax McCarty converted his second penalty kick in Leagues Cup 2023 play
- Hany Mukhtar recorded his second assist of Leagues Cup 2023 play and led the team with three shots
- Alex Muyl led the team with 13 duels
- Elliott Panicco appeared as an injury time substitution for the second consecutive match, being instrumental in Nashville SC advancing to the Quarterfinals by stopping two penalty kicks
- Sam Surridge
- recorded his debut goal for Nashville SC
- led the team with 0.54 expected goals (xG) and converted his first penalty kick in Leagues Cup 2023 play
- Joe Willis led the team with four saves
- Walker Zimmerman
- recorded his second goal in Leagues Cup 2023 play, and converted his second penalty kick in Leagues Cup 2023 play
Box Score:
Nashville SC vs. Club America
Aug. 8, 2023 – GEODIS Park
Final Score:
NSH: 2
CFA: 2
Scoring Summary:
NSH: Walker Zimmerman (A: Dan Lovitz) 61’
CFA: Diego Vades (A: Kevin Álvarez) 77’
CFA: Julián Quiñones (Penalty Kick) 90’ + 3
NSH: Sam Surridge (A: Hany Mukhtar) 90’ + 9
Discipline:
CFA: Jonathan Dos Santos (Caution) 9’
NSH: Joe Willis (Caution) 87’
NSH: Aníbal Godoy (Caution) 90’+1
NSH: Lukas MacNaughton (Caution) 90’ + 2
CFA: Andre Soares (Caution) 90’ + 5
Lineups:
NSH Starters: Joe Willis (Elliot Panicco 90’+10); Dan Lovitz, Lukas MacNaughton, Walker Zimmerman (C), Shaq Moore; Hany Mukhtar, Sean Davis (Dax McCarty 63’), Aníbal Godoy, Alex Muyl (Jack Maher 90’+5); Fafà Picault (Jacob Shaffelburg 63’), Teal Bunbury (Sam Surridge 63’)
Substitutes: Ethank Zubak, Laurence Wyke, Josh Bauer, Taylor Washington, Luke Haakenson, Tah Brian Anunga, Ben Martino
CFA Starters: Luis Malagón; Israel Reyes, Sebastián Cáceres, Kevin Álvarez, Jonathan Dos Santos, Paul Rodríguez (Néstor Araujo 90’+5), Álvaro Ridalgo, Alejandro Zendejas, Salvador Reyes (Miguel Layún 72’), Leonardo Suárez (Diego Valdés 63’), Julián Quiñones
Substitutes: Luis Fuentes, Santiago Naveda, Emilio Lara, Oscar Jiménez, Roman Martinez, Leonardo Palestina, Bruce El-mesmari, Miguel Ramírez, Patricio Salas
Match Officials:
Referee: Selvin Antonio Brown Chavarria
AR1: Roney Salinas
AR2: Jose Mangandi
4TH Official: Rosendo Mendoza
Weather: Clear, 80 degrees
