NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 21, 2023)– Nashville SC (13W-11L-10D, 49 pts.) concluded the 2023 MLS regular season in seventh place in the Eastern Conference after a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls following a penalty kick goal in the 94thminute. Nashville SC will now turn its focus towards the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, in what will be the club’s fourth consecutive appearance in just as many seasons in the league.
One-Million Strong: Nashville SC continues to make history at home as GEODIS Park welcomed over one million fans since its grand opening in May of 2022. During Saturday’s final regular season match, Nashville SC celebrated the milestone by selecting one random fan upon entry and presenting a commemorative platinum record symbolizing the achievement of one-million album sales in the music industry. GEODIS Park is the largest soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. and Canada.
Next Stop, Orlando: Following the early slate of Decision Day matches, the Boys in Gold are locked into the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2023 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and will face off against second seed Orlando City SC in a Round One Best-of-3 Series at a date and time to be announced. The 2023 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs begin Oct. 25 with the Wild Card round.
Match Timeline:
RBNY 90’ + 4: John Tolkin converts a penalty kick following a foul in the box
Notes:
- Nashville SC:
- extended its Decision Day record to 2W-1L-1D
- is 9W-4L-4D at GEODIS Park in 2023
- recorded a passing accuracy percentage of 72.5%
- enters its fourth post-season berth in as many years
- Aníbal Godoy
- led the team with nine duels won, 10 possessions won and two possessions won in the final third
- led the team with 54 accurate passes
- Dan Lovitz led the team with 85 touches
- Shaq Moore led the team with four successful tackles
- Fafá Picault made his first appearance since Oct. 4 vs. Orlando City SC after being called up by the Haitian National Team
- Sam Surridge led the team with six aerial duels won, tied with Walker Zimmerman
- Joe Willis recorded four saves and ended the night tied for fourth-most saves in the league at 99 (also, D. Petrovic, New England Revolution)
- Walker Zimmerman led the team with 13 clearances and six aerial duels won, tied with Sam Surridge
Box Score:
Nashville SC (13W-11L-10D, 49 pts) vs. New York Red Bulls (11W-13L-10D, 43 pts)
Oct. 21, 2023 – GEODIS Park
Final Score:
NSH: 0
RBNY: 1
Scoring Summary:
RBNY: John Tolkin (Penalty) 90’ + 4
Discipline:
RBNY: Andres Reyes (Caution) 39’
RBNY: Frankie Amaya (Caution) 45’ + 2
NSH: Fafá Picault (Caution) 45’ + 3
RBNY: Sean Nealis (Caution) 45’ + 6
RBNY: Kyle Duncan (Caution) 70’
Lineups:
NSH Starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz, Jack Maher, Shaq Moore, Walker Zimmerman (C); Randall Leal (Fafá Picault 32’), Hany Mukhtar, Alex Muyl (Jacob Shaffelburg 77’), Aníbal Godoy, Sean Davis; Sam Surridge (Teal Bunbury 77’)
Substitutes: Lukas MacNaughton, Josh Bauer, Taylor Washington, Luke Haakenson, Tah Brian Anunga, Elliot Panicco
RBNY Starters: Carlos Coronel; Andres Reyes, Kyle Duncan (Dylan Nealis 86’), Sean Nealis (C), John Tolkin; Frankin Amaya (Dru Yearwood 72’), Omir Fernandez (Cameron Harper 57’), Daniel Edelman; Elias Manoel (Jorge Cabezas 86’), Tom Barlow, Luquinhas
Substitutes: Peter Stroud, Jorge Cabezas, Dylan Nealis, Dru Yearwood, Ryan Meara, Wikelman Carmona, Serge Ngoma, Julian Hall
Match Officials:
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
AR1: Corey Parker
AR2: Kyle Atkins
4TH Official: Malik Badawi
VAR: Ted Unkel
AVAR: Craig Lowry
Weather: Clear, 78 degrees
