Bring on the semifinals.
Nashville SC was forced to work for every inch late Tuesday night in the second leg of its Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal against Club América, overcoming more than 7,000 feet of altitude and one of world soccer’s most storied venues to emerge deserved 1-0 winners. The victory pushes the Boys in Gold to the semifinals for the first time in their history, continuing a tournament journey in which they have now beaten Mexico’s most successful team and the reigning MLS Cup champions.
Despite the immense stakes, Tuesday’s match got off to a tepid start. Heavy touches abounded from both sides with few notable attacking moves to speak of, save an Alex Zendejas shot from close range in the 21stminute which tipped off Brian Schwake’s hand and cannoned off the near post. But the Boys in Gold grew into the game as the first half wore on, making the most of their talented wide players and industrious midfield to carve open space on the counterattack.
Hany Mukhtar and Warren Madrigal each came close to opening the scoring inside 30 minutes after a tricky bit of dribbling from the former, who unleashed a left-footed shot from the top of the box which deflected the latter’s way. Eddi Tasgeth, Cristian Espinoza and Reed Baker-Whiting all looked lively in attack as well, helping the Boys in Gold keep the pressure on their hosts throughout the first half.
Schwake made some superb stops in addition to his denial of Zendejas, too, offering a vital safety net as Nashville sought a goal. His passing range and close control also helped the Boys in Gold crack a tenacious América press which often involved the entire front line. Neither side was able to crack the other’s defense after the opening 45 minutes, sending them into the locker room eyeing a make-or-break final frame.
The steady pressure Nashville built throughout the closing stages of the first half paid dividends almost immediately upon returning for the second. Right-back Andy Najar worked his way up the right flank in the 51stminute before sliding the ball to an on-running Espinoza, who swept a pass through a double-team to Mukhtar, unmarked in the box. The Nashville captain took a touch, braced himself and rifled a shot into the top-deck of the net. His opener against Austin in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup Final was probably the most significant of his career to this point; Tuesday’s goal won’t be far behind.
Because of the Champions Cup’s away goals tiebreaker, Mukhtar’s finish ensured that América would need to score twice to overcome Nashville’s 1-0 lead on aggregate after last week’s 0-0 draw at GEODIS Park. Las Águilas made a slew of substitutions and stretched their formation to send as many attackers forward as possible, but the Boys in Gold’s back line held firm.
Head coach B.J. Callaghan freshened up his team’s legs with the injection of Bryan Acosta, Ahmed Qasem and Matthew Corcoran. They, alongside Mukhtar, Espinoza and Eddi Tagseth, packed in to lock down Nashville’s 18-yard box, desperate to keep the eventual nine shots América would put on target at bay. That is precisely what they were able to do, securing a win that rivals the biggest in Nashville history.
The Boys in Gold stay on the road this weekend for an MLS clash at Atlanta United, scheduled for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT, before returning to GEODIS Park on April 25 for a date with Charlotte FC. Nashville will play against the winner of Seattle Sounders and Tigres in the Champions Cup semifinal.
