2023 Nashville SC season

The 2023 Nashville SC season was the fourth season for Nashville SC as a member of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional soccer in the United States. After finishing the 2022 season with a playoff berth and a first round exit,[2] the club loaned out Designated Player and forward Aké Arnaud Loba to Mazatlán F.C. and made trades to add depth.[3][4] Midfielder Hany Mukhtar had finished the previous season as the league's top goalscorer, earning the MLS Golden Boot with 23 goals, and was also won the most valuable player award.[5]

Nashville SC
2023 season
General managerMike Jacobs
Head coachGary Smith
StadiumGeodis Park
MLSConference: 7th
Overall: 12th
MLS Cup PlayoffsRound One
U.S. Open CupRound of 16
Leagues CupRunners-up
Average home league attendance28,257[1]
← 2022
2024 →

The club moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference for the 2023 season and played 34 regular season matches between February 25 and October 21.[6] The team opened their preseason training camp on January 9 in Tampa, Florida, and played several friendly matches in Florida.[7] Nashville SC also participated in the Leagues Cup, a knockout competition for all MLS and Liga MX clubs in July and August.[8] They finished as runners-up, hosting the Leagues Cup final against Inter Miami CF and losing in a penalty shootout.[9] The club entered the U.S. Open Cup in the third round and advanced to the Round of 16, where they were eliminated by Miami.[10][11]

Nashville qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs—their fourth consecutive postseason—by finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference.[12] They were eliminated in the first round by Orlando City SC, losing the first two games in the best-of-three series by a 1–0 scoreline.[13]

Non-competitive matches

Preseason

During the preseason, Nashville SC had a 3–2–1 record.[14]

January 21 Nashville SC 0–1 New York Red Bulls Bradenton, Florida
Report
Stadium: IMG Academy
February 7 Nashville SC NP Orlando City SC Tampa, Florida
Note: Canceled due to venue availability issues.
February 17 Nashville SC 6–3 FC Cincinnati Tampa, Florida
11:00 a.m. CST
Report
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium

Competitive

Major League Soccer

Standings

MLS Eastern Conference table (2023)
PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
5New England Revolution34159105846+1255Qualification for Round One
6Atlanta United FC34139126653+1351
7Nashville SC341311103932+749
8New York Red Bulls341113103639−343Qualification for the Wild card round
9Charlotte FC341011134552−743
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Overall MLS standings table
PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
10Atlanta United FC34139126653+1351Qualification for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32[a]
11Real Salt Lake34141284850−250
12Nashville SC341311103932+749Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[b]
13Vancouver Whitecaps FC (V)341210125548+748Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[c]
14FC Dallas341110134137+446Qualification for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32[a]
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
(V) Canadian Championship winner
Notes:

Match results

February 25 MLS 1 Nashville SC 2–0 New York City FC Nashville, Tennessee
3:30 p.m. CST
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 28,051
Referee: Armando Villarreal
March 4 MLS 2 New York Red Bulls 0–0 Nashville SC Harrison, New Jersey
6:30 p.m. CSTReport
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 18,474
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
March 11 MLS 3 Nashville SC 2–0 CF Montréal Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CST
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 25,958
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
March 18 MLS 4 New England Revolution 1–0 Nashville SC Foxborough, Massachusetts
6:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 14,930
Referee: Jon Freemon
March 25 MLS 5 Nashville SC 0–1 FC Cincinnati Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 28,453
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
April 1 MLS 6 Orlando City SC 0–2 Nashville SC Orlando, Florida
6:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Attendance: 20,115
Referee: Chris Penso
April 8 MLS 7 Nashville SC 0–0 Toronto FC Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 26,999
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
April 15 MLS 8 New York City FC 2–1 Nashville SC New York City, New York
6:30 p.m. CDT
ReportStadium: Citi Field
Attendance: 18,687
Referee: Allen Chapman
April 22 MLS 9 Nashville SC 1–1 Los Angeles FC Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDTReportStadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 30,109
Referee: Ted Unkel
April 29 MLS 10 Nashville SC 3–1 Atlanta United FC Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 28,793
Referee: Joe Dickerson
May 6 MLS 11 Nashville SC 3–0 Chicago Fire FC Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 28,611
Referee: Mark Allatin
May 13 MLS 12 D.C. United 1–1 Nashville SC Washington, D.C.
6:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 19,215
Referee: Nima Saghafi
May 17 MLS 13 Nashville SC 2–1 Inter Miami CF Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDTReport
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 25,839
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
May 20 MLS 14 Charlotte FC 1–2 Nashville SC Charlotte, North Carolina
6:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium
Attendance: 30,526
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
May 28 MLS 15 Nashville SC 3–1 Columbus Crew Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDTMcCarty  19'
Picault 56'
Moore  60'
Godoy  77'
Bunbury 80'
Mukhtar 90+7'
ReportYeboah 2'
Vallecilla  5'
Morris  90'
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 30,109
Referee: Victor Rivas
June 3 MLS 16 FC Dallas 1–2 Nashville SC Frisco, Texas
7:30 p.m. CDTObrian 25'
Norris  43'
ReportNorris 9' (o.g.)
Mukhtar 77'
Greguš  88'
Washington  90+6'
Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 16,890
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
June 10 MLS 17 Toronto FC 1–1 Nashville SC Toronto, Ontario
6:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: BMO Field
Attendance: 27,228
Referee: Jon Freemon
June 17 MLS 18 Nashville SC 3–1 St. Louis City SC Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 30,109
Referee: Nima Saghafi
June 21 MLS 19 CF Montréal 1–0 Nashville SC Montreal, Quebec
6:30 p.m. CDT
ReportStadium: Saputo Stadium
Attendance: 16,247
Referee: Tori Penso
June 24 MLS 20 Columbus Crew 2–0 Nashville SC Columbus, Ohio
6:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Lower.com Field
Attendance: 20,443
Referee: Filip Dujic
July 1 MLS 21 Nashville SC 2–0 D.C. United Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 30,109
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
July 8 MLS 22 Chicago Fire FC 1–0 Nashville SC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 22,348
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
July 12 MLS 23 Nashville SC 0–2 Philadelphia Union Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 30,109
Referee: Sergii Boiko
July 15 MLS 24 FC Cincinnati 3–1 Nashville SC Cincinnati, Ohio
6:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: TQL Stadium
Attendance: 25,513
Referee: Ramy Touchan
August 26 MLS 25 Atlanta United FC 4–0 Nashville SC Atlanta, Georgia
6:30 p.m. CDT
ReportStadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Attendance: 67,514
Referee: Jon Freemon
August 30 MLS 26 Inter Miami CF 0–0 Nashville SC Fort Lauderdale, Florida
6:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium
Attendance: 20,452
Referee: Chris Penso
September 2 MLS 27 Nashville SC 1–1 Charlotte FC Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 27,902
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
September 20 MLS 28 Sporting Kansas City 0–3 Nashville SC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 16,825
Referee: Victor Rivas
September 23 MLS 29 San Jose Earthquakes 1–1 Nashville SC San Jose, California
9:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: PayPal Park
Attendance: 16,728
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
September 30 MLS 30 Nashville SC 0–0 Seattle Sounders FC Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
ReportStadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 28,291
Referee: Chris Penso
October 4 MLS 31 Nashville SC 0–1 Orlando City SC Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
ReportStadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 25,273
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
October 7 MLS 32 Philadelphia Union 0–0 Nashville SC Chester, Pennsylvania
6:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 19,387
Referee: Armando Villarreal
October 14 MLS 33 Nashville SC 3–2 New England Revolution Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 27,780
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Note: Match rescheduled from August 20 due to Nashville SC's participation in the Leagues Cup final.
October 21 MLS 34 Nashville SC 0–1 New York Red Bulls Nashville, Tennessee
5:00 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 27,875
Referee: Lukasz Szpala

MLS Cup Playoffs

October 30 Round One Orlando City SC 1–0 Nashville SC Orlando, Florida
7:00 pm EDT
Report
Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Attendance: 19,744
Referee: Armando Villarreal
November 7 Round One Nashville SC 0–1 Orlando City SC Nashville, Tennessee
7:00 pm EST
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 25,315
Referee: Allen Chapman
Note: Orlando City SC won the series 2–0.

U.S. Open Cup

April 26 Third round Nashville SC (MLS) 1–0 San Antonio FC (USLC) Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 5,467
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
May 10 Round of 32 Nashville SC (MLS) 2–0 FC Dallas (MLS) Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 5,196
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
May 23 Round of 16 Inter Miami CF (MLS) 2–1 Nashville SC (MLS) Fort Lauderdale, Florida
6:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium
Attendance: 2,244
Referee: Lukasz Szpala

Leagues Cup

Central 4

PosTeamPldWPWPLLGFGAGDPtsQualification TOL NAS COL
1 Toluca2200084+46Advance to knockout stage4–1
2 Nashville SC2100155033–42–1
3 Colorado Rapids2000226−40
Source: Leagues Cup
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
v Colorado Rapids
July 23 Nashville SC 2–1 Colorado Rapids Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDTReport
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 16,087
Referee: David Gómez
v Toluca
July 27 Nashville SC 3–4 Toluca Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 19,817
Referee: Ricardo Montero

Knockout stage

v Minnesota United FC
August 11 QF Nashville SC 5–0 Minnesota United FC Nashville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m. CDTReport
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 19,915
Referee: Juan Calderón
v Nashville SC
August 15 SF Monterrey 0–2 Nashville SC Nashville, Tennessee
9:30 p.m. CDT
Report
Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 27,732
Referee: Walter López

Players and staff

Roster

As of May 16, 2023[15][16]
Squad no.NameNationalityPosition(s)Date of birth (age)Previous clubNotes
1Joe Willis  United StatesGK (1988-08-10) August 10, 1988 (age 35) Houston Dynamo FC
2Daniel Lovitz  United StatesDF (1991-08-27) August 27, 1991 (age 32) CF Montréal
3Lukas MacNaughton  CanadaDF (1995-03-08) March 8, 1995 (age 29) Toronto FC
4Nick DePuy  United StatesDF (1994-11-14) November 14, 1994 (age 29) LA Galaxy
5Jack Maher  United StatesDF (1999-10-28) October 28, 1999 (age 24) Indiana HoosiersGA
6Dax McCarty  United StatesMF (1987-04-30) April 30, 1987 (age 37) Chicago Fire
7Fafà Picault  United StatesFW (1991-02-23) February 23, 1991 (age 33) Houston Dynamo
8Randall Leal  Costa RicaFW (1997-01-14) January 14, 1997 (age 27) Saprissa
10Hany Mukhtar  GermanyMF (1995-03-21) March 21, 1995 (age 29) BrøndbyDP
11Ethan Zubak  United StatesFW (1998-04-15) April 15, 1998 (age 26) LA GalaxyHG
12Teal Bunbury  United StatesFW (1990-02-27) February 27, 1990 (age 34) New England Revolution
13Joey Skinner  United StatesDF (2003-03-28) March 28, 2003 (age 21) Clemson TigersGA
14Jacob Shaffelburg  CanadaFW (1999-11-26) November 26, 1999 (age 24) Toronto FC
16Laurence Wyke  EnglandDF (1996-09-20) September 20, 1996 (age 27) Tampa Bay Rowdies
17C. J. Sapong  United StatesFW (1988-12-27) December 27, 1988 (age 35) Chicago FireTraded to Toronto FC on April 25, 2023.[17]
18Shaq Moore  United StatesDF (1996-11-02) November 2, 1996 (age 27) Tenerife
19Alex Muyl  United StatesMF (1995-09-30) September 30, 1995 (age 28) New York Red BullsHG
20Aníbal Godoy  PanamaMF (1990-02-10) February 10, 1990 (age 34) San Jose Earthquakes
21Ahmed Longmire  United StatesDF (1999-10-11) October 11, 1999 (age 24) UCLA Bruins
22Josh Bauer  United StatesDF (1998-07-22) July 22, 1998 (age 25) Atlanta United FC
23Taylor Washington  United StatesDF (1993-08-16) August 16, 1993 (age 30) Nashville SC (USL)
24Ján Greguš  SlovakiaMF (1991-01-29) January 29, 1991 (age 33) San Jose Earthquakes
25Walker Zimmerman  United StatesDF (1993-05-19) May 19, 1993 (age 31) Los Angeles FCDP
26Luke Haakenson  United StatesMF (1997-09-10) September 10, 1997 (age 26) Creighton Bluejays
27Brian Anunga  CameroonMF (1996-08-10) August 10, 1996 (age 27) Charleston Battery
28Tyler Freeman  United StatesFW (2003-01-09) January 9, 2003 (age 21) Loudoun United FC
29Nebiyou Perry  United StatesFW (1999-10-02) October 2, 1999 (age 24) Östersunds FK
30Elliot Panicco  United StatesGK (1996-11-18) November 18, 1996 (age 27) Charlotte 49ers
54Sean Davis  United StatesMF (1993-02-08) February 8, 1993 (age 31) New York Red Bulls
67Ben Martino  United StatesGK (2002-09-13) September 13, 2002 (age 21) Virginia Tech HokiesHG
91Kemy Amiche  FranceMF (2000-12-10) December 10, 2000 (age 23) Campbell Fighting Camels

Coaching staff

As of May 16, 2023[18]
Technical Staff
Head coachGary Smith
Assistant coachSteve Guppy
Assistant coachKosuke Kimura
Goalkeeping coachMatt Pickens

References