After another disappointing loss at home, Nashville SC at back at GEODIS Park. Tonight, they take on a red-hot FC Dallas team who is missing their star forward.
Can the ‘Yotes take advantage and pick up their first win at home since July 13th? Will Dallas be the next team to pick up a result at GEODIS Park?
Nashville SC
Current standing: 9th (West) | 8-9-9 | -2 GD
Injuries
OUT: Teal Bunbury (left thigh), Aké Loba (trunk)
Nashville SC find themselves in their worst run of form in team history. Since their win against the Seattle Sounders, Nashville has drawn three and lost three. They have conceded 11 goals during that stretch and only scored more than a single goal once.
They find themselves all the way down in ninth place but only one point out of the playoffs. If the Boys in Gold want any hope of making the playoffs, they must win their matches at home.
Since the beginning of July, Nashville has been playing exclusively in a back four after moving away from the back three. The transition has not gone as they would have liked and the coaching staff knows it. In his pre-match press conference, Gary Smith said, “As we’re transitioning from a back five team to a back four-team, with an eye on being more creative, some of the stats have backed that up, but the points haven’t.”
The Nashville lineup will look much the same as it did against Minnesota. Teal Bunbury is still out with a thigh injury and will miss a few more matches, and loanee Jacob Shaffelburg only joined practice on Thursday. There is a chance he could be available off the bench but won’t be from the start.
Most importantly for Nashville, Aníbal Godoy returned to the team off the bench against Minnesota and is expected to be starting tonight. He will freshen up a midfield that has seemed a bit stale over the past few weeks and bring an added edge.
Tonight, Nashville must get a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. It’s not about the performance only the result.
Gary Smith: "Quite honestly, I would take the worst performance in the world and a win. Because we've played well the last two games and lost." #EveryoneN
— Ben Wright (@benwright) August 19, 2022
FC Dallas
Current standing: 3rd (West) | 11-9-7 | +11 GD
Injuries
OUT: Brandon Servania (pelvis)
SUSPENDED: Jesús Ferreira (yellow card accumulation)
FC Dallas comes into tonight’s match amid a hot streak. In their last six games, they have won four, drawn one, and lost 1. Their previous two include a 4-1 win over San Jose and a 1-0 win over Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.
These two teams could not be further apart in terms of form.
FC Dallas will lineup in their preferred 4-3-3 where they will look to pressure the ball and win it back in dangerous positions. They will look to control the midfield and transition it quickly out to the wings. Head coach, Nico Estévez will have to make a few adjustments though with Jesús Ferreira missing due to yellow card accumulation.
Looking through the probable starting lineup for Dallas, you can expect to see several US Men’s and Youth National Team players out on the field.
Paul Arriola came in this off-season and has added a much-needed attacking threat from out wide. He has nine goals and three assists so far and will be an absolute menace against the Nashville backline. Opposite with Arriola, Alan Velasco came in from Independiete this off-season and has shown well on the left side including a goal against Nashville on his debut.
Nashville’s fullbacks will have their hands full against the Dallas wingers and will need to keep them quiet if Nashville wants to pick up a win.
Pod picks
Andy Simmons
Score: Nashville 1 – 0 Dallas
Scores: C.J. Sapong
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold Prediction: Nashville’s goal comes on the counter attack.
Jonathan Slape
Score: Nashville 1 – 1 Dallas
Scorers: Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold Prediction: Dallas scores first but Nashville fights back the draw and has double the shots on target as Dallas.
Chris Ivey
Score: Nashville 1 – 1 Dallas
Scorers: Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold Prediction: Dallas levels and looks the more likely team to find the go ahead
Ben Wright
Score: Nashville 3 – 0 Dallas
Scorers: Hany Mukhtar, C.J. Sapong, Randall Leal
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold Prediction: Mukhtar scores and assists two in a massive bounce-back win.
Fan Forecast
#everyoneN is back at GEODIS Park as they look to move back into the playoff spots against #DTID.
— Speedway Soccer 🐺 (@SpeedwaySoc) August 21, 2022
Vote in our #FanForecast and reply with a #BoldPrediction.
Kit matchup
Match Info
Teams: Nashville SC vs FC Dallas
Odds: Nashville (-115), Draw (+250), Dallas (+200) via BetMGM
Date: Sunday, August 21
Time: 7:30 PM Central, GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee
TV: MYTV30
Radio: iHeartRadio Online (English); El Jefe 96.7 (Spanish)
Forecast: 85°/68°. Mostly Cloudy 20% chance of rain. 57% humidity
