LAFC at Nashville SC
Saturday, April 22 at 5:30pm PT
Location: GEODIS Park - Nashville Tennessee
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, FOX
Radio: 1110 AM ESPN, ESPN LA App, 980 AM La Mera Mera
LAFC picked up its first-ever win at Dignity Health Sports Park, defeating its city rival the Galaxy 3-2 on Sunday, April 16. The Black & Gold now travel to Tennessee to take on Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on Saturday, April 22.
The matchup will be the third-ever meeting between the two clubs, in which both teams won on the road in 2022. LAFC took the first-ever matchup, winning 2-1 last July at GEODIS Park but Nashville SC returned the favor handing LAFC its second home loss of 2022 last October on MLS Decision Day.
LAFC is coming into this match as the last undefeated team in the league (6-0-2) after holding on and getting a win in Carson last Sunday. Carlos Vela was involved in all three goals for the Black & Gold as he scored two goals and assisted on the game-winner to Ryan Hollingshead. He has scored 12 goals in 12 games vs the Galaxy.
Nashville SC currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference Standings with 11 points through eight games played. Nashville faced New York City FC on Saturday, April 15 and was defeated 2-1.
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NASHVILLE IN-DEPTH
Led by head coach Gary Smith, Nashville SC have made the playoffs in each of their first three seasons in MLS. The Club has made it as far as the Conference Semifinals in their first three years but was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs in 2022.
The team is led by 2022 MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar, who led the league with 23 goals and contributed 11 assists in 2022. Mukhtar has added two goals and two assists so far in 2023.
Offseason acquisition and forward Jacob Shaffelburg has contributed two goals of this own.
Nashville will be without defender Nick DePuy, who is out for the year to an Achilles injury while midfielder Randall Leal will be questionable with a lower body injury.
LAFC WILL WIN IF
They can remain focused on the task at hand and not look ahead to their upcoming CCL match.
Forwards Denis Bouanga and Carlos Vela have combined for nine goals in the last four games played. The Black & Gold need to lean on the duo to put away any opportunities given to them.
NASHVILLE CAN WIN IF
Mukhtar has his way on the field. He has yet to score in front of his home crowd in 2023 and will be looking to do so Saturday. Nashville SC will most likely come out in a 4-4-2 formation and will hope to take advantage of any early opportunities.
