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Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Undermanned Nashville desperately needs win over Messi-powered Miami

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated 4/18/24

Nashville SC is one of the newer teams in Major League Soccer, but it has already earned a reputation for consistency. The franchise has never finished below seventh in its conference — even in its debut season in 2020 — and has qualified for every league postseason that it was eligible for.

It's quite the shock, then, to see Nashville second to last in the Eastern Conference with one win in seven games. Injuries have ravaged Nashville, leaving its lineup brittle and unbalanced.

"When we've got our best group on the field — and we need to have our best group on the field — we're very, very competitive," Nashville coach Gary Smith said, per the Nashville Post's John Glennon. "But if you look at our ability to maneuver off the bench, for example, I think we've seen goals go in late in games more often than we've seen before. And that can also be to the challenges of the stretched nature of our team."

The stats back Smith up on that assumption. Nashville's last competitive game, against the Philadelphia Union, was lost thanks to a 90th-minute header from Philly forward Daniel Gazdag. It was the third time this season Nashville has allowed a goal after the 80th minute.

Can’t stop watching this one #DOOP pic.twitter.com/k8oR2ULgpN
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) April 7, 2024

Nashville's season has already been challenging, but Saturday offers the greatest challenge of all: an away game against Inter Miami.

The sides met twice in March in the early rounds of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Nashville performed well in the home leg, drawing 2-2, but it fell apart in Florida, losing 3-1.

"I'm a little bit disappointed that Lionel Messi has gotten himself back into tip-top sharp form as we come back into town again," Smith said, chuckling, per the Nashville Post. "I think what we can safely say is when he's in the group, there's a very, very different feel and look and inspiration about the team."

Despite the recent Champions Cup loss to Inter Miami, Nashville has historically played well against the Florida power.

Nashville is 4-3-1 against the first-place Herons in MLS play, outscoring them 12-4. In 2023, Nashville threw a wrench in Miami's Messi-driven playoff push, holding it to a 0-0 draw in Nashville.

Winning (or drawing) against Miami in Florida could reset Nashville's season. It has an easy run of games upcoming — San Jose at home, Montréal at home, Charlotte away and Toronto at home — and good results in all four could put it back into playoff contention.

There's good news for Nashville heading into the fixture against Miami. Key midfielders Tyler Boyd and Randall Leal are expected to return from injury, and their presence should free striker and former MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar for goalscoring chances.

A victory on Saturday for Nashville over Miami could see it rise from 14th in the East to ninth. A loss, meanwhile, could see it drop into the abyss at the bottom of the table.

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