The celebration of Randall Leal’s goal by the “aficionados” was the highlight of a day full of emotions at Geodis Park in Nashville. Randall accomplished this with his shot to bring ecstasy to the huge crowd gathered in “The Castle” to jointly make history with the match tying goal. Nashville SC arrived to the game with a strong effort in hopes of achieving its first victory in its flamboyant, new home by applying high pressure on Union’s side of the pitch. That pressure caused chaos in and around the visitors’ box.
However, it was Mikael Uhre (Philadelphia Union) who tried to beat Joe Willis with a right foot shot inside the area that started the fireworks 3 minutes into the game. Nashville SC responded two minutes later through skipper Dax McCarty who took a tremendous shot from outside the box that ricocheted against the right post of Blake’s goal.
Only two minutes passed and this time it was Alex Muyl who tried it with a tremendous shot from the edge of the box that bounced off the crossbar. In the 17th minute Joe Willis again prevented the fall of his goal, deflecting in a great way a low shot from Gazdag. In the 23rd minute,again Alex Myul was very close with a close range shot in front of the goal line that goalkeeper Blake would save in a truly spectacular way. Nashville SC was without a doubt the best eleven in the opening stage, but the posts and a huge Andre Blake prevented them from capitalizing on their opportunities.
The second half featured tactical moves on both sides which allowed Philadelphia to take control of the match, however, it would be Randall Leal who would have his first opportunity that Blake saved well at minute 55. At the 66th minute a poor backwards pass from Hany Muhktar was intercepted by Gazdag who assisted Mikael Uhre in beating Zimmerman’s mark inside the area. With a carefully placed low shot that beat Joe Willis for the first goal in Geodis Park history.
Nashville changed its tactical scheme to a back 4 line looking for parity with the arrival of Aké Loba in place of Sean Davis and managed to equalize the control of the game in the middle sector. Nashville SC had to wait until the 83rd minute to achieve its objective through a penalty after Venezuelan, José Martínez, was called for a hand ball inside the 18. Randall Leal took care of business effectively at minute 85 despite Blake’s great stretch to bring down the bleachers in celebration with the huge fan base present at Geodis Park. Nashville would have one more, but the main referee inexplicably didn’t consider Burke’s handball a penalty after Zimmerman’s header from a Hany’s corner kick.
Before 30,109 fans at the opening of Geodis Park this is how we saw Nashville SC:
Joe Willis (1): Good afternoon from Joe with big saves during the game that managed to keep his team in the game.
Alex Muyl (19): Alex played a great game; he added greatly to the offense and effectively defended his side. He was Nashville SC’s high point throughout the game.
“Just like Randall [Leal] said, obviously it’s great to come back once we concede the goal. But you know, we all wanted three points and for us, I think we’re a team that expects three points. So, when we get a tie, especially at home, it feels like you know, we’re leaving points on the table. So I think it’s a positive day because you know there’s a lot of pageantry and a lot of extra pressure, and I think it’s our first time playing in the stadium. So yeah, it’s home, but it’s a novelty for us as well. But for us, for sure, we want to move on from this and build from it and hopefully start turning this kind of tie into wins.”
Jack Maher (5): Poised, safe, playing like a veteran against a great rival.
Walker Zimmerman (25): Regardless of whether he was able to better mark the play for the Union’s goal, Walker was a constant threat in the penalty area and solid in defense.
Dave Romney (4): Dave’s usual solid performance, without much fuss while managing to get his work done.
Daniel Lovitz (2): With more problems in his sector to add offensively, he turned out to be less decisive than in previous games.
Dax McCarty (6): He resumed his game of great effort and ability to fight in midfield, his shot in the first half deserved to be a goal.
Sean Davis (54): Fought, worked, gave it his all on the pitch and was an NSC high point once again.
Randall Leal (8): Man of the match! His goal was the fitting prize for his singular sacrifice on both sides of the game for his team. History will tell that Randall scored Nashville SC’s first goal at Geodis Park.
“Hello, I feel happy that we got the result, but we wanted to win with all the fans here. We do need to keep working and we have a game next week, and it’s going to be a difficult game too. This is what we need to keep working and can be sharper the next games.”
Hany Mukhtar (10): He continues to be the resource that can change the destiny of Nashville SC, although at times his game seemed excessively individual, when he should be able to rely on unmarked teammates and remain open for scoring chances.
CJ Sapong (17): Huge effort from C.J. that kept Union defenders busy and worried all game.
Substitutions:
Brian Anunga (27): He arrived to secure the midfield in a few minutes.
Aké Loba (9): His entry added a new and important element in key moments of the game when his team was looking for parity. Aké wrote his name on the list for more minutes.
Coach Gary Smith: Gary was always cleared that the moment was different, special, and full of emotions for his boys for the inauguration of their new home and the reunion with their fans after many weeks away from home. Nashville SC ,-by tactical design or not,- greeted its fans with an enormous effort from the beginning with strong pressure in its rival’s transition and creating opportunities in the opposite area that did not go up on the scoreboard due to the posts and a superb performance by goalkeeper Andre Blake. The coach made it clear that he would sell a potential defeat at high price and took risks in the last third of the second half switching to a line of four defenders to add players on offense and his risk produced revenues achieving the tie.
“»The challenge of the eight games away from home is one thing. I think it’s opening up that new chapter of a brand-new stadium. There is no history here for us. We put together a terrific run of games over at Titans [Nissan Stadium]. Really and truly, that doesn’t represent anything for us now given that it’s a completely different venue. So, we’ve got to work towards that type of form all over again. I think my biggest fear was that the occasion might just engulf the players, they wouldn’t be able to express themselves. We wouldn’t be able to show the sort of qualities that all of them are capable of, and that’s what talented footballers do. They’re able to find that opportunity and able to just mentally deal with the challenges and pressures ahead of them. I think we always knew as well that the fans would give us that extra boost, and when you see just what it was like out there, I think there’s a fabulous opportunity, given the atmosphere, to try and harness that. We’ve taken that very first step in this arena, and hopefully towards just as successful a period as we had at times.”
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