The first five minutes of the game seemed to set the tone for what the rest of how the match would look like with the two teams locked into trying to gain control of the ball and playing time. However, at minute 6, Hany Mukhtar would change the story completely by scoring one more for his account ending a very good play from Nashville and taking advantage of the excellent assist from Alistair Johnston. Nashville did a great job controlling the ball, managing the time, and with excellent high pressure up in three quarters of the field it prevented any possibility of Miami in transition.
It would be NSC, with CJ Sapong, that would have the next best option, but the defense arrived in time to prevent a comfortable shot. Two minutes later CJ Sapong wasted an excellent pass from Godoy and failed to score the second goal of the game. In the 38th minute after a serious error by goalkeeper Marsman, Godoy managed to control the ball from the left and sent a high cross into the heart of the area and Zimmerman flew higher than all others to score the second with a tremendous header. Zimmerladder’s great goal!
In stoppage time (min 47), a great run by Alistair Johnston ended in a cross to the area, goalkeeper Marsman came down first but could not contain it. Hany Mukhtar picked up the keeper’s rebound and put it inside for the third in a great collective play by NSC.
A few minutes after returning from the break (min 58), Mukhtar was inches from his hat-trick with a spectacular free kick that went wide, scraping the right vertical of Miami’s goal. Randall Leal warned at minute 61 that he was coming for more and inside the area after a great pass from Hany, fired, but his shot went wide. Miami found theirs after a weak take-off from Joe Willis and Gonzalo Higuain in excellent combination with Rodolfo Pizarro in front of the area, finishing strong and down for the discount score.
In the 69th minute Leal with a creeping cross shot inside the area scored the third after a huge recovery by Jack Maher who then combined with Alex Muyl to assist Leal. Alistair Johnston closed the account deservedly after closing the gap at the far post almost under the frame to finish up a great play by Daniel Lovitz with Jhonder Cádiz who crossed a great pass for Johnston to score his first MLS goal.
A huge road win for the Boys in Gold to confirm their second place in the MLS East and continue to make their way to the MLS playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Before 13,033 fans at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, this is how we saw Nashville SC:
Joe Willis (1): Even with the game controlled, Joe’s save at 52 was worth leaving his frame without goals, but his subsequent error at the start changed everything.
Alistair Johnston (12): His great cross to Hany for the first goal started it all and he finished off his great game with his first MLS goal. Huge match for the Canadian!
Jack Maher (5): Moderate, safe, without much fuss, he managed to play his game and even got a great ball recovery to co-assist Leal for the fourth goal.
Walker Zimmerman (25): He rounded off a great game that was crowned with a simple: Golazo!
Dave Romney (4): Safe in his coverage and standing on the edge of the large area, he continues to add minutes with great regularity and security to his playing time.
Daniel Lovitz (2): He saved Nashville from the tying goal against Higuaín’s shot and always added on offense.
Dax McCarty (6): He closed all space in the half court and facilitated the offensive transition of Nashville with good control of the ball.
Anibal Godoy (20): Coupling with Dax he managed to venture in a good way offensively and thus obtained his grand prize after his perfect assist to Zimmerman for the second.
Hany Mukhtar (10): His 11th goal came in great form and at the right moment. His definition with the third of NSC’s goals showed his great moment of shape. MVP’s tone is new music in Nashville.
Randall Leal (8): He showed very early that his place is still as a starter, it was a headache for Miami from his side of the ball. Randall’s involvement in Nashville’s goals highlights his great game.
“At that moment, we needed a goal. (Inter Miami CF) had scored their first goal, it was 3-1, so we knew that in that moment I had to take that challenge. I was sure that if I could shoot, I would score, and that is what happened. I felt very good, players like me and (Aníbal) Godoy are normally on the national team so we need to know that sometimes we have to leave the team for 15 days, sometimes 20, and that we need to be ready to go when we come back. It’s great, although we lost the last game, we knew that we needed to win this game. We did, we get to enjoy for today, and now we get ready for Chicago (Fire FC) on Sunday.”
C J Sapong (17): His two early options heralded something better for the scorer and although he did not score, his dynamics were essential for the final result.
Jhonder Cádiz (99): His great pass to Johnston for the last goal is a sample that he has much more, although his opportunities are scarce.
Alex Muyl (19): He came in well for Hany and ran the right wing in both directions complicating Miami’s response possibilities. Great assist to Randall for the third of NSC’s goals.
Ake Loba (72): Without much to mention, he still needs more minutes to show his game.
Luke Haakenson (26): In a few minutes he showed poise and control and that he may be an option for more minutes on the pitch and even had his chance at the end of the game.
Coach Gary Smith: The coach knew that at least the last performance (loss in Toronto) could not be repeated and changed his tactical drawing returning to a three back line with Maher, Zimmerman and Romney. This change allowed Nashville to gain a defensive balance that resulted in game control in time and space, but also freed figures like Aníbal Godoy who felt more coverage behind his back to venture into regular offensive trips. The change of system also allowed Gary to add other players to the front and proof of this that all his defenders had something to do with the goals scored. Gary is right to be pleased with the team’s performance and much more with the effectiveness against the opposition goal. Beyond the huge victory on the road, Gary Smith achieved a tactical balance on a difficult away court in this game that was as desirable as it was difficult to achieve.
“Certainly, the best performance away from home of the season. Goes without saying, a response needed, as I said on the broadcast after the game after last week’s defeat. We came here knowing this was going to be a tough game having lost in a real heartbreak fashion the last time we were here, and it’s never easy to play against this group. To score five goals and win as resoundingly as we have tonight I think makes a bit of a statement from where we sit for, you know, our intentions to be in the postseason. I think a lot of people will be saying, ‘well, you’re not far away from them already.’ You’ve gotta get there. It [doesn’t] just happen. You don’t just get there. You’ve got to earn it, and tonight we earned it.”
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