Nashville SC 2023 soccer season
The 2023 Nashville SC season was the fourth season for Nashville SC as a member of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional soccer in the United States. After finishing the 2022 season with a playoff berth and a first round exit,[ 2] the club loaned out Designated Player and forward Aké Arnaud Loba to Mazatlán F.C. and made trades to add depth.[ 3] [ 4] Midfielder Hany Mukhtar had finished the previous season as the league's top goalscorer, earning the MLS Golden Boot with 23 goals, and was also won the most valuable player award .[ 5]
The club moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference for the 2023 season and played 34 regular season matches between February 25 and October 21.[ 6] The team opened their preseason training camp on January 9 in Tampa, Florida , and played several friendly matches in Florida.[ 7] Nashville SC also participated in the Leagues Cup , a knockout competition for all MLS and Liga MX clubs in July and August.[ 8] They finished as runners-up, hosting the Leagues Cup final against Inter Miami CF and losing in a penalty shootout .[ 9] The club entered the U.S. Open Cup in the third round and advanced to the Round of 16, where they were eliminated by Miami.[ 10] [ 11]
Nashville qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs —their fourth consecutive postseason—by finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference.[ 12] They were eliminated in the first round by Orlando City SC , losing the first two games in the best-of-three series by a 1–0 scoreline.[ 13]
Non-competitive matches
Preseason
During the preseason, Nashville SC had a 3–2–1 record.[ 14]
Competitive
Major League Soccer
Standings
Source:
MLS Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Source:
MLS Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
(V) Canadian Championship winner
Notes:
Match results
MLS Cup Playoffs
U.S. Open Cup
Leagues Cup
Central 4
Knockout stage
Players and staff
Roster
As of May 16, 2023[ 15] [ 16]
Squad no.
Name
Nationality
Position(s)
Date of birth (age)
Previous club
Notes
1
Joe Willis
United States
GK
(1988-08-10 ) August 10, 1988 (age 36)
Houston Dynamo FC
2
Daniel Lovitz
United States
DF
(1991-08-27 ) August 27, 1991 (age 33)
CF Montréal
3
Lukas MacNaughton
Canada
DF
(1995-03-08 ) March 8, 1995 (age 29)
Toronto FC
4
Nick DePuy
United States
DF
(1994-11-14 ) November 14, 1994 (age 30)
LA Galaxy
5
Jack Maher
United States
DF
(1999-10-28 ) October 28, 1999 (age 25)
Indiana Hoosiers
GA
6
Dax McCarty
United States
MF
(1987-04-30 ) April 30, 1987 (age 37)
Chicago Fire
7
Fafà Picault
United States
FW
(1991-02-23 ) February 23, 1991 (age 33)
Houston Dynamo
8
Randall Leal
Costa Rica
FW
(1997-01-14 ) January 14, 1997 (age 28)
Saprissa
10
Hany Mukhtar
Germany
MF
(1995-03-21 ) March 21, 1995 (age 29)
Brøndby
DP
11
Ethan Zubak
United States
FW
(1998-04-15 ) April 15, 1998 (age 26)
LA Galaxy
HG
12
Teal Bunbury
United States
FW
(1990-02-27 ) February 27, 1990 (age 34)
New England Revolution
13
Joey Skinner
United States
DF
(2003-03-28 ) March 28, 2003 (age 21)
Clemson Tigers
GA
14
Jacob Shaffelburg
Canada
FW
(1999-11-26 ) November 26, 1999 (age 25)
Toronto FC
16
Laurence Wyke
England
DF
(1996-09-20 ) September 20, 1996 (age 28)
Tampa Bay Rowdies
17
C. J. Sapong
United States
FW
(1988-12-27 ) December 27, 1988 (age 36)
Chicago Fire
Traded to Toronto FC on April 25, 2023.[ 17]
18
Shaq Moore
United States
DF
(1996-11-02 ) November 2, 1996 (age 28)
Tenerife
19
Alex Muyl
United States
MF
(1995-09-30 ) September 30, 1995 (age 29)
New York Red Bulls
HG
20
Aníbal Godoy
Panama
MF
(1990-02-10 ) February 10, 1990 (age 34)
San Jose Earthquakes
21
Ahmed Longmire
United States
DF
(1999-10-11 ) October 11, 1999 (age 25)
UCLA Bruins
22
Josh Bauer
United States
DF
(1998-07-22 ) July 22, 1998 (age 26)
Atlanta United FC
23
Taylor Washington
United States
DF
(1993-08-16 ) August 16, 1993 (age 31)
Nashville SC (USL)
24
Ján Greguš
Slovakia
MF
(1991-01-29 ) January 29, 1991 (age 34)
San Jose Earthquakes
25
Walker Zimmerman
United States
DF
(1993-05-19 ) May 19, 1993 (age 31)
Los Angeles FC
DP
26
Luke Haakenson
United States
MF
(1997-09-10 ) September 10, 1997 (age 27)
Creighton Bluejays
27
Brian Anunga
Cameroon
MF
(1996-08-10 ) August 10, 1996 (age 28)
Charleston Battery
28
Tyler Freeman
United States
FW
(2003-01-09 ) January 9, 2003 (age 22)
Loudoun United FC
29
Nebiyou Perry
United States
FW
(1999-10-02 ) October 2, 1999 (age 25)
Östersunds FK
30
Elliot Panicco
United States
GK
(1996-11-18 ) November 18, 1996 (age 28)
Charlotte 49ers
54
Sean Davis
United States
MF
(1993-02-08 ) February 8, 1993 (age 31)
New York Red Bulls
67
Ben Martino
United States
GK
(2002-09-13 ) September 13, 2002 (age 22)
Virginia Tech Hokies
HG
91
Kemy Amiche
France
MF
(2000-12-10 ) December 10, 2000 (age 24)
Campbell Fighting Camels
Coaching staff
As of May 16, 2023[ 18]
References
^ Kennedy, Paul (October 22, 2023). "MLS breaks attendance record" . Soccer America . Retrieved October 25, 2023 .
^ Hills, Drake (October 15, 2022). "Nashville SC 2022 season ends with 1-0 loss to LA Galaxy in MLS Cup Playoffs" . The Tennessean . Retrieved May 15, 2023 .
^ Bogert, Tom (February 19, 2023). "Nashville SC 2023 Season Preview" . MLSsoccer.com . Retrieved May 15, 2023 .
^ Hills, Drake (January 23, 2023). "Three key position battles to watch for Nashville SC in 2023 preseason" . The Tennessean . Retrieved May 15, 2023 .
^ "MLS MVP: Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar wins award in landslide" . ESPN . November 1, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2023 .
^ Hills, Drake (December 20, 2022). "Nashville SC MLS schedule 2023: Here's all 34 regular season games, starting Feb. 25" . The Tennessean . Retrieved May 15, 2023 .
^ "Nashville Soccer Club Announces 2023 Preseason Schedule" (Press release). Nashville SC. January 6, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023 .
^ Hills, Drake (March 9, 2023). "Nashville SC unveils 2023 Leagues Cup schedule for games vs. Colorado Rapids, Toluca" . The Tennessean . Retrieved May 15, 2023 .
^ Kaufman, Michelle (August 20, 2023). "Messi scores, Callender shines, Inter Miami wins Leagues Cup in 11-round PK shootout" . Miami Herald . Retrieved January 15, 2024 .
^ "2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Explained" . Nashville SC. April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023 .
^ Sklar, Sam (August 15, 2023). "Inter Miami, Lionel Messi to face Nashville SC on the road in Leagues Cup final" . Sun-Sentinel . Retrieved January 15, 2024 .
^ Shames, Jacob (October 27, 2023). "Why Nashville SC feels 'no stress' going into fourth MLS Cup Playoffs in four seasons" . The Tennessean . Retrieved January 15, 2024 .
^ Shames, Jacob (November 7, 2023). "Nashville SC eliminated from MLS Cup Playoffs after being shut out by Orlando City" . The Tennessean . Retrieved January 15, 2024 .
^ "2023 MLS Preseason Schedule and Results" . MLSsoccer.com . February 18, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023 .
^ "Nashville SC Roster" . NashvilleSC.com . Nashville SC. Retrieved May 16, 2023 .
^ "Nashville SC Roster" . The Athletic . Retrieved May 16, 2023 .
^ Mohr, Dani (April 25, 2023). "Nashville SC trades CJ Sapong in exchange for Toronto FC's Lukas MacNaughton" . The Tennessean . Retrieved May 16, 2023 .
^ "Technical Staff" . NashvilleSC.com . Retrieved May 16, 2023 .
External links
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National teams
League competitions (Men)
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League competitions (Women)
Cup competitions (Men)
Cup competitions (Women) Youth competitions