MLS Decision Day Match, presented by Captain Morgan, Featuring Nashville SC’s Fan Appreciation Night

Fans Can Follow the Action on the MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV App, and on 104.5 The Zone for Radio

Nashville Soccer Club (13W-10L-10D, 49 pts.) will conclude its 2023 regular season with a Decision Day match against the New York Red Bulls (10W-13L-10D, 40 pts.) on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. CT.

Saturday’s Decision Day matchup marks the fourth regular season meeting between the Boys in Gold and New York Red Bulls. Nashville SC holds a 0W-1L-2D record against the Red Bulls in series history, and this weekend’s matchup is the first time at GEODIS Park. RBNY’s only previous visit to Music City resulted in a 1-1 draw at Nissan Stadium in a Decision Day matchup in November 2021. This weekend’s clash will mark the second time Nashville SC has faced off with the Red Bulls on Decision Day in the club’s four-season history.

Earlier today, Head Coach Gary Smith and Midfielder Sean Davis previewed Saturday’s match with the media. Smith and Davis both emphasized Nashville SC’s form entering Saturday after two important results against Philadelphia Union and New England Revolution. Davis also discussed the similarities of this Decision Day matchup between Nashville SC and RBNY and the Decision Day matchup between the two sides in 2021 when he was still on the RBNY squad.

Decision Day has major post-season implications for each squad. Pending Saturday’s results, Nashville SC can rise as high as the fifth seed in the East for the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Boys in Gold sit in the seventh position and will open their playoff run in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 series. Nashville SC will look to gain three valuable points with a win to advance higher in the Eastern Conference standings, eyeing sixth place as it sits just one point shy with 49 points. RBNY is situated one point behind eighth-place CF Montréal and are tied with Chicago Fire FC for the ninth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. New York Red Bulls must win to secure an Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoff berth.

The Boys in Gold are entering Decision Day after a multi-goal win (3-2) over New England Revolution on Saturday, Oct. 14. Seven Boys in Gold were involved in running up the goal tally, with Dax McCarty scoring his first goal since September 2021 and Sam Surridge turning his debut MLS goal into his first league brace. Hany Mukhtar, Jacob Shaffelburg, Dan Lovitz and Shaq Moore all contributed with assists. Nashville SC will look to continue this dominance in the attack through Decision Day.

Nashville SC will continue to balance its attack with its staunch defense, allowing only 12 goals at GEODIS Park in 16 regular season home games, averaging 0.75 goals allowed per match. The backline has allowed the fewest goals in the league this season (31) and is tied for the third-most clean sheets with 11.

This weekend’s final regular season home match also serves as Nashville SC’s Fan Appreciation Night. The club has hosted over one million soccer fans throughout the past two seasons and will recognize this milestone by honoring a randomly selected fan upon their entrance by presenting them a commemorative platinum record, symbolizing the achievement of one million album sales in the music industry. Additionally, the first 10,000 fans through GEODIS Park’s doors will receive a Captain Morgan rally towel and a poster featuring the official 2023 team photo Additionally, fans can enjoy a family friendly party featuring a DJ, food trucks, drink options, and fun activities for fans of all ages to thank Nashville SC’s supporters for consistently packing out GEODIS Park to cheer on the Boys in Gold during the 2023 regular season.

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Nashville SC joined Major League Soccer on Feb. 29, 2020 in front of the largest attendance ever recorded for a soccer match in the State of Tennessee. In its inaugural MLS season, Nashville SC defeated expectations by becoming the second MLS expansion side to win and advance to the Conference Semifinals in the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Nashville SC returned to the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in its sophomore season after becoming just the seventh team in MLS history to go unbeaten at home in a season. Nashville SC inaugurated GEODIS Park, the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States and Canada, in front of a 30,109-sellout crowd on May 1, 2022. For more information, visit NashvilleSC.com and follow the club at @NashvilleSC on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Spotify.