Defender Shaq Moore Scored His First-Career MLS Goal to Secure the Victory

Nashville SC Improves to 4W-1L-5D at GEODIS Park in 2024 across all Competitions

The Boys in Gold Return to GEODIS Park Saturday, May 18 versus Atlanta United FC for MLS Rivalry Week and Active-Duty and Veterans Appreciation Day

Nashville Soccer Club defeated Toronto FC 2-0 Wednesday night at GEODIS Park led by defender Shaq Moore’s first-career MLS goal and Teal Bunbury’s third goal of the season. The club is now 4W-1L-5D at home in 2024 across all competitions.

No. 1 Hit: In just his second match back from injury, Moore scored his first-career MLS goal in the 81st minute to give the Boys in Gold the 1-0 lead. Defender Walker Zimmerman registered his first assist of the season.

Totally Tubular Teal: With his stoppage time goal on 90’s Night, Bunbury became the fourth active player to reach 75 career MLS regular season goals. He has now recorded six goals and one assist in his career against Toronto FC, and 11 regular season goals as a Boy in Gold.

10K Gold: Nashville SC’s all-time leading scorer Hany Mukhtar became just the second outfield player in club history to surpass the 10,000 minutes played mark Wednesday night (also Dan Lovitz). Goalkeeper Joe Willis has also accomplished the feat.

Next up: The Boys in Gold will play their second match in four days this weekend when Atlanta United FC visits GEODIS Park on Saturday, May 18 at 12:30 p.m. CT presented by Renasant for MLS Rivalry Week presented by Continental Tire. Following the match, which serves as Active-Duty and Veterans Appreciation Day, Nashville SC’s Special Olympics Unified Team will face off against Atlanta United FC’s Unified Team on the GEODIS Park pitch. Tickets are available here.

Match Timeline:

NSH 81’: Walker Zimmerman receives a ball from Aníbal Godoy, heads it towards the box to find a waiting Shaq Moore who finds the goal

NSH 90’ + 1: Tyler Boyd finds Teal Bunbury on a cross, and Bunbury slots it into the back of the net

Notes:

  • Nashville SC:
    • is on a two-match win streak at GEODIS Park (last 5/4/24 vs. MTL)
    • is 11W-2L-6D all-time in May
    • owns a 35W-26L-34D all-time record against Eastern Conference opponents
    • improved its record against Canadian MLS sides to 8W-2L-6D all-time
    • recorded its second shutout of the season
    • recorded 1.79 expected goals (xG) to Toronto’s 0.53 xG
    • recorded 90% passing accuracy
    • has allowed only one goal at GEODIS park this month
  • Head Coach Gary Smith is one win away from 50 regular season victories with Nashville SC
  • Tyler Boyd recorded his second assist of the season
  • Teal Bunbury
    • recorded his third goal of the season
    • became the fourth active player to reach 75 career regular season MLS goals
  • Shaq Moore
    • recorded his first career MLS goal
    • led the team with 0.73 expected goals (xG)
    • made his second consecutive appearance after returning from injury on May 11 at Charlotte FC
    • won Man of the Match
  • Hany Mukhtar became the second outfield player and third player in Nashville SC history to reach 10,000 regular season minutes as a Boy in Gold (also, goalkeeper Joe Willis, defender Dan Lovitz)
  • Jacob Shaffelburg recorded his 50th MLS appearance as a Boy in Gold (regular season + playoffs)
  • Joe Willis recorded two saves for his second clean sheet of the MLS season
  • Dru Yearwood is the only Nashville SC player to have started all 12 MLS matches
  • Walker Zimmerman
    • recorded his sixth assist as a Boy in Gold and first of the 2024 season
    • led the team with three clearances
    • made his fourth consecutive appearance after returning from injury on April 27 against the San Jose Earthquakes

Box Score:

Nashville SC (3W-4L-5D) vs. Toronto FC (6W-6L-1D)

May 15, 2024 – GEODIS Park

Final Score:

NSH: 2

TOR: 0

Scoring Summary:

NSH: Shaq Moore (A: Walker Zimmerman) 81’

NSH: Teal Bunbury (A: Tyler Boyd) 90+1’

Discipline:

NSH: Dru Yearwood (Caution) 36’

TOR: Kosi Thompson (Caution) 59’

NSH: Tyler Boyd (Caution) 86’ 

Lineups:

NSH Starters: Joe Willis; Jack Maher, Josh Bauer, Walker Zimmerman (C); Hany Mukhtar, Jacob Shaffelburg (Taylor Washington 60’), Dru Yearwood (Tyler Boyd 46’), Alex Muyl (Brian Anunga 66’), Aníbal Godoy, Sean Davis (Shaq Moore 46’); Sam Surridge (Teal Bunbury 88’)

Substitutes: Elliot Panicco, Dan Lovitz, Amar Sejdić, Brent Kallman

TOR Starters: Luka Gavran; Aime Mabika, Nicksoen Gomis, Sigurd Rosted, Raoul Petretta (C); Matty Longstaff, Derrick Etienne Jr. (Charlie Staniland 76’), Alonso Coello (Deybi Flores 60’), Deandre Kerr (Lorenzo Insigne 60’), Kosi Thompson; Tyrese Spicer (Kobe Franklin 76’)

Substitutes: Cassius Mailula, Greg Ranjitsingh, Charlie Sharp, Jesus Batiz,

Match Officials:

Referee: Marcos DeOliveira

AR1: Cameron Blanchard

AR2: Meghan Mullen

4TH: Matthew Thompson

VAR: David Barrie

AVAR: Jozef Batko

Weather: Partly cloudy, 69 degrees

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 defied 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 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. The Boys in Gold again qualified for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in both 2022 and 2023, becoming just the third team in league history to reach the postseason during the team’s first four years in existence. Nashville SC inaugurated GEODIS Park, the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States and Canada, in front of a sellout crowd of 30,109 on May 1, 2022. For more information, visit NashvilleSC.com and follow the club at @NashvilleSC on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and Spotify.