Nashville Soccer Club will open the 2022 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs this Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. CT against the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. Saturday marks the third consecutive season Nashville SC reached the playoffs for its third consecutive year, after overcoming its most challenging season thus far in which the club set records for wins in a season with 13 and wins on the road with seven.
Starting at 12:30 p.m. CT, Nashville SC will host an official watch party at the North Plaza outside of GEODIS Park. In anticipation of Saturday’s 2 p.m. kickoff, fans will be able to enjoy food and drinks, games and giveaways as well as purchase the latest gear available at the official Nashville SC Team Store. Fans are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to watch the match on the North Plaza Lawn. RSVP is required by clicking here.
Earlier today, General Manager Mike Jacobs spoke to the media about the club’s achievement of clinching its third playoff berth. Goalkeeper Joe Willis met with the media and discussed what he expects from a talented LA Galaxy offense and what will take for Nashville SC to advance to the Conference Semifinals.
Willis is coming off a career match in which he recorded a personal best 14 saves against LAFC on Decision Day. Willis’ 14 saves tied the all-time MLS record for most saves in a single match without allowing a goal (Zach Wells in 2005 and Aidan Heaney in 1996). Earlier this season, Willis earned a penalty save against LA Galaxy after stopping Javier “Chicharito” Hernández from the spot.
Nashville SC has proven to be among the elite expansion sides in league history after becoming one of five teams to reach the playoffs in its first three seasons (Chicago Fire, Seattle Sounders FC, Atlanta United FC and LAFC).
Saturday will mark the first playoff appearance for Nashville SC as a member of the Western Conference following previous spells in the East in 2020 and ‘21. Nashville SC has never lost in regulation time in the playoffs. In 2020 and 2021, Nashville SC concluded its playoff run in the Conference Semifinal Rounds falling to the Columbus in extra time and to Philadelphia Union in penalties, respectively.
Landon Donovan MLS MVP frontrunner Hany Mukhtar officially secured the 2022 MLS Golden Boot, presented by Audi after scoring a league-high 23 goals this season. The German was presented the Golden Boot trophy earlier this week at the club’s training facility after becoming the first Nashville SC player and first German player in league history to win the award.
Mukhtar’s 23 goals are a single-season club record and the most by an MLS player in a single season since 2019. The Golden Boot winner, who also finished at the helm of the league in goal contributions with 34, accounted for 44.2% of Nashville’s goals (23 of 52) in 2022, which is the highest percentage in MLS this season.
Nashville SC has gotten the job done on the road this season, setting a club record seven road wins away from Music City. The Boys in Gold have not lost a road contest since July 9 and scored more road goals this season (22) than any season prior. Nashville SC allowed just 20 goals away from GEODIS Park this season, the lowest total in the Western Conference and finished in a tie with LAFC and Austin FC by accumulating the most points on the road of any team in the Western Conference.
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.
