NashvilleSC.com, 10.06.20)

NASHVILLE  — Nashville Soccer Club (4W-5L-6D, 18 pts.) extended its unbeaten streak at Nissan Stadium to six (3W-0L-3D) as the Boys in Gold held Minnesota United FC (6W-5L-5D, 23 pts.) to a scoreless draw on Tuesday night in front of 3,478 fans, the club’s first home crowd since Feb. 29.

The draw moved Nashville up to eighth place in the Eastern Conference, two spots above the playoff line, with the Boys in Gold earning points in eight of their last nine matches. Goalkeeper Joe Willis and his backline posted Nashville’s second consecutive clean sheet, extending Willis’ career-high to seven in one single season.

Head Coach Gary Smith reworked the formation that was seen in Nashville’s last match against New England. He fielded the same backline while Dax McCarty and Randall Leal ran point in the midfield. Defensive midfielders Matt LaGrassa and Tah Brian Anunga flanked McCarty with Alex Muyl and Derrick Jones putting the pressure up top. The narrower midfield created plenty of space for defenders Dan Lovitz and Alistair Johnston to get in on Nashville’s attacks down the wing. The stalwart defensive midfielders combined for an 86% pass completion rate and effectively shut down one of the league’s strongest attacking duos in Minnesota’s Emanuel Reynoso and Kevin Molino.

The compact midfield helped Smith’s side hold firm defensively, and Nashville’s passing patterns looked aggressive and encouraging throughout the 90 minutes. However, the team couldn’t find the final touch needed to clinch all three points against the fourth-place team in the Western Conference.

Hot Start
Nashville SC controlled the first half with 57.1% of possession and eight shots. Alex Muyl saw one of the best chances of the first half on the six-yard box saved by goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair in the 26th minute. Three minutes later, the ball escaped Muyl’s feet after center back José Aja hit him with a high shoulder on the edge of the box, and winger Randall Leal latched onto it and sent the ball into St. Clair’s outstretched arms. The diamond formation led to quick ball movement from defense to attack, and defender Walker Zimmerman along midfielder Dax McCarty made plenty of aggressive forward passes to break Minnesota’s defensive lines.

Willis The Wall
Willis put in another reliable performance between the sticks for Nashville extending his career-high shutout in a single season to seven. He had a busy second half, saving attempts from defender Michael Boxall, midfielder Ethan Finlay, midfielder Hassani Dotson and defender Bakaye Dibassy between the 60th and 80th minutes.

More Stingy Defense
Tonight’s clean sheet was a team effort. The usual group of Dan Lovitz, Dave Romney, Walker Zimmerman and Alistair Johnston consistently broke up Minnesota’s attack. Left-back Lovitz made a crucial, perfectly-timed last-ditch challenge in the box to prevent winger Molino from shooting on Willis in the 39th minute, and had another important one against Reynoso on the edge of the box with about 10 minutes left in the match. He and right-back Johnston provided the width throughout the 90 minutes and Zimmerman and Romney mopped up just about every loose touch and misplaced pass that came their way.