(NashvilleSC.com, 11.04.20)

NASHVILLE — Playoff-bound Nashville SC (7W-7L-8D, 1.32 ppg.) saw its nine-match home unbeaten streak come to an end in a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas (9W-5L-7D, 1.62 ppg.) on Wednesday night at Nissan Stadium. It was Dallas’ first victory in a four-match season series that the Boys in Gold got the best of with a 2W-1L-1D record.

Nashville’s first loss at home since the team’s Major League Soccer debut on Feb. 29 against Atlanta United ended their six-match scoring streak.

With Sunday’s MLS Decision Day 2020 presented by AT&T on the horizon, Head Coach Gary Smith decided to make four changes from Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chicago Fire FC. Nashville now sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, level on points per game with the New York Red Bulls but behind on the wins tiebreaker.

Maestro Godoy
Midfielder Aníbal Godoy held down the center of the field with aplomb against Dallas. His stability was crucial in Nashville holding 55.5% of the ball in the match. In addition, he made 10 recoveries, five interceptions, two tackles, one key pass, one dribble and one defense-splitting ball to Dan Lovitz in the 65th minute that was slightly too far ahead of the left-back to redirect into the center of the box. He even won a match-high five fouls on the night, showing how good he was with the ball at his feet.

Zimmerman Impressive Against Former Club
Walker Zimmerman solidified his case for MLS Defender of the Year with his performance against his first MLS team. He made seven recoveries, one clearance, one interception and one tackle on the defensive end. He even completed a dribble and had two shots.

Willis Shows Quality
Despite not being able to extend his shutouts to 10 on the season, Joe Willis, who currently leads all MLS goalkeepers with nine clean sheets still put on the performance fans have come to expect from him this season. He made five saves, including two difficult ones in quick succession in the first half. The first came in the 16th minute when he dove low to his left to deny Andrés Ricaurte, and the second occurred when Willis reacted to save a point-blank header from 17-year-old striker Ricardo Pepi.

Playoff Scenarios
Nashville currently sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference going into Sunday’s Decision Day, presented by AT&T. The club can only finished in sixth, seventh or eighth place in the standings, and will require a win, a two-goal difference, and help from other results around the league to bypass the play-in round and face the third-placed team in the standings.