Nashville SC vs. FC Dallas | 2020 MLS Match Preview

FC Dallas seek first goal, win vs. Nashville SC

NSH-DAL Week 20

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 20
Nashville SC vs. FC Dallas
Nissan Stadium – Nashville
October 20 – 8:30 PM ET


TV: FS1, FOX Deportes, TSN 3/5


STREAMING: FOX Sports App


Nashville SC will look to stretch an unbeaten streak against FC Dallas to three games when the sides face off Tuesday night at Nissan Stadium.


Nashville SC (5W-6L-6D) snapped a four-match winless streak with a 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo that moved the expansion side to eighth in the Eastern Conference, two points above the playoff line. FC Dallas (6W-4L-6D) also picked up their first win in their last five games with a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City. 


This is the third meeting between the teams this regular season, and first in the Music City. Nashville SC earned their first-ever MLS win with a 1-0 victory in Frisco August 12 with David Accam scoring the winner four minutes from time. The teams then played to a 0-0 draw at Toyota Stadium five days later. 


Nashville SC


Hany Mukhtar struck for a brace and Abu Danladi added a goal as Nashville SC raced out of the gate to take a three-goal lead in the opening 23 minutes en route to a 3-1 win over the Dynamo at BBVA Stadium. 


Designated Player Jhonder Cadiz made his debut with a 20-minute substitute appearance. 


"Once he gets a little sharper and more up to speed you can see he’s got that trick and disguise to go beyond someone and turn the pace," Gary Smith said after the match. "Everything that we all saw in Jhonder, I think he’s soaring in very small doses there and he’s obviously he’s not fully fit athletically, but it’s great to see him in the group."


With a slow start to their inaugural season behind them, the playoffs are within reach. Nashville even have a magic number in mind.


“The analytic background work that has been done — of course is extremely difficult in a season that is so unnatural to be perfect about any number — that we need to hit but that [26 points] seems to be a bit of a benchmark for the group,” Smith said.

Nashville SC vs. FC Dallas | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Updated team roster
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Ken Tribbett (D) - calf injury
    • OUT: David Accam (M) - undisclosed injury
    • OUT: Dom Badji (M) - undisclosed injury
    • OUT: Hany Mukhtar (M) - undisclosed injury
  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution: None
  • International duty: None


FC Dallas


Ryan Hollingshead capped a well-worked team goal with a back-post finish to lift FC Dallas to a 1-0 win over Sporting KC 


"We need to be ready to go to Nashville because they took points from us at here home and that hurt us," Luchi Gonzalez said after the match. "We want to get those back."

Nashville SC vs. FC Dallas | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Updated team roster
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Paxton Pomykal (M) - hip injury
    • OUT: Santiago Mosquera (M) - undisclosed injury
    • OUT: Matt Hedges (D) - undisclosed injury
  • Suspended: Michael Barrios (M)
  • Suspended after next caution: None
  • International duty:  None


Series Matchup at Nashville SC


  • This is the first all-time meeting between Nashville SC and FC Dallas at Nissan Stadium.


Officials


  • Referee: Silviu Petrescu
  • Assistant Referees: Kathryn Nesbitt, Walter Heatherly
  • 4th Official: David Gantar
  • VAR: Drew Fischer