Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC
Nashville SC’s 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup run ended in an unflattering fashion Wednesday night as Inter Miami CF topped the Boys in Gold 3-1, winning 5-3 on aggregate.
An interesting formation deployment backfired horribly for Gary Smith’s group in the first half as Miami’s Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi lit up the scoreboard in the 8′ and 23′ minutes, and considering Nashville’s offensive struggles overall, that scoreline proved too much to overcome even before the home side added a third score in the second half.
Nashville was able to threaten at the end of the first half and the opening minutes of the second half but earned nothing to show for it apart from a majestic Dan Lovtiz volley attempt that thundered off the woodwork.
Halftime substitute Sam Surridge was able to get a goal back for Nashville in the 90+3′ minute, but it was far too late for Nashville who return home to host Charlotte FC on Saturday.
Here are three takeaways from the match:
Back Three Disaster
Nashville SC lined up in a 3-5-3 to begin the match with a backline that featured Dan Lovitz as the left center-back, Lukas MacNaughton in the middle and Shaq Moore as the right center-back. Taylor Washington and Alex Muyl lined up as wing-backs on either side of the formation, and Tyler Boyd was forced into false-nine position up top once again as Surridge continues to regain his fitness and was not selected to start the match.
The back three decision with only one true center-back in the mix was a head-scratcher when the lineup dropped an hour before kickoff, and it proved to be a horrific tactical error. Walker Zimmerman is still making his way back from injury and played heavy minutes last week for Nashville, so is absense is understandable. However, the decision to not play CB Jack Maher has gone unexplained to this point.
Suárez, Messi, and Gomez repeatedly tore through the middle of Nashville’s defense with ease, leaving Joe Willis on an island to stop shot after shot. Every time Miami broke, it seemed they were going to score. In addition, Washington and Muyl were non-existent on the wings and were subbed off at halftime in favor of Surridge and Josh Bauer. Nashville then reverted to its usual four-in-the-back system where the club then began to play its way into the match, controlling the ball and earning much better looks on the attack.
Let’s just say I don’t think we will see a backline of made up solely of Lovitz, MacNaughton and Moore anytime soon.
The Two Standouts
It’s easy to say the two best players on the evening for Nashville were the man that scored its only goal and the player credited with the assist, but that’s what we’re going to do here. Sam Surridge entering play at halftime completely transformed Nashville’s offense.
Prior to halftime, Nashville had essentially nothing working in the middle of the pitch. The plan was to send Jacob Shaffelburg and Hany Mukhtar running down the flanks and to get on the end of long balls, and when they did, there was no one to get the ball to in the center.
When Surridge came on, that all changed. Nashville had a presence inside the Miami 18 and began to feed a steady helping of crosses to the Englishman in dangerous areas. Ultimately, it was a ball by Moore who found Surridge for Nashville’s only goal of the contest in the 90+3′ minute.
Moore won 60% of his duels, made eight recoveries, and looked dangerous throughout the match to put together a strong individual performance in what was otherwise another lackluster offensive showing for Nashville.
Finally Some Rest
Perhaps one of few silver linings on the evening is the fact that Nashville will finally get the chance to catch its breath. The club has averaged one match every three days since the beginning of the 2024 season (seven matches over a 21-day span), and during that stretch, Nashville suffered injuries to arguably its three most important players in Mukhtar, Zimmerman and Surridge.
While questions are beginning to swirl regarding Gary Smith’s job security, the true quality of Nashville’s defense and its failure to consistently score, give the squad through next week to recuperate and get healthy as time finally allows it.
Then, we can talk about the dramatics.
