NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville SC kicked off their 2025 MLS campaign with a 0-0 draw against New England Revolution on Saturday night at Geodis Park. While they couldn't find a goal, their performance showed the improvements they've already made under new head coach BJ Callaghan.
The XI
With midfielders Gastón Brugman, Patrick Yazbek and Bryan Acosta out injured, BJ Callaghan was forced into a roll of the dice. 2024 MLS SuperDraft pick Wyatt Meyer started in midfield just a day after signing his first professional contract. He partnered Matthew Corcoran, who became the youngest player to start a match for Nashville at just 19 years, five days old.
Nashville SC Starting XI vs New England Revolution Willis; Lovitz, Maher, Zimmerman ©, Najar; Meyer, Corcoran; Muyl, Tagseth; Surridge, Mukhtar BENCH: Schwake, Palacios, Bunbury, Bauer, Washington, Pérez, Qasem, O'Brien, Sipić
— SixOneFive Soccer (@sixonefivesoccer.com) 2025-02-23T00:39:32.552Z
Newly-signed U22 Initiative winger Ahmed Qasem was a surprise inclusion on the bench after receiving his work visa this weekend, and made his debut late in the match.
On the pitch
Nashville started and finished the match with the type if intensity that BJ Callaghan had promised since taking over. The home side had the momentum early, cycling the ball aggressively around New England's penalty area, but struggling to find openings through an organized Revolution defense.
Sam Surridge had several tasty chances, testing Aljaz Ivačić a few times with headers from close range, and finding the net in the second half on a goal that was called back for offside on Hany Mukhtar.
Here's the sequence leading to Sam Surridge's disallowed goal. 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 tight offside call, but a great bit of play. Great ball from Wyatt Meyer, too, who did not look like a center back playing out of position in midfield on his professional debut.
— Ben Wright (@benwright) February 23, 2025
pic.twitter.com/OhDvf8pFs4
"From the camera angles available, the VAR did not see evidence of a clear and obvious error by the assistant referee," the Professional Referee's Organization said in response to the post-match pool reporter question. "Therefore, a review was not recommended."
Revolution winger Ignatius Ganago also put the ballin the back of the net, and also saw his goal pulled back via the offside flag. His, however, was much clearer, several feet ahead of the last defender when the ball was played.
Both sides threw numbers forward late in the match, but neither were able to find a breakthrough, ultimately sharing a point each.
The big picture
Nashville showed plenty of promise in their opener, but couldn't put together the finished product, either. They moved the ball much more efficiently into the final third, but couldn't quite turn that possession into clear looks at goal, aside from the Surridge headers. Even those didn't quite live up to what Callaghan expects.
"I thought the control in the build up was good. The movement was good. I think we were able to get the ball side to side, open up some spaces, and then kind of play through," Callaghan said post-match. "We want to be a little less cross-reliant. We probably put in a few crosses that we might have been able to sustain in the attack and try to open up a couple of different passes that might lead us into the penalty box."
With seven players out injured, including projected midfield starters Gastón Brugman, Patrick Yazbek and Bryan Acosta, Wyatt Meyer and Matt Corcoran stood out in their MLS debuts.
Meyer, a center back at the collegiate level, started in midfield in his first professional game. Corcoran partnered him five days after his 19th birthday, becoming the youngest player to start a match for Nashville.
"It's easy to say things, but to go put Wyatt Meyer, to go put Matt Corcoran on the field. I think it's something that all Nashville fans can be proud of," said Callaghan. "It's a look into what the future can look like."
It wasn't the finished product by any means from Nashville, but it was a step in the right direction and showed much of the potential the group has as they try to move into a new era.
Up next
Nashville will travel to New Jersey to take on the New York Red Bulls next Saturday at 6:30 pm CT. The Red Bulls fell 1-0 on the road to FC Cincinnati in their season opener.
Post-match quotes
Stats
Possession: NSH 51% - 49 % NE
Passes completed: NSH 422 - 412 NE
Shots: NSH 13 - 11 NE
Shots on goal: NSH 3 - 2 NE
Penalty kicks: NSH 0 – 0 NE
Expected goals: NSH 1.57 - 0.41 NE
Goals: NSH 0 - 0 NE
Fouls: NSH 14 - 10 NE
Yellow cards: NSH 1 - 2 NE
Red cards: NSH 0 – 0 NE
