Nashville SC earned a valuable clean sheet in the first leg of its Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal matchup with Mexican giant Club América on Tuesday night at GEODIS Park, holding the visitors to almost no opportunities and depriving them a vital away goal in a tense 0-0 draw. Just as they did in the Round of 16, the Boys in Gold look to advance on the road a week from now in a winner-take-all second leg.
The Boys in Gold dominated the early stages of the first half Tuesday. A relentless team-wide press — highlighted by Warren Madrigal, who hounded the box throughout — forced the América back line into numerousmistakes and lost possessions, many of which resulted in shooting opportunities.
The best of these chances occurred within 10 minutes of play, when Hany Mukhtar feinted over the ball and fizzed an effort goalward, which was parried away just far enough that Sam Surridge couldn’t catch up to it. The ensuing corner almost resulted in a goal as well, with Patrick Yazbek’s curling effort on the edge of the 18 sailing inches over the bar. Surridge went close two other times shortly thereafter, once with a chip that floated over the net and again with a backpedaling header.
The visitors maintained some longer spells of possession amidst Nashville’s control. But the Boys in Gold’s energy and skill at reclaiming the ball meant most of the opening 45 was played on the home side’s terms, quickly strangling any of América’s counterattacks before one of Andy Najar or Cristian Espinoza received the ball on the right wing to cannon it forward. Much as in both the first round against Atlético Ottawa and the Round of 16 against Inter Miami, the base of Nashville’s midfield was the primary node of control. Yazbek and Matthew Corcoran marshalled the game with their heads-up passing and calmness under pressure, allowing them to break through América’s lines and create space for its army of on-rushing attackers.
América held firm as Nashville heaped on pressure throughout the first half, with its only opportunity of note a low-driven Alejandro Zendejas shot from the edge of the box which goalkeeper Brian Schwake handled comfortably. That sent both teams into the locker room goalless, setting the stage for a dynamic second 45.
América emerged a re-energized bunch, forcing Nashville deeper into its own half to stop its intricate passing sequences. But the Boys in Gold kept pushing for an opener, exploiting gaps in the visitors’ defense on the counter on numerous occasions. Surridge, again, had a pair of chances to break the deadlock, twice receiving the ball on the far-left edge of the box before shooting just high and getting dragged down, respectively.
Chances continued to befall the home side, but América stood tall for each, denying any meaningful entries into the box beyond Surridge’s couple opportunities. The match slowed from that point forward, with tired legs on both sides all but confirming the draw.
Nashville will play three successive matches away from home before returning to GEODIS Park on April 25, heading to Charlotte FC in MLS league play on Saturday ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg in Mexico City.
