In a huge game for both clubs, Nashville SC traveled to Red Bull Arena and grabbed a 1-0 win against the Montreal Impact to close in on a place in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs courtesy of a lone goal from Randall Leal.
Nashville SC opened the scoring in the 33rd minute thanks to Alex Muyl's quick thinking. Fouled by Jukka Raitala, Muyl played the free kick quickly and located Leal who outran the Impact backline for his teammate's through pass. The Costa Rica international found himself through on goal and beat Clement Diop to break the ice with his third goal of the season.
Nashville came inches away from a second goal, and a second in as many matches for Walker Zimmerman in the 64th minute. From a free kick situation, the center back rose at the far post and produced a header that looked destined to find the net before Joel Waterman kept Montreal alive with a clearance off the line to keep the score at 1-0.
Montreal had a close call to tie the game up at the 84th minute. Quioto made a superb run on the left flank to reach the end of a Bojan through pass. The Honduran muscled his way and scored but was found offside on the play as Nashville's resolute defense held firm.
Goals
- 33' — NSH — Randall Leal | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: With the win, Nashville SC successfully distanced themselves from the Impact in the Eastern Conference standings and hopped over the New York Red Bulls to grab the seventh spot in the East. It would now take something extraordinary for the expansion club to miss out on a spot in the playoffs. It's a different story for the Impact, who lost a second straight game against a direct playoff opponent and now have two games left to try and clinch their ticket to the playoffs.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Alex Muyl caught the Impact off guard, taking a quick free kick and perfectly finding Randall Leal to grab the game's only goal.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Randall Leal teamed up with Alex Muyl to score a crucial goal and the Costa Rican caused plenty of trouble for the Impact backline until subbing off in the 86th minute.
Up Next
- MTL: Sunday, November 1 vs Orlando City SC (7:30 pm ET | MLS Live on ESPN+ in US; TSN, TVA Sports in Canada)
- NSH: Saturday, October 31 vs Chicago Fire FC (8:30 pm ET | MLS Live on ESPN+ in US; MLS Live on DAZN in Canada)
