Randall Leal converted a penalty kick in the 85th minute to help host Nashville SC salvage a 1-1 draw against the Philadelphia Union on Sunday in the opening of Geodis Park.
The 30,000-seat venue is the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States or Canada.
Joe Willis made four saves to help Nashville SC (3-3-3, 12 points) extend their home unbeaten streak to 20 matches dating back to a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas on Nov. 4, 2020.
Mikael Uhre scored in the 66th minute and Andre Blake turned aside five shots for the Union (5-1-3, 18 points), who surrendered 13 corner kicks en route to seeing their winless stretch extend to three matches (0-1-2).
Nashville SC pressed for the equalizer in the late stages before Philadelphia’s Jose Martinez was whistled for a hand ball in the penalty area. Blake, who was shown a yellow card for refusing to stay on the line, guessed right on the penalty kick but was unable to deny Leal’s blast inside the left post.
The goal was Leal’s first of the season.
An apparent miscommunication by Nashville SC’s Sean Davis and Hany Mukhtar led to an opportunity on the counterattack for Philadelphia in the 66th minute. Uhre chased down a through ball from Daniel Gazdag and sidestepped Nashville SC defender Walker Zimmerman before cutting back and sending a shot in the net.
Nashville SC appeared to feed off the emotion of the crowd and nearly opened the scoring on a number of occasions.
Dax McCarty’s blast from outside the box caromed off the left post in the fifth minute.
From there, Blake stood tall to keep the match scoreless. The two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year extended his leg to make a save on Alex Muyl from in close in the 23rd minute before making a two-handed stop on Mukhtar in the 30th.
–Field Level Media
Los Angeles FC are unbeaten at home this season, but the Portland Timbers believe they can pull an upset on Saturday based on the teams’ first meeting two weeks ago….
Sporting Kansas City, unbeaten in their past four regular-season road matches, will try to keep that streak alive on Saturday night when they face old rival Minnesota United in Saint…
Struggling to find form as the 2024 MLS season reaches the one-third mark, the San Jose Earthquakes visit Nashville SC on Saturday as both clubs try to turn around the…
SKC strive to extend dominant run vs. Minnesota
Earthquakes, Nashville SC both struggling entering matchup
Reeling FC Dallas hope for better days in Derby match vs. Dynamo
Atlanta United trying to protect leads, take aim at Fire