Offensive-minded FC Dallas, Nashville SC ready for clash

Well-rested Nashville SC will hope their offensive spark stays lit when they visit FC Dallas on Saturday night.

Nashville (1-0-0, 3 points) is off to their most explosive start to a season in club history, with 11 goals in their first three competitive fixtures. The Boys in Gold were afforded the luxury of resting key pieces of their high-powered frontline when they played on Tuesday. Nashville routed Atletico Ottawa 5-0 in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup-opening round en route to a 7-0 victory on aggregate.

"For us, we know when you compete in these tournaments that you're going to have to use your whole team," head coach B.J. Callaghan said after the win. "We're confident in our whole team, and you know, I think that competition brings out the best of everybody and the debuts that you saw tonight and the performances you saw tonight, I think, come from that, right?"

Woobens Pacius and Jordan Knight, both veterans of Nashville's Next Pro side Huntsville City FC, scored their first goals for the senior side over the two legs. Designated Players Sam Surridge (two goals) and Hany Mukhtar are expected to draw back into the lineup after scoring in Nashville's MLS season-opening 4-1 win over the New England Revolution. Offseason acquisitions Cristian Espinoza and Warren Madrigal will be likely to join them.

They will be pitted against a Dallas side (1-0-0, 3 points) who also won their first tilt of the season 3-2 over Toronto FC. Designated Player Petar Musa netted a brace, including the match-winner in the 74th minute. The Croatian international's well-timed header from the center of the box snuck past Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran at the near post.

"I see what I see every day and I've watched the league," head coach Eric Quill said when asked if he considered Musa to be the most underrated striker in MLS. "If you don't think this guy's a top nine in the league, you got to get your head checked."

Logan Farrington added a goal and an assist for Dallas.

The match will mark the teams' first encounter since June of 2023 -- a 2-1 win for Nashville.

--Field Level Media