Time running out for Nashville, Revs to make playoff push

Field Level Media|published: Fri 27th September, 16:47 2024

Sep 21, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Jonathan Perez (24) stops a ball from going out of bounds in the first half of the match against FC Cincinnati at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Casey Gower-Imagn Images

Still battling to get over the playoff line, Nashville SC will try to extend their unbeaten streak when they visit the New England Revolution on Saturday in Foxborough, Mass.

Nashville (8-13-9, 33 points) is tied for 11th place with Atlanta United in the crowded Eastern Conference, three points behind the ninth-place Philadelphia Union for the final postseason berth. Plenty of work remains over Nashville's final four regular-season matches, but Nashville SC have revived their playoff hopes with a 2-0-1 record in their last three outings.

Last Saturday's 2-2 draw with second-place FC Cincinnati saw Nashville escape with a point despite Cincinnati's big advantages in possession (64.5 percent) and shots (14-7).

"If we want to make the playoffs, we are going to be playing against teams like Cincinnati," midfielder Jonathan Perez said. "So I think it really shows where we're at and what we can do against those top teams."

The situation is more dire for the Revolution (8-17-4, 28 points), who are in last place in the East. New England is 0-3-2 in its last five matches and another loss on Saturday would all but officially end the Revs' postseason chances.

The winless drought hit a low point in last Saturday's 4-0 loss to Charlotte FC, which matched the Revolution's largest margin of defeat this season. Dylan Borrero was ejected for a red card in the 70th minute, and teammates Carles Gil and Xavier Arreaga got into a scuffle at the end of the first half.

"This is a sport that brings frustration when the result does not show like you want to," Arreaga said. "That's exactly what happened in the last couple games. ... Now we need to look forward and try to win this week and try to get the goal."

New England is 4-7-4 at home this season, and tied for the second-fewest home points (16) of any MLS team.

The Revolution hold two wins over Nashville SC in all competitions this season. New England earned a 2-1 victory in Nashville on June 1 in regular-season action, and the Revs also defeated Nashville via penalty kicks in the group stage of the Leagues Cup on Aug. 6.

--Field Level Media

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