arrived in Mexico Metropolis the day earlier than the second leg of its CONCACAF Champions Cup collection vs. Membership América. It on April 14, overcoming the challenges of enjoying 7,200 toes above sea degree to turn into the primary MLS facet . At 7 a.m., the staff flew again to Nashville.
As tough as it’s to succeed in the semifinals of North America’s premier membership competitors, navigating the MLS season on the similar time isn’t for the faint of coronary heart. With an off-day and two days of coaching after coming back from Mexico, Nashville (6-1-1, 19 factors) rotated and at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 18.
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It had the makings of a entice sport — a drained staff coming off an emotional, milestone victory may have simply neglected Atlanta, which got here in twelfth within the Japanese Convention. But Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan fielded principally the identical gamers that obtained the win at Azteca and watched them take aside their Southern rivals in methodical vogue.
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Nashville SC vs Membership America photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 7, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar (10) shoots the ball by way of the legs of Membership America midfielder Rodrigo Dourado (17) in an try to attain throughout their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match at Geodis Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Photos
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Nashville SC vs Membership America photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 7, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar (10) shoots the ball by way of the legs of Membership America midfielder Rodrigo Dourado (17) in an try to attain throughout their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match at Geodis Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Photos
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Nashville SC vs Membership America photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 07: Hany Mukhtar #10 of Nashville SC reacts to a play in the course of the first half of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinals towards América at GEODIS Park on April 07, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Picture by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Photos)
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Nashville SC vs Membership America photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 07: Reed Baker-Whiting #27 of Nashville SC heads the ball on web in the course of the first half of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinals towards América at GEODIS Park on April 07, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Picture by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Photos)
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Nashville SC vs Membership America photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 07: Cristian Espinoza #7 of Nashville SC reacts to a play in the course of the first half of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinals towards Membership América at GEODIS Park on April 07, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Picture by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Photos)
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Nashville SC vs Membership America photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 7, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville SC ahead Sam Surridge (9) seems to cross the ball throughout their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match towards Membership America at Geodis Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Photos
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Nashville SC vs Membership America photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 7, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Cristian Espinoza (7) drives the ball as Membership America defender Miguel Vazquez (32) approaches him throughout their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match at Geodis Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Photos
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Nashville SC vs Membership America photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 7, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar (10) dribbles the ball previous Membership America midfielder Erick Sanchez (28) throughout their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match at Geodis Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Photos
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Nashville SC vs Membership America photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 07: Cristian Espinoza #7 of Nashville SC reacts to a play in the course of the first half of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinals towards Membership América at GEODIS Park on April 07, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Picture by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Photos)
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Nashville SC vs Membership America photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 07: A basic view of Geodis Park previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinals between Nashville SC and Membership América on April 07, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Picture by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Photos)
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“It took us a short time to get our footing,” Callaghan stated. “It has been an actual grind for the entire staff over the past week and 10 days, however credit score to the mentality of the group to discover a strategy to win.”
Atlanta (1-6-1, 4 factors) created just a few mildly threatening probabilities over the primary half-hour earlier than Nashville discovered its circulate. It ended up with six pictures on objective, holding Atlanta with out one, and attacked relentlessly in transition when it discovered area to take action.
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obtained Nashville on the board within the 61st minute, burying his shot into the far nook of the online after shuttled him the ball on the counterattack. Nashville scored in related vogue in stoppage time. Mukhtar obtained the ball after a protracted clearance from Espinoza, dribbled in area down the center and handed to , who beat Atlanta goalkeeper to seal the win.
“First, it is how effectively we’re defending the penalty field,” Callaghan stated. “A number of these interceptions and turnovers and transitions begin with the again line and (goalkeeper ) and the 2 middle midfielders simply actually digging deep and successful tackles, intercepting, successful duels. And when there’s area out on the sphere, I feel that is one of many areas the place we’re actually robust.”
Shak Mohammed scores first MLS objective
Mohammed’s objective was his first MLS objective, and it got here in his first regular-season look for Nashville. The 22-year-old winger from was the No. 2 general choose within the 2023 SuperDraft by , and performed in 4 video games for the Lions in three seasons earlier than in January.
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Mohammed had an help in Nashville’s within the Champions Cup first spherical in February, and scored three objectives in his first three video games for MLS Subsequent Professional affiliate Huntsville Metropolis.
“Shak’s simply an unbelievable particular person and unbelievable teammate,” Callaghan stated. “He is been coaching at a extremely excessive degree. The coaching floor is the place you get your alternatives to play, and whenever you get your alternative to play, you gotta take advantage of it. That is the story for him.”
Nashville simply completed a run of 5 matches in 15 days, its second such stretch of the season. Contributions from gamers like Mohammed are among the many greatest causes it has gotten by way of these stretches with just one loss.
And NSC quickly will start a 3rd stretch of 5 in 15, internet hosting on April 25 earlier than the primary leg of its CCC semifinal collection towards Tigres UANL three days later.
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“It is a cultural factor that the entire group has constructed,” Mohammed stated. ” . . . Our tradition is predicated on successful, and everybody has purchased into it.”