prides itself on being a next-man-up workforce. If one participant is unavailable, there’s at all times somebody able to fill his sneakers.
For some groups, it is cliché. However below coach B.J. Callaghan, Nashville has typically confirmed it true. It is received with closely rotated sides in MLS play this season, together with a on March 14. When it grew to become the , it did so with out ahead , who was out with a hamstring harm.
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Nashville could not overcome one other absence from Surridge within the first leg of its CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal sequence towards , on April 28 at Geodis Park. The defeat places NSC in a deep gap going into the second leg on Could 5 in , the place it might want to win to stave off elimination and advance to the ultimate.
“We’re not going to take something away from Tigres,” Callaghan stated. “They had been rather well organized, had a superb recreation plan, and so they completed their possibilities. On the similar time, we’re most likely a little bit bit pissed off that perhaps we did not play our greatest as a gaggle.”
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Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Tigres UANL midfielder Juan Brunetta (11) shoots the ball through the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals recreation towards Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Pictures
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Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Tigres UANL midfielder Juan Brunetta (11) shoots the ball through the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals recreation towards Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Pictures
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Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville SC goalkeeper Brian Schwake (99) makes a save as Tigres UANL ahead Rodrigo Aguirre (17) assaults and Nashville SC defender Jeisson Palacios (4) defends through the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals recreation at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Pictures
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Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Tigres UANL have fun after a aim by ahead Angel Correa (7) through the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals recreation towards Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Pictures
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Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 28: Ángel Correa #7 of Tigres UANL celebrates with Francisco Reyes #2 after scoring a aim through the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup towards Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Pictures)
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Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 28: Rodrigo Aguirre #17 of Tigres UANL and Jeisson Palacios #4 of Nashville SC battle for place through the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Pictures)
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Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 28: Maxwell Woledzi #3 and Brian Schwake #99 of Nashville SC react to a play through the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup towards Tigres UANL at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Pictures)
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Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 28: Ángel Correa #7 of Tigres UANL celebrates after scoring a aim through the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup towards Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Pictures)
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Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Gamers and followers are cleared from the stands and area resulting from close by lightning strikes within the space simply earlier than the beginning of the Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals between Nashville SC and Tigres UANL at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Pictures
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Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photographs in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Apr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Gamers and followers are cleared from the stands and area resulting from close by lightning strikes within the space simply earlier than the beginning of the Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals between Nashville SC and Tigres UANL at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Poizner-Imagn Pictures
How Sam Surridge’s absence affected Nashville SC
Surridge, who’s unrelated to his earlier ailment, is week-to-week. In his place, Nashville began , who’s had a stable first season in MLS with two objectives and three assists.
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However Madrigal was unable to make a lot of an influence in a recreation the place Callaghan believed Nashville relied too closely on passes from large areas. Nashville tried 27 crosses within the match, per FotMob, and solely accomplished three (Tigres linked on 42% of their 12 crosses). Winger tried 16 crosses by himself, none of which had been profitable.
“They defended the large areas with numbers rather well and had numbers contained in the penalty field,” Callaghan stated. “We weren’t sharp sufficient within the center space to attract them out.”
Surridge is extra of a pure striker in comparison with Madrigal, whose finest attribute may be his versatility. He is additionally listed as two inches taller than Madrigal, making him extra of an aerial menace. The distinction may very well be seen on a pair of crosses halfway by the second half, the place Madrigal was open however the ball arrived only a bit too excessive.
“I believe the construction of our workforce is evident whether or not it is Sam, whether or not it is Warren, whether or not it is Woobens (Pacius),” stated midfielder . “Everyone knows the roles and what the obligations are. Clearly, lacking Sam is an enormous piece, as a result of he at all times finds a approach to put the ball behind the online. However that is what it’s, and we have seen we are able to get outcomes with Warren.”
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Eddi Tagseth leaves recreation with harm
Callaghan introduced Corcoran into the sport effectively earlier than he would have favored to. drew the beginning, as Callaghan hoped his presence would serve effectively in what he anticipated to be a fast-paced affair. However sustained what gave the impression to be a knee harm throughout a sort out and needed to come out of the sport within the 18th minute.
Callaghan did not have an replace on Tagseth after the sport.
“It was a extremely good recreation for anyone like Eddi and the partnership of him and Patrick (Yazbek),” Callaghan stated. “A recreation that we knew most likely early on was going to have numerous direct balls, second balls, transition moments, and that is the place he thrives.”
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Whereas Callaghan was proud of Corcoran’s efficiency, the 20-year-old took some blame for not closing down quick sufficient when Ángel Correa scored the sport’s lone aim within the thirty third minute.
“It was type of a damaged play,” Corcoran stated. “The ball type of bounced out late. Perhaps if I simply was a step or two faster.”
If it comes right down to it, Nashville believes it might probably win at El Volcán with out its main scorer and one in every of its most essential midfielders. It could want to not should attempt.