MLS is Back Tournament
Group A, Matchday 1
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando FL.
Wed, July 8 – 10:30 PM ET
Coming back from the break to the MLS 2020 Regular Season that was forced by the coronavirus pandemic, the second match of the tournament taking place in “the bubble” in Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando will take place between two sides from Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference.
Expansion team Nashville SC is coming to its inaugural season with heavy talent such as Walker Zimmerman that transferred to Nashville after two seasons in LAFC and the five previous ones in FC Dallas. One of the strongest center backs in the league, Zimmerman also made history by scoring Nashville’s first goal against at Atlanta United on Week 1, however that wasn’t enough to overcome Atlanta’s powerful attack, which handed Nashville a 2-1 loss at its first game.
Nashville SC’s midfield looks fortified, as Zimmerman is joined by MLS veteran Dax McCarty that spend three seasons with New York Red Bulls, followed by another three with opposition Chicago Fire before transferring to Nashville. And the yellow and blacks also have Anibal Godoy, the Panama international midfielder has been a key figure in San Jose Earthquakes and played there for five seasons before landing at Nashville.
More interesting players to watch at the new expansion side from Nashville are designated players Randall Leal, and German midfielder Hany Mukhtar. Nashville SC will come to this match looking for its first win, as Week 2 before the season was shut didn’t go well for them, with a 1-0 loss to Portland Timbers on the road.
Everything is pretty new for Chicago Fire FC as well, with Joe Mansueto buying the team in September, and bringing along a new executive team including new Coach Raphael Wicky, new home ground (Soldier Field), and even a brand new logo.
Some Chicago Fire’s new squad includes Spanish midfielder Alvaro Medran, Slovenian forward Robert Beric, Argentine winger Ignacio Aliseda and Serbian midfielder Luka Stajanovic.
On their debut with Chicago went on the road to face reining MLS Champions Seattle Sounders on Week 1 before the MLS 2020 Season was forced to shut down, newcomer Medran was involved in setting up an assist that found another Fire newbe Beric who scored his first MLS goal. But Seattle fought back and eventually won 2-1.
Going on the road again to play against a long-time Eastern Conference foe, New England Revolution, Chicago Fire faced the Revs at Gillette Stadium on Week 2, but managed to get a 1-1 draw with a goal in the second half.
The two MLS Eastern Conference teams will be looking to get a win and start building momentum, Nashville SC looking for its first ever win, and Chicago Fire FC looking for its first win under the new ownership and brand.
It will be especially interesting to see how Nashville’s Dax McCarty will do against his old club.