Looking to stay unbeaten at home, Nashville hosts Montreal

Surprising Nashville SC will aim for a fourth straight victory on their home pitch Saturday when they host CF Montreal.

Nashville (3-1-5, 14 points) rallied from a pair of one-goal deficits to edge Toronto FC in dramatic fashion on Wednesday to remain unbeaten at home in six games this season.

Second-year midfielder Luke Haakenson came off the bench to score the tying goal in the 83rd minute and the winning goal two minutes into extra time, giving the club its fourth come-from-behind victory this season.

The two goals were the first of Haakenson’s career and improved Nashville’s home record to 3-0-3.

“He’s come into the game and he’s made all of the difference,” coach Gary Smith told the Nashville Post. “What Luke’s been able to do over the past six to eight weeks, he has got himself some minutes on the field through some incredible, hard work during the midweek, shown fabulous signs of improvement.”

Nashville has kept every game close, not allowing more than two goals in a game all season.

Question marks abound for Montreal’s (3-3-3, 12 points) lineup. On Wednesday, goalkeeper Clement Diop injured his right leg during stoppage time of the club’s 0-0 draw against D.C. United.

With Montreal out of substitutes and being down to 10 men, Diop stayed in the match despite being unable to put weight on the leg. He completed his third clean sheet of the season, but backup James Pantemis is expected to start Saturday.

Wilfried Nancy’s squad will be without defender Zorhan Bassong and midfielder Victor Wanyama against Nashville, both of whom are suspended. Bassong was assessed a red card at the end of the first half of Wednesday’s match while Wanyama will sit for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Forward Romell Quioto could be available after missing the past two games with a hip injury. Forward Erik Hurtado and defender Joel Waterman are uncertain to play due to injury.

“Nashville is a team that doesn’t change the way they play,” Nancy said. “They’re a team that’s very aggressive on crosses, so we’re going to have to be very good. … We know we’ll have our chances to score and we’re going to have to be much sharper in relation to that.

“We expect a game in their home where they’ll try to put a lot of intensity. We have to match that intensity.”

–Field Level Media