Nashville SC faced a daunting challenge in Tuesday’s Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal against Club America.
Playing at 7,200-foot altitude in Mexico City, the Boys in Gold met a storied club backed by partisan fans in the massive Estadio Azteca (capacity just under 90,000), the largest soccer-specific stadium in North America.
On the line was a berth in the Champions Cup semifinals, as NSC and Club America had played to a scoreless draw in the first leg of the two-game series at Geodis Park.
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Just to make things even more difficult, Nashville was without striker Sam Surridge, the team’s leading scorer, who missed the contest due to a hamstring injury.
Against the odds, NSC recorded what is likely the most impressive win in the franchise’s seven-year history, knocking off Club America — a seven-time winner of this tournament — 1-0 and advancing to a semifinal matchup against the winner of the Seattle Sounders FC vs. Tigres UANL series.
The result marked the first time a Major League Soccer team had emerged victorious in Estadio Azteca, as Mexican clubs had previously posted a 5-0-1 record against MLS squads in the historic venue, which opened in 1966.
It was the second straight milestone victory in this tournament for NSC, as Nashville had knocked out superstar Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF in the previous round.
In the absence of Surridge, it was Hany Mukhtar — a former MLS MVP and the face of the franchise — who scored the decisive goal for Nashville.
The lone tally occurred in the 51st minute, after Nashville center back Jeisson Palacios won a crucial challenge on the NSC side of the field.
Following Nashville SC’s German-born player — a star on and off the pitch
The ball eventually found its way to midfielder Cristian Espinoza, whose pass at the top of the Club America penalty box split two defenders. Mukhtar collected the ball and hammered a shot over Club America goalie Rodolfo Cota, striking his traditional saluting celebration afterward.
Palacios’ winning challenge wasn’t the only vital play he made in the contest, as the Colombian native cleared a ball out of the goalmouth in the 74th minute. An opposing cross had sailed over the outstretched hands of Nashville goalie Brian Schwake, and Club America’s Raul Zuniga appeared poised to score a tying goal before Palacios interceded.
That was the last strong scoring opportunity for Club America, who outshot NSC 18-7 and placed nine shots on goal to two for Nashville. Striker Alex Zendejas came closest to scoring for Club America, as he rang a shot off the goalpost in the 21st minute.
The hosts were desperate in the late going, needing a 2-1 win to advance.
Concacaf’s first tiebreaker in these two-game series is away goals, so a 1-1 finish on Tuesday — after the teams had played to a scoreless tie in Nashville — would also have allowed the Boys in Gold to advance.
It’s shaping up to be quite a season for NSC, currently leading MLS’ Eastern Conference with a record of 5-1-1.
Nashville has advanced to the Champions Cup semifinal round for the first time in club history, and will look to take the next step in a series beginning the week of April 27. The first leg of the Champions Cup semifinal will be played at Geodis Park.
NSC returns to MLS action Saturday with a game at Atlanta United FC.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
