A pair of Western Conference sides who are both playoff-bound will square off on Sunday as Nashville SC visit Banc of California Stadium for the first time in their MLS history to battle Los Angeles FC.
Last weekend, the Black and Gold claimed their second-ever Supporters' Shield crown thanks to a 2-1 win versus the Portland Timbers, while the Boys in Gold dropped their previous encounter 2-1 against the Houston Dynamo.
Match preview
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The road to the MLS Cup for Steve Cherundolo and his team will run through Banc of California Stadium as LA extended its unbeaten streak to three straight games last weekend thanks to a goal deep into injury time.
With that victory and a defeat by the Philadelphia Union, they became only the third non-original MLS side to capture the Supporters' Shield in their first five seasons in this league, joining the Miami Fusion (2001) and the the 2019 edition of LAFC.
Now that this team have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, you have to fancy their chances of making a long post-season run and potentially going all the way.
That is because LA have won nine consecutive domestic contests at Banc of California Stadium, losing only once at home in the 2022 MLS campaign.
A victory this weekend would mark the first time that they have triumphed on Decision Day since 2019 and, at the same time, LAFC would set a new single-season record for wins by this franchise in a league campaign.
At times throughout the year, this team have struggled to cope with their opponents' speed out wide, leaving numerous openings on the wings, but they have been much more composed defending in their own third of the field, conceding the third-fewest amount of goals in MLS this season (37).
So far in 2022, Los Angeles have earned 22 more points than they managed a year ago, and should they collect a clean sheet on Sunday, it would tie a club record for the fewest goals conceded in a regular season.
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Among the strangest subplots this season has been the struggles of Nashville at home, as the Boys in Gold lost at GEODIS Park last Sunday for the fifth time this year.
That is five more defeats than this team suffered at Nissan Stadium in 2021 and three more than they had ever dropped in their first two regular seasons at their old venue.
Gary Smith's men head into this encounter having earned points in four successive road outings, and with a win or a draw this weekend, they would set a club record for the longest-ever unbeaten run away from home.
Their defeat versus the Dynamo was the first time in the last seven regular-season encounters that Nashville had conceded multiple goals over 90 minutes.
It dropped them down to fifth place in the Western Conference, as they currently trail the Los Angeles Galaxy by one victory for a home playoff game.
Nashville have not won a single match this season when conceding multiple goals, and have won only once all year when facing a deficit at the interval.
Despite their inconsistencies at home in 2022, Nashville have never missed the playoffs, becoming just the fifth team in league history to achieve that feat in their first three seasons.
Team News
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Denis Bouanga scored the winner for LAFC in the fifth minute of stoppage time at Providence Park, his first of the season, while Carlos Vela tallied his 12th of the year and Kellyn Acosta and Diego Palacios both had assists.
Cristian Arango, who leads LA with 16 goals this season, scored in their previous meeting with Nashville this year; Ryan Hollingshead assisted on that play and the winner came courtesy of Jose Cifuentes, who is currently tied for third on the team in scoring with Kwadwo Opoku (seven).
Jesus Murillo will be suspended for this encounter due to yellow card accumulation, while Franco Escobar is expected to miss this match because of a head injury.
Walker Zimmerman scored his fourth of the year for Nashville in their defeat to Houston, equalling his career high, Dax McCarty collected his 438th MLS cap, moving into second all-time in league history for outfield players, while Randall Leal and Jacob Shaffelburg led the team in shots attempted (four).
Daniel Lovitz had more passes completed than anyone for the Boys in Gold last weekend, Sean Davis has appeared in every MLS encounter for them in 2022 and MLS Golden Boot leader Hany Mukhtar saw his four-game scoring streak come to an end.
Anibal Godoy remains questionable with a left thigh injury, while Smith made one change to his starting 11 last Sunday with Walker Zimmerman replacing Jack Maher at centre-back.
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Palacios, Segura, Chiellini, Hollingshead; Blessing, Mendez, Cifuentes; Bouanga, Jennings, Bale
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Moore, Zimmerman, Romney, Lovitz; Leal, Davis, Haakenson, Shaffelburg; Sapong, Mukhtar
We say: Los Angeles FC 2-1 Nashville SC
It may be a nothing game for LA in the standings, but we expect the Black and Gold to dress many of their best players knowing they will have a lengthy break before opening the MLS Cup playoffs.
Nashville have been stingier on the backline of late, but much of their offence has been built around Mukhtar, while the depth of LA we feel is just a little better.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
