2020 Nashville SC season
# 2020 Nashville SC season

The 2020 Nashville SC season was the club's first season as an organization and its first season as a member of Major League Soccer, after two seasons in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship by a club of the same name.

Despite a brief stint in the Western Conference, the club moved to the Eastern Conference after the MLS is Back Tournament.

## Club

### Current roster

    As of October 21, 2020

| Squad no. | Name | Position(s) | Date of birth (age) | Previous club | Apps | Goals |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||
| 1 | Joe Willis | GK | (1988-08-10) August 10, 1988 (age 34) | Houston Dynamo | 23 | 0 |
| 28 | C. J. Cochran | GK | (1991-09-17) September 17, 1991 (age 31) | Oklahoma City Energy | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Elliot Panicco | GK | (1996-11-18) November 18, 1996 (age 26) | UNC Charlotte | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||
| 2 | Daniel Lovitz | DF | (1991-08-27) August 27, 1991 (age 31) | Montreal Impact | 21 | 1 |
| 3 | Jalil Anibaba | DF | (1988-10-19) October 19, 1988 (age 34) | New England Revolution | 12 | 0 |
| 4 | Dave Romney | DF | (1993-06-12) June 12, 1993 (age 30) | LA Galaxy | 23 | 1 |
| 5 | Miguel Nazarit | DF | (1997-05-20) May 20, 1997 (age 26) | Once Caldas | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Alistair Johnston | DF | (1998-10-08) October 8, 1998 (age 24) | Wake Forest University | 18 | 0 |
| 15 | Eric Miller | DF | (1993-01-15) January 15, 1993 (age 30) | New York City FC | 6 | 0 |
| 16 | Ken Tribbett | DF | (1992-08-25) August 25, 1992 (age 30) | Nashville SC (USL) | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Jack Maher (GA) | DF | (1999-10-28) October 28, 1999 (age 23) | Indiana University | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | Taylor Washington | DF | (1993-08-16) August 16, 1993 (age 29) | Nashville SC (USL) | 14 | 0 |
| 25 | Walker Zimmerman | DF | (1993-05-19) May 19, 1993 (age 30) | Los Angeles FC | 22 | 3 |
| 55 | Brayan Beckeles | DF | (1985-11-28) November 28, 1985 (age 37) | C.D. Olimpia | 2 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||
| 6 | Dax McCarty | MF | (1987-04-30) April 30, 1987 (age 36) | Chicago Fire FC | 21 | 1 |
| 8 | Randall Leal (DP) | FW/MF | (1997-01-14) January 14, 1997 (age 26) | Deportivo Saprissa | 21 | 3 |
| 10 | Hany Mukhtar (DP) | MF | (1995-03-21) March 21, 1995 (age 28) | Brøndby IF | 15 | 4 |
| 20 | Aníbal Godoy | MF/DF | (1990-02-10) February 10, 1990 (age 33) | San Jose Earthquakes | 20 | 1 |
| 21 | Derrick Jones (HG) | MF | (1997-03-03) March 3, 1997 (age 26) | Nashville SC (USL) | 18 | 0 |
| 22 | Matt LaGrassa | MF | (1993-01-27) January 27, 1993 (age 30) | Nashville SC (USL) | 8 | 0 |
| 27 | Tah Brian Anunga | MF | (1996-08-10) August 10, 1996 (age 26) | Charleston Battery | 14 | 0 |
| 29 | Alex Muyl (HG) | MF | (1995-09-30) September 30, 1995 (age 27) | New York Red Bulls | 18 | 0 |
| 70 | Handwalla Bwana (HG) | MF | (1999-06-25) June 25, 1999 (age 24) | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||
| 7 | Abu Danladi | FW | (1995-10-18) October 18, 1995 (age 27) | Minnesota United FC | 17 | 2 |
| 9 | Dominique Badji | FW | (1992-10-16) October 16, 1992 (age 30) | FC Dallas | 12 | 1 |
| 11 | David Accam | FW | (1990-09-28) September 28, 1990 (age 32) | Columbus Crew SC | 7 | 1 |
| 14 | Daniel Rios | FW | (1995-02-22) February 22, 1995 (age 28) | Nashville SC (USL) | 18 | 4 |
| 19 | Alan Winn | FW | (1996-02-18) February 18, 1996 (age 27) | Nashville SC (USL) | 7 | 0 |
| 99 | Jhonder Cadiz (DP) | FW | (1995-07-25) July 25, 1995 (age 28) | Dijon FCO | 7 | 2 |

## Roster transactions

### In

| # | Pos. | Player | Signed from | Details | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 14 | FW | Daniel Rios | C.D. Guadalajara | Free transfer | November 20, 2018 |
| 17 | FW | Cameron Lancaster | Louisville City FC | Free transfer | December 20, 2018 |
| 21 | MF | Derrick Jones | Philadelphia Union | Traded for $175,000 in GAM | May 1, 2019 |
| 11 | FW | David Accam | Columbus Crew SC | Traded for $300,000 in TAM, $100,000 in GAM | January 1, 2020 |
| 20 | MF | Anibal Godoy | San Jose Earthquakes | Traded for $650,000 in GAM | January 1, 2020 |
| 10 | MF | Hany Mukhtar | Brøndby IF | Transfer for $3,000,000, $100,000 in GAM to Seattle Sounders FC | August 27, 2019 |
| 8 | MF | Randall Leal | Deportivo Saprissa | Undisclosed transfer | September 6, 2019 |
| 6 | MF | Dax McCarty | Chicago Fire FC | Traded for 2nd round 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick, $50,000 in GAM, $50,000 in TAM | November 12, 2019 |
| 4 | DF | Dave Romney | LA Galaxy | Traded for $225,000 in GAM, additional $50,000 in GAM conditionally | November 12, 2019 |
| 1 | GK | Joe Willis | Houston Dynamo | Traded for Zarek Valentin, $75,000 in TAM | November 19, 2019 |
| 13 | GK | Adrian Zendejas | Sporting Kansas City | Traded for $50,000 in GAM, $125,000 in TAM, 2020 International roster spot | November 19, 2019 |
| 2 | DF | Daniel Lovitz | Montreal Impact | Traded for $50,000 in GAM, $50,000 in TAM, 2020 International roster spot | November 19, 2019 |
| 22 | MF | Matt LaGrassa | Nashville SC (USL) | Free transfer | November 22, 2019 |
| 16 | DF | Ken Tribbett | Nashville SC (USL) | Free transfer | November 22, 2019 |
| 23 | DF | Taylor Washington | Nashville SC (USL) | Free transfer | November 22, 2019 |
| 19 | FW | Alan Winn | Nashville SC (USL) | Free transfer | November 22, 2019 |
| 9 | FW | Dominique Badji | FC Dallas | Traded for $150,000 in GAM, $175,000 in TAM, additional $75,000 in GAM conditionally | December 2, 2019 |
| 94 | DF | Brayan Beckeles | C.D. Olimpia | Free transfer | December 4, 2019 |
| 5 | DF | Miguel Nazarit | Once Caldas | Free transfer | December 16, 2019 |
| 27 | MF | Tah Brian Anunga | Charleston Battery | Free transfer | January 15, 2020 |
| 25 | DF | Walker Zimmerman | LAFC | Traded for $950,000 in GAM, 2020 International roster spot, additional $300,000 in GAM conditionally | February 11, 2020 |
| 29 | MF | Alex Muyl | New York Red Bulls | Traded for 2020 and 2021 International roster spots, additional $50,000 in GAM conditionally | August 13, 2020 |
| 31 | GK | Brady Scott | FC Köln | Free transfer | August 17, 2020 |
| 99 | FW | Jhonder Cadiz | S.L. Benfica | Loan until June 2021 | September 8, 2020 |
| 28 | GK | C. J. Cochran | Oklahoma City Energy | Loan for the remainder of the 2020 Major League Soccer season | October 12, 2020 |
| 70 | MF | Handwalla Bwana | Seattle Sounders FC | Traded for Jimmy Medranda, $225,000 in GAM, additional $25,000 in GAM conditionally | October 21, 2020 |

### Out

| # | Pos. | Player | Signed by | Details | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| — | DF | Zarek Valentin | Houston Dynamo | Traded for Joe Willis | November 19, 2019 |
| — | FW | Brandon Vazquez | FC Cincinnati | Traded for $150,000 in TAM, $50,000 in GAM conditionally | November 19, 2019 |
| 17 | FW | Cameron Lancaster | Louisville City FC | On loan for the 2020 USL Championship season, move made permanent on November 19, 2020 | February 6, 2020 |
| 26 | MF | Luke Haakenson | Charlotte Independence | On loan for the 2020 USL Championship season | March 6, 2020 |
| 24 | FW | Tanner Dieterich | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | On loan for the 2020 USL League One season | August 7, 2020 |
| 31 | GK | Brady Scott | Sacramento Republic FC | On loan for the 2020 USL Championship season | August 24, 2020 |
| 13 | GK | Adrian Zendejas | Minnesota United FC | Traded for 4th Round 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick and up to $100,000 GAM conditionally | September 17, 2020 |
| 94 | DF | Jimmy Medranda | Seattle Sounders FC | Traded for Handwalla Bwana | October 21, 2020 |

Additional source for roster transaction dates:

### Re-Entry Draft pick

| Pick | Position | Player | Previous Club | Reference |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | DF | Eric Miller | New York City FC | |

### Expansion Draft picks

| Pick | Position | Player | Previous Club |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2 | FW | Abu Danladi | Minnesota United FC |
| 4 | DF | Zarek Valentin | Portland Timbers |
| 6 | DF | Jalil Anibaba | New England Revolution |
| 8 | FW | Brandon Vazquez | Atlanta United FC |
| 10 | MF/DF | Jimmy Medranda | Sporting Kansas City |

### SuperDraft picks

| Round | Position | Player | College |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 (2) | DF | Jack Maher | Indiana |
| 1 (11) | MF | Alistair Johnston | Wake Forest |
| 1 (13) | GK | Elliot Panicco | Charlotte |
| 2 (28) | MF | Tanner Dieterich | Clemson |
| 4 (80) | MF | Luke Haakenson | Creighton |

## Competitions

### Major League Soccer

**League tables**

**Eastern Conference**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Philadelphia Union | 23 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 44 | 20 | +24 | 47 | 2.04 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round and CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Toronto FC | 23 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 26 | +7 | 44 | 1.91 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round and CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | Columbus Crew SC (C) | 23 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 21 | +15 | 41 | 1.78 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round and CONCACAF Champions League |
| 4 | Orlando City SC | 23 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 40 | 25 | +15 | 41 | 1.78 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round and Leagues Cup |
| 5 | New York City FC | 23 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 37 | 25 | +12 | 39 | 1.70 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round and Leagues Cup |
| 6 | New York Red Bulls | 23 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 29 | 31 | −2 | 32 | 1.39 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |
| 7 | Nashville SC | 23 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 32 | 1.39 | Qualification for the Playoffs play-in round |
| 8 | New England Revolution | 23 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 25 | +1 | 32 | 1.39 | Qualification for the Playoffs play-in round |
| 9 | Montreal Impact | 23 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 33 | 43 | −10 | 26 | 1.13 | Qualification for the Playoffs play-in round |
| 10 | Inter Miami CF | 23 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 25 | 35 | −10 | 24 | 1.04 | Qualification for the Playoffs play-in round |
| 11 | Chicago Fire FC | 23 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 23 | 1.00 | |
| 12 | Atlanta United FC | 23 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 23 | 30 | −7 | 22 | 0.96 | Qualification for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 13 | D.C. United | 23 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 25 | 41 | −16 | 21 | 0.91 | |
| 14 | FC Cincinnati | 23 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 36 | −24 | 16 | 0.70 | |

* ↑ As Supporters' Shield winners
* 1 2 Canadian clubs could not qualify for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
* ↑ As 2020 Canadian Championship finalists (awarded by Canada Soccer)
* ↑ As MLS Cup 2020 champions
* ↑ On June 10, 2020, Major League Soccer announced that Nashville SC would switch from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference for the remainder of the 2020 season.
* ↑ As 2019 U.S. Open Cup champions

**League tables**

**Overall**

2020 MLS overall standings :

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 12 | Los Angeles FC | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 47 | 39 | +8 | 32 | 1.45 |
| 13 | New York Red Bulls | 23 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 29 | 31 | −2 | 32 | 1.39 |
| 14 | Nashville SC | 23 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 32 | 1.39 |
| 15 | New England Revolution | 23 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 25 | +1 | 32 | 1.39 |
| 16 | San Jose Earthquakes | 23 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 35 | 51 | −16 | 30 | 1.30 |

**Match results**

Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed

### U.S. Open Cup

As a new MLS club, Nashville was scheduled to enter the competition in the Third Round, to be played April 21–23. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic, however, forced the U.S. Soccer Federation to cancel the tournament on August 17, 2020.

