Nashville set for final match of seven-game away streak

Nashville SC is gearing up to face the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday for the first time ever. 

The Major League Soccer expansion side joined the Eastern Conference in 2020, limiting their scope of Western Conference rivals. But now, the two will face off at Pay Pal park to make league history. 

The Coyotes head into the match with a 3-2-1 record, a solid statistic given their lengthy away stretch. Now, they enter their final match on the road before at last heading home. 

And while San Jose remains the only winless side in the American league, players know they will not make for an easy opponent. 

“You kind of get in that routine, that rhythm of playing on the road. You know it’s going to be an uphill battle every week, you know it’s going to be difficult with all the challenges that being on the road presents,” said Walker Zimmerman. 

“If you don’t take points on the road, it’s going to be difficult to make the playoffs. Even though we know we have a great record at home, these road games are so important.

"To try and get some momentum heading into these home games is also huge. The fact we won the last two is big, but hopefully we can get some results in the next two weeks that'll make it where we’re going to be a ball that’s rolling downhill come May 1.”

The team currently boasts a two-game winning streak after between Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City. 

“For us, we need to win at home the most games possible because we have now eight games on the road,” said Panama international midfielder Anibal Godoy.

“We take really good points to try and come here, these next two weeks to win enough for when we have so many games here at home. For sure if we win here at home we go to playoffs, we know no doubt.”