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Nashville SC unable to hang with Seattle Sounders in 3-0 loss on the road
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- Nashville SC unable to hang with Seattle Sounders in 3-0 loss on the road
The last time Nashville SC ventured to the Pacific Northwest, it gave up four goals in 11 minutes and lost 4-1 to the Portland Timbers in one of its ugliest losses of 2024.
Its latest game out West didn't go much better.
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Nashville (4-4-1, 13 points) lost 3-0 to the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field on April 19, allowing three goals in a 15-minute first-half span for its third defeat in four games. Despite beginning the game with their top offensive players, Albert Rusnak and Jordan Morris , on the bench, the Sounders (3-3-3, 12 points) torched a Nashville SC defense which came into the match tied for the third-fewest goals allowed in MLS with eight.
For the second consecutive game, Nashville played without defender Walker Zimmerman , who suffered a concussion in a loss to Charlotte FC on April 5 and is still working through concussion protocol. Zimmerman's presence might not have made a difference against a Sounders attack that hummed from the 20th minute on.
Danny Musovski , Pedro de la Vega and Paul Rothrock scored goals for Seattle, which remained unbeaten at home in 2025.
Nashville returns home to face the Chicago Fire at Geodis Park on April 26.
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Brutal first half
Nashville started the game well, pressing Seattle deep in their half of the field and earning a couple half-chances. But Musovski's back-heel flick past Joe Willis opened the floodgates.
The Sounders pounced on some poorly timed slip-ups by Nashville to score their next two goals. Ahmed Qasem lost the ball in his own half, leading to de la Vega's strike in the 30th minute. de la Vega ran unmarked into Nashville's penalty box, just as Rothrock did when he scored four minutes later to push Seattle's lead to 3-0.
"I don't think we held our defensive shape well enough," Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan said. "The wide areas, they dominated us there. ... Give Seattle a lot of credit. As much as we didn't have our best game, I thought they played really well."
Apr 19, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Sounders defender Yeimar Gomez (28) knocks Nashville SC forward Ahmed Qasem (37) to the turf during the first half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
West Coast struggles
Nashville has lost its last three road games against Western Conference opponents. It's been outscored 12-1 in those games, including last July's loss to Portland and a franchise-worst 5-0 defeat at Los Angeles FC on March 23, 2024.
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Nashville's next trip to the West Coast is July 25 against San Diego FC , an expansion team in its inaugural season.
Chris Applewhite makes MLS debut
Center back Chris Applewhite became the youngest player to appear in a game for Nashville SC when he came on as a substitute in the 81st minute. Applewhite, 17, signed the third homegrown player contract in club history in January and became the second homegrown to appear in an official game. Midfielder Isaiah Jones became the first last July.
U.S. OPEN CUP: Nashville SC to host Chattanooga Red Wolves in U.S. Open Cup round of 32 on May 6
Applewhite had been named to the matchday roster three times before making his debut against Seattle. He's also started two games for Huntsville City FC, Nashville's MLS Next Pro affiliate.
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"Anytime we can get a young player into the group, it's an opportunity," Callaghan said. "It's something that Chris has earned. ... For his first time playing, he made a good first impression."
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC falls to Seattle Sounders 3-0 at Lumen Field
