NASHVILLE – Toronto FC extended its unbeaten run to six games and Nashville SC posted its fifth shutout of the season as the two teams battled to a 0-0 draw in MLS play Saturday.
Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis made two late game-saving saves — stopping a Federico Bernardeschi free kick in the 81st minute and a Jonathan Osorio threat in the 85th at GEODIS Park. And Michael Bradley’s header off a Bernardeschi corner in stoppage time flashed just high.
Toronto (1-1-5) has won once and recorded five draws since conceding goals in the 90th and 98th minute in a season-opening 3-2 loss at D.C. United. Its three clean sheets in seven games match last season’s total. But hampered by injuries in attack, it has scored just eight goals in seven games.
Nashville (3-2-2) has conceded just two goals this season, the fewest in the league.
Toronto was without marquee winger Lorenzo Insigne for the sixth game in a row. The Italian has not played since hobbling off in the 34th minute of the Feb. 25 season-opener with a groin problem.
Former TFC winger Jacob Shaffelburg was in the Nashville starting lineup for the sixth time in seven games this season.
The 23-year-old from Port William, N.S., came into Saturday’s game with four goals in 13 regular-season outings with Nashville. He had three in 47 league games with Toronto.
Toronto had 62.8 per cent of possession in the first half with Nashville content to wait for a counterattack. Neither strategy produced much with both teams managing just one shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
Both sides looked to their attacking talisman to lead the way: German attacking midfielder Hany Mukhtar for Nashville and Bernardeschi for Toronto.
Nashville, which has yet to concede a goal in the first half this season, had gone 31 games without losing when scoring first in a match — a streak that dates back to August 2021.
Toronto, meanwhile, has had little success away from home in recent times. It is 2-12-7 on the road in league play since the start of the 2022 season, meaning it had picked up just 13 of a possible 63 points away from BMO Field.
The home side had a chance to go ahead in the first minute only to see C.J. Sapong’s powerful header hit Toronto centre back Matt Hedges flush in the face. The veteran defender finished out the half but was replaced at the break by Lukas McNaughton, making his first appearance of the season.
At the other end, former Toronto and Montreal fullback Daniel Lovitz made a saving tackle on an onrushing Mark-Anthony Kaye in the Nashville penalty box in the 25th minute.
Nashville winger Fafa Picault was yellow carded for a nasty challenge on Richie Laryea in the 34th minute. Toronto fullback Raoul Petretta, for a challenge on Shaffelburg that involved a knee in the back, and Osorio, much to his shock for not retreating from a Nashville free kick, were also cautioned in the first half.
Willis almost dug a hole for himself in the 56th minute with a poor clearance but Toronto’s Brandon Servania lost his footing and could not take advantage.
Willis made a fine save on Laryea in the 74th after the fullback was put through by Bernardeschi.
Bernardeschi has also carried much of the offensive load for Toronto this season. The 29-year-old Italian has been involved in 10 of Toronto’s last 17 MLS goals (seven goals, three assists) dating back to Aug. 27, 2022.
He had two free kicks from good positions earlier Saturday but failed to find the target on either.
Mukhtar, with one goal and three assists coming into Saturday’s game, had been involved in four of Nashville’s six goals this season.
The 2022 league MVP, with 44 goals and 30 assists in four seasons with the club, had been involved in more than half of Nashville’s all-time regular-season goals (74 of 137).
Toronto coach Bob Bradley made two changes to his starting 11 with Petretta returning after a two-game absence and Deandre Kerr replacing Ayo Akinola at forward.
Captain Michael Bradley made his 298th appearance for Toronto in all competitions, second only to Osorio (324).
TFC was without Norwegian striker Adama Diomande (hamstring) and fullback Cristian Gutierrez (non-COVID illness).
Nashville was missing Costa Rican international defender Randall Leal (lower body) and defender Nick DePuy (out for the season after Achilles surgery).
There was a moment of silence before the game in memory of the victims of the Covenant School mass shooting March 27 in Nashville.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2023.
