Toronto FC eye third straight win over Nashville SC

Toronto FC are unbeaten in five straight matches but must keep from dropping more points.

Meanwhile, Nashville SC are still looking to post consecutive wins in 2023.

Toronto aims to extend that undefeated stretch while trying for a third straight victory over host Nashville on Saturday night.

Though Toronto (1-1-4, 7 points) has not lost since opening with a 3-2 defeat at D.C. United, it has held the lead in five games this season. First-half goals from Federico Bernardeschi and Michael Bradley put Toronto up 2-0 versus Charlotte last weekend, but the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

According to MLS.com, Toronto's nine dropped points from winning positions is a league high entering this matchday.

"Two-0, the game is finished," said Bernardeschi, who has three of Toronto's eight goals.

"We need to improve the mentality in this way."

After losing the first two overall meetings with Nashville, Toronto is 2-0-1 in the series. Bernardeschi converted a penalty kick and Jonathan Osorio scored twice during its 4-3 win at Nashville last season.

Hany Mukhtar recorded a goal with an assist in that contest for Nashville (3-2-1, 10 points this season). Mukhtar, the reigning MLS MVP, finally posted his first goal of 2023, along with an assist, during last weekend's 2-0 victory at Orlando City.

"He needed to get off the mark somehow, some way," Nashville coach Gary Smith said of Mukhtar, who had 23 goals in 2022. "The confidence of hitting the back of the net for forwards, and creative players, does them the world of good."

The result followed consecutive defeats at New England and to FC Cincinnati at home. It was also the fourth clean sheet posted by Nashville, which has conceded a league-low two goals.

Nashville keeper Joe Willis has made 21 saves to go along with his four clean sheets, which are tied for the most in MLS this season. Meanwhile, Mukhtar has that aforementioned goal and three assists in five career matches versus Toronto.