Charlotte FC vs Nashville SC

Nashville came away with the points at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, edging out Charlotte 2-1 in a match where the visitors controlled proceedings for large stretches. Nashville dominated possession and forced Charlotte into a defensive approach, outshooting the hosts 11 to 8 overall with six efforts on target compared to three. The visitors went ahead before the break and held their nerve despite Charlotte pulling one back in the second half, though the home side never quite managed to find an equalizer despite their late pressure. Patrick Yazbek was the standout performer for Nashville, orchestrating play from midfield with a commanding display that earned him the man of the match award. Charlotte created chances and will feel they deserved more from the contest, but Nashville's superior efficiency in front of goal made the difference. It was a frustrating afternoon for the home fans, but there were enough glimpses to suggest better performances lie ahead.

Nashville SC beat Charlotte FC 1-2 at Bank of America Stadium, and the numbers from the match back up how the game played out. Even without the extra share of possession, which finished 45% in favour of Charlotte FC, Nashville SC made the most of the chances that mattered and did enough to see the game out. The shot count told a similar story, with 8 attempts from Charlotte FC against 11 from Nashville SC over the course of the game. Charlotte FC had their moments and did not make it easy from start to finish, but ultimately came up short on the day. Small margins like this one tend to add up over a season, and results such as this are often what separates teams in the table further down the line. Here is a closer look at exactly how the two sides compared, statistically.