Nashville SC kicked off the 2023 Major League Soccer season on Saturday in front of a packed GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, with a 2-0 victory vs. NYCFC. One of the biggest topics of discussion was the kits Nashville wore.
For the first time ever, Nashville wore black at home as the team showed off their stunning “The Man in Black Kit” which is a tribute to the great Johnny Cash. The thousands inside the stadium blacked out the stadium.
Part of the nod to Johnny Cash included having his son, John Carter Cash, open the season with some guitar. Epic.
A tribute to the legend Johnny Cash.
His son, John Carter Cash, opening the season with this electric guitar riff for @NashvilleSC. pic.twitter.com/ZaoDjS6ygC— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 25, 2023
〽️
V
PIN BLACK pic.twitter.com/uWkERpayro— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) February 25, 2023
USMNT defender Walker Zimmerman kept the honoring of the legend going when he scored the first goal of the 2023 MLS season. You could tell that the players had planned out a celebration as the team ran to the corner flag playing air guitars. Meanwhile, Zimmerman grabbed the corner flag like a microphone to sing Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”
It doesn’t get more American than this.
Walker Zimmerman corner flag celebration
The goal was electric
The celebration...ICONICSOUND UP pic.twitter.com/Y9gNGnOsPg— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) February 26, 2023
FIRST GOAL OF 2023
FIRST GOAL IN THE MAN IN BLACK KITLET'S GO @thewalkerzim
Watch Free on #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/takhPp6pR0 pic.twitter.com/DNP8Tvm629
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) February 25, 2023
️ I FELL IN TO A BURNING RING OF FIRE @JohnnyCash x @thewalkerzim pic.twitter.com/h9Hy1pxL7t
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) February 25, 2023
Mic.
Dropped. pic.twitter.com/2OcsfCSkLY— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) February 26, 2023
Nashville was the better side throughout the game as NYCFC looked sluggish. After making the Eastern Conference final last season, NYCFC opened their 2023 campaign with a forgettable performance. They only recorded their second shot on target a little after the 75-minute mark.
A much bigger moment happened in the 75th minute when reigning MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar was substituted into the game. The German attacking midfielder had been listed as questionable with a hip injury.
His impact was immediate as he teed up Jacob Shaffelburg in the 80th minute to double the lead.
HANY WITH THE DIME@jacobshaff2 WITH THE FINISH
2-0 BOYS IN BLACKWatch Free on #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/takhPp6pR0 pic.twitter.com/41hPKZ4tRU
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) February 25, 2023
Last season Mukhtar became the fifth player in MLS history to record at least 20 goals and 10 assists in a single season.
Next week Nashville will make the trip to New York to play NYCFC’s rival the Red Bulls. NYCFC will travel to Chicago to play the Fire next Saturday.
