Nashville SC is hoping to avoid another dud in its quest for the Supporters’ Shield after last week’s shocking upset in St. Louis.

Nashville will look to rebound Sunday when it visits New York City Football Club after suffering its second straight defeat with a 3-1 loss to St. Louis City, who sit 14th in the Western Conference. Nashville SC conceded two goals in the first half and was blanked until Hany Mukhtar converted a penalty shot in the 85th minute.

Fortunately for Nashville (14-7-5, 47 points), the club begins this weekend as the Eastern Conference’s third-place team despite its second losing streak this season, trailing Philadelphia by four points and Cincinnati by two.

“It’s a good punch in the face,” Mukhtar said. “It’s very painful because (it’s a) much-needed three points in St. Louis, but it’s a very good reminder for all of us, there are no easy points in this league.”

NYCFC (11-8-5) are facing a less secure situation as they begin the weekend in eighth place, two points ahead of Chicago and the New York Red Bulls.

NYCFC are on their third three-game unbeaten streak of the season and are returning home following a 2-1-1 road trip. They also tied their most prolific scoring output this season in their last match after earning a 4-3 victory at FC Dallas on July 25, when Alonso Martinez capped a hat trick by getting the game-winner in the 84th minute.

Afterward, NYCFC went 1-2 in the Leagues Cup and were eliminated from the tournament with a 2-1 loss to Toluca on Aug. 5, when Martinez scored their only goal.

“Obviously, it’s tough right now because we put a lot of energy and fight into the game, and I think we, for large portions of the game, we were the better team,” NYCFC defender Kevin O’Toole said.

New York was slated to resume MLS play last week, but its game against Columbus was postponed due to field conditions at Citi Field.

–Field Level Media