Nashville are looking red hot so far this year as they continue to climb up the Eastern Conference. This night was no exception for the boys from the music city. Randall Leal struck for the game's lone goal as Nashville took a 1-0 victory over expansion side Austin FC at Nissan Stadium on Saturday.

Nashville was on the attack for much of the first half and were rewarded with a game-changing goal from Leal in the 35th minute. The forward volleyed a cross from Jhonder Cadiz past Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver and into the net, driving the home crowd at Nissan Stadium into a craze. The action certainly would not stop there though. Cadiz got loose on a breakaway down the right side for Nashville just 6 minutes later, but his attempt from a difficult angle was just wide and struck the post.

In the 73rd minute Jared Stroud collected the ball for Austin in space just outside of the box and beat Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis with a rocket near-post, and Austin felt they had equalized. The goal was first awarded, but it would be ruled offside in the build-up by VAR, allowing Nashville to maintain their 1-0 lead.

After allowing two goals in each of their first two games of the season, Gary Smith's squad has now gone four games without conceding a goal, a streak that has lasted 407 minutes. They created some good chances in this one as well, even if they couldn't quite find a second goal.

[Photos by ICONIC photographer Rachel Pearce]