Nashville SC’s victory over the Philadelphia Union on Tuesday was a big one, a win that advanced the Boys in Gold to the final of the U.S. Open Cup tournament for the first time in franchise history.

But that triumph doesn’t make a bit of difference as far as Major League Soccer’s regular season, which operates independently of the U.S. Open Cup.

So as NSC (15-10-5) approaches Saturday’s game at Orlando City (13-7-9), the club must quickly regain its sense of urgency.

The fact Nashville can clinch a playoff berth — for the fifth time in the franchise’s six-year existence — should provide plenty of motivation.

But the knowledge that the Boys in Gold are also close to a precipitous slide in the standings should also be on their minds. Nashville currently sits in fourth place in the Easte

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