NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 31, 2022) – Nashville Soccer Club scored its way to a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids with a hat trick from MVP front-runner Hany Mukhtar and Jacob Shaffelburg’s second goal with Nashville.
MVP-MVP-MVP: With MVP chants booming at GEODIS Park, Hany Mukhtar improved his goal total to 19 this season (tied for the league lead). The German attacker has 30 goal contributions this season, the most of any player in MLS, and has been involved in over half of Nashville SC’s regular season goals in club history (66 of 124). He is the all-time leader in club history in goals (39) and assists (27).
Hatty Mukhtar: Hany Mukhtar scored the second hat trick in club history following the one he scored on July 17, 2021, against Chicago Fire FC. Mukhtar has also scored multiple goals in five games this season, the most of any player in MLS.
Jump For Jacob: Newly acquired winger Jacob Shaffelburg scored his second goal with Nashville SC in as many starts. Both of Shaffelburg’s goals for the Boys in Gold have come in front of the home fans at GEODIS Park.
Next Match: Nashville SC will have a quick turnaround facing second seed Austin FC on Saturday night at GEODIS Park with major playoff seeding implications on the line. At the conclusion of Nashville’s win tonight, the Boys in Gold are just two points shy of third place in the Western Conference.
Match Timeline
NSH 29’: Hany Mukhtar converts a well taken penalty with a strike in the top right portion of the net
COL 35’: Diego Rubio feeds Steven Beitashour down the wing who slots a ball across the face of goal to find Gyasi Zardes in front of net
NSH 54’: Shaq Moore dishes a pass to Randall Leal who sends a ball in the channel to Hany Mukhtar who fires a shot and scores
NSH 61’: After a blocked shot in the box, Jacob Shaffelburg comes crashing in the box and fires a shot on frame to score
NSH 75’: Randall Leal fires a shot on frame that is saved in the air where Hany Mukhtar leaps over a Colorado defender to complete his hat trick
Notes:
- Nashville SC:
- tied its highest goal total of the season tonight (4)
- scored its first hat trick at GEODIS Park
- has scored three or more goals in three consecutive matches, outscoring its opponents 11-1 in the last three matches
- had a higher expected goals average than Colorado (2.55-0.39)
- completed the season sweep of the Colorado Rapids, out-scoring them 7-1 in the season series. This marks the second season sweep of two-matches or more (also Seattle Sounders FC)
- have held opponents to lower than a 1.00 expected goals in three consecutive matches
- has outscored their opponents 26-12 in the first half of a match this season
- is unbeaten this season when scoring the first goal of the match 10W-0L-7D
- is 28W-4L-12D when scoring the first goal all-time
- is 18W-1L-0D all-time when scoring three goals or more in a match
- Randall Leal has recorded a goal or assist in consecutive matches
- Shaq Moore recorded his second assist of the season
- Hany Mukhtar:
- has contributed to at least one goal in eight straight home matches
- has scored in at least seven of the last eight home matches
- led the team in shots (7) and shots on target (5) tonight
- is the team leader in goals (19) and assists (11) and leads all of MLS in combined goals and assists, and tied for first in goals at the conclusion of tonight’s match
- has contributed to at least one goal in 14 of his last 17 MLS appearances
- Walker Zimmerman led the team in completed passes (52)
Box Score:
Nashville SC (11W-9L-9D, 42 pts.) vs. Colorado Rapids (8W-12L-8D, 32 pts.)
August 31, 2022 – GEODIS Park
Final Score
NSH: 4
COL: 1
Scoring Summary
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Penalty) 29’
COL: Gyasi Zardes (Steven Beitashour & Diego Rubio) 35’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Randall Leal & Shaq Moore) 54’
NSH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Unassisted) 61’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Unassisted) 75’
Discipline
COL: Lalas Abubakar (caution) 41’
NSH: Aníbal Godoy (caution) 45’
NSH: Randall Leal (caution) 59’
NSH: Dax McCarty (caution) 69’
COL: Bryan Acosta (dissent) 70’
Lineups
NSH: Joe Willis; Daniel Lovitz, Jack Maher, Shaq Moore (Eric Miller 88’), Walker Zimmerman (C), Hany Mukhtar (Luke Haakenson 80’), Jacob Shaffelburg (Alex Muyl 64’), Anibal Godoy (Dax McCarty 64’), Sean Davis, Randall Leal, CJ Sapong (Ethan Zubak 80’)
Unused Substitutes: Dave Romney, Taylor Washington, Tah Brian Anunga, Elliot Panicco
COL: William Yarbrough; Keegan Rosenberry, Lalas Abubakar, Steven Beitashour; Jonathan Lewis (Sam Nicholson 76’), Felipe Gutierrez (Ralph Priso 90’), Bryan Acosta (Max 82’), Lucas Esteves, Diego Rubio (C) (Collen Warner 90+1’), Michael Barrios, Gyasi Zardes (Darren Yapi 82’)
Unused Substitutes: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Danny Wilson, Anthony Markanich
Referee: Mark Allatin
AR1: Corey Parker
AR2: Kyle Atkins
4th Official: Silviu Petrescu
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
Weather: Clear, 80 degrees
