Nashville Soccer Club Earns 2-0 Road Victory over Orlando City SC  

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 1, 2023) – Nashville Soccer Club earned a 2-0 road victory against Orlando City SC, as winger Fafà Picault opened his Nashville SC account with a goal in the first half with an assist from Hany Mukhtar who then scored his first goal of the season in the second half to secure the victory.

Lion Tamer: With his goal and assist, reigning MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar continued his dominance over Orlando City SC. Mukhtar has now recorded a goal or assist in every match he’s played against Orlando across all competitions (seven goals, five assists).

Back In The Win Column: Nashville SC secured is first road win of the season, and went up to fourth place in the Eastern Conference (3W-2L-1D, 10 pts.)

Defense Stands Tall: Led by Captain Walker Zimmerman who started in his 200^th MLS match tonight, Nashville SC’s defense posted its fourth shutout in six matches. The team has conceded just two goals this season, the fewest in Major League Soccer.

Returning Home: Nashville SC will return to GEODIS Park on Saturday, April 8 to host Toronto FC on the MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV App, and available on radio at 104.5 The Zone. Limited tickets are available at www.NashvilleSC.com/Tickets.

Match Timeline

NSH 28’: Off a very quick restart, Hany Mukhtar delivers a pass over the Orlando City SC backline, finding a streaking Fafà Picault who makes an acrobatic effort while shielding off a defender and chips in the goal from the top of the 18-yard box.

NSH: 74’: Shaq Moore feeds a pass to Hany Mukhtar who delivers a one-timer on frame to secure the second goal.

Notes:

• Nashville SC:
  • has recorded the most clean sheets this season in MLS
  • has yet to allow a goal in the first half this season
  • has not lost in its last 31 matches when scoring the first goal of a match, a streak that dates back to August 8, 2021
  • is now 24W-1L-9D all-time when leading at the half
  • is unbeaten in its last 32 matches when leading at the half (23W-9D-0L)
  • is 33W-4L-14D all-time when scoring the first goal of a match
  • is 27W-1L-8D when scoring two goals or more in an MLS match
  • owns an all-time record of 3W-1L-4D against Orlando City SC in MLS competition
  • has not lost to Orlando City SC in MLS play since Aug. 16, 2020
• Teal Bunbury made his 343rd career regular season appearance
• Aníbal Godoy made his first start since suffering an upper body injury in Matchday 1
• Luke Haakenson made his first start of the season
• Dax McCarty made his 444^th MLS regular season appearance and recorded his first assist of the season
• Shaq Moore recorded his first assist of the season
• Hany Mukhtar
  • is now responsible for four of Nashville’s six goals this season
  • has been involved in over half of Nashville SC’s regular season goals in club history (74 of 137)
• Fafà Picault scored his first goal as a member of Nashville SC
• Walker Zimmerman made his 200^th MLS regular season start tonight

<strong>Box Score:</strong>

Nashville SC (3W-2L-1D, 10 pts.) vs. Orlando City SC (2W-2L-2D, 8 pts.)

April 1, 2023 – Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Florida

<strong>Final Score</strong>  

ORL: 0  
NSH: 2  

<strong>Scoring Summary</strong>       

NSH: Fafà Picault (Hany Mukhtar) 28’ 

NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Shaq Moore & Dax McCarty)  

<strong>Discipline</strong>    

NSH: Luke Haakenson (caution) 26’  

NSH: Aníbal Godoy (caution) 27’    

ORL: Rodrigo Schlegel (caution) 47’  

ORL: Kyle Smith (caution) 64’    

NSH: Fafà Picault (caution) 64’  

<strong>Lineups:</strong>    
<strong>NSH Starters</strong>: Joe Willis; Daniel Lovitz, Jack Maher, Walker Zimmerman (C), Shaq Moore; Aníbal Godoy (Dax McCarty 67’), Sean Davis, Luke Haakenson (Taylor Washington 67’), Fafà Picault (Tah Brian Anunga 78’); Hany Mukhtar, CJ Sapong (Teal Bunbury 78’)    

<strong>Substitutes</strong>: Teal Bunbury, Jacob Shaffelburg, Josh Bauer, Tah Brian Anunga, Elliot Panicco, Ján Greguš    

<strong>ORL Starters</strong>: Pedro Gallese; Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, Luca Petrasso (Gaston Gonzalez 78’), Kyle Smith (Duncan McGuire 78’); Cesar Araujo, Felipe Martins (Facundo Torres HT), Mauricio Pereyra (C); Ramiro Enrique, Martin Ojeda, Iván Angulo (Dagur Thorhallsson 82’)    

<strong>Substitutes</strong>: Rafael Santos, Wilder Cartagena, Antonio Carlos, Abdi Salim, Mason Stajduhar  

<strong>Referee: </strong>Chris Penso    

<strong>AR1: </strong>Kathryn Nesbitt 

<strong>AR2: </strong>Jeremy Hanson   

<strong>4th Official: </strong>Kevin Klinger 

<strong>VAR: </strong>Geoff Gamble   

<strong>AVAR: </strong>Cameron Blanchard 

<strong>Weather:</strong> Clear, 82 degrees