NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 2, 2023)– Nashville Soccer Club brought Charlotte FC to a 1-1 draw at GEODIS Park following injury time goals from both sides. Hany Mukhtar netted the leveling goal for Nashville SC as he buried a penalty kick in the 98th minute to secure his top position in the MLS Golden Boot race.
Mukhtar Magic: Hany Mukhtar is responsible for all four of Nashville SC’s goals against Charlotte FC in series history. Mukhtar has converted three penalties among his four goals against the Carolina side, two of them being the game-winning penalty goals in injury time.
Late goals: Nashville SC’s leveling goal tonight marked its latest opening goal of the season, and its latest goal scored in MLS regular season. Nashville SC’s previous latest goal scored came in the 97th minute on May 28 against Columbus Crew, also off the boot of Hany Mukhtar.
International break: Nashville SC’s next match will come 18 days from today, when the Boys in Gold travel to Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 20. Randall Leal and Aníbal Godoy will go on international duty as they represent Costa Rica for its upcoming friendly against Saudi Arabia on Friday, Sept. 8, and Panama for its Concacaf Nations League matches on Thursday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 10, respectively.
Match Timeline:
CLT 90’ + 3: Adilson Malanda connects with Scott Arfield who puts it in the back of the net
NSH 90’ + 8: Lukas MacNaughton wins a penalty, which Hany Mukhtar converted
Notes:
· Nashville SC:
- recorded its latest goal of the 2023 season with Hany Mukhtar’s 90’ + 6 penalty kick
- is tied with Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC for fewest goals allowed in the league at 27
- had 1.42 expected goals (xG) to Charlotte FC’s 0.42 xG
- Randall Leal
- led the team with two chances created
- is called up for Costa Rica’s international friendly against Saudi Arabia on Friday, Sept. 8
· Lucas MacNaughton
- led the team with 34 completed passes
- earned the penalty that gave Nashville the point
· Hany Mukhtar
- wore the captain’s armband for the ninth time this season and extended his record as captain to 4W-2L-3D
- has scored all four of Nashville SC’s goals against Charlotte FC in series history, with three of the four goals coming from penalty kicks
- has converted his last 11 attempted penalties in MLS
- leads the Golden Boot race with 14 goals this season
· Joe Willis returned on goal, leading the team with nine recoveries and one save
Box Score:
Nashville SC (11W-9L-7D, 40 pts) vs. Charlotte FC (7W-9L-11D, 31 pts)
Sept. 2, 2023 – GEODIS Park
Final Score:
NSH: 1
CLT: 1
Scoring Summary:
CLT: Scott Arfield (A: Adilson Malanda) 90’ + 3
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Penalty) 90’ + 6
Discipline:
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Caution) 26’
CLT: Derrick Jones (Caution) 27’
NSH: Dax McCarty (Caution) 56’
NSH: Aníbal Godoy (Caution) 73’
NSH: Teal Bunbury (Caution) 90’ + 2
CLT: Nathan Byrne (Caution) 90’ + 6
Lineups:
NSH Starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz, Lukas MacNaughton, Jack Maher, Shaq Moore; Dax McCarty (Sean Davis 71’), Randall Leal (Alex Muyl 59’), Hany Mukhtar (C), Jacob Shaffelburg (Fafá Picault 59’), Aníbal Godoy; Sam Surridge (Teal Bunbury 71’)
Substitutes: Josh Bauer, Taylor Washington, Luke Haakenson, Tah Brian Anunga, Elliot Panicco
CLT Starters: Kristijan Kahilna; Jere Uronen (Jaylin Lindsey 83’), Nathan Byrne, Adilson Malanda; Kamil Jozwiak (Justin Meram 52’), Ashley Westwood (C), Brandt Bronico (Kerwin Vargas 78’), Ben Bender, Derrick Jones (Scott Arfield 52’), Andrew Privett; Karol Swiderski (Enzo Copetti 52’)
Substitutes: Jan Sobocinski, Harrison Afful, George Marks, Brandon Cambridge
Match Officials:
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
AR1: Claudiu Badea
AR2: Diego Blas
4TH Official: Fotis Bazakos
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Weather: Clear, 83 degrees
