NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 28, 2022) – Nashville Soccer Club finished its stretch of eight matches in 28 days with a dominating 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night. Forward CJ Sapong opened the scoreboard in the eighth minute followed by Hany Mukhtar scoring two goals in three minutes.
My Oh My, Mukhtar: MLS Best XI midfielder Hany Mukhtar secured his second brace of the season in the victory over Colorado, moving his goal total to six. Nashville SC has never lost when Mukhtar scores in the regular season with a 9W-0L-9D record.
No Panicco In His MLS Debut: Nashville SC goalkeeper Elliot Panicco made his MLS debut tonight. The former No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, presented by adidas, recorded four saves in route to his first career win.
Quite The Return: Nashville SC Head Coach Gary Smith returned to Colorado for the first time since being the manager of the Rapids over a decade ago. Smith led the Rapids to an MLS Cup in 2010, the Club’s first and only trophy.
International Break: Following an international break that will feature Walker Zimmerman and Aníbal Godoy represent the U.S. Men’s National Team and Panama’s National Team, respectively, Nashville SC will return to MLS action on June 11 at GEODIS Park to take on the San Jose Earthquakes in a nationally televised contest on UniMás, TUDN and an English streaming option via Twitter. This break concludes a stretch of eight matches in 28 days that saw the Boys in Gold finish with a 5W-1L-2D record across all competitions.
Match Timeline
NSH 8’: After a cross from Dave Romney and a Walker Zimmerman redirect, CJ Sapong taps it in for the opening goal
NSH 14’: Hany Mukhtar receives a pass and opens himself up to fake the defender and find the back of the net
NSH 17’: Luke Haakenson crosses a strong ball to Hany Mukhtar who finishes with a header
COL 78’: Diego Rubio hits the left corner on a free kick
Notes
- Nashville SC:
- scored three goals for the first time in MLS in 2022, a season high for goals scored in a match on the road
- owns an 19W-0L-7D all-time record when scoring two or more goals in a match in MLS competition
- owns a 23W-4L-8D record when scoring the first goal of the match in MLS
- owns a 17W-1L-5D all-time record in MLS when leading at the half.
- snapped Colorado’s 23 match regular season home unbeaten streak in the clubs’ first-ever match
- is now 6W-1L-5D all-time in the month of May in all competitions
- finished the week with two victories: a 2-1 win over Louisville City FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and this 3-1 result over Colorado in MLS
- Tah Brian Anunga has led Nashville SC to a 19W-6L-23D record in his appearances
- Luke Haakenson earned his second career assist tonight
- Dan Lovitz appeared in his 185th career MLS match while earning his 20th career assist
- Dax McCarty appeared in his 421st career MLS regular season match
- Hany Mukhtar
- leads the team in goals (6), combined goals and assists (11), shots (50) and shots on target (27) and MLS in shots and shots on target
- Elliot Panicco made his debut with Nashville SC earning consecutive wins in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 and in MLS
- CJ Sapong earned his 88th career goal and 33rd career MLS assist
Box Score:
Nashville SC (6W-4L-4D) vs. Colorado Rapids (5W-6L-3D)
May 28, 2022 – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Final Score
NSH: 3
COL: 1
Scoring Summary
NSH: CJ Sapong (Walker Zimmerman) 8’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Daniel Lovitz) 14’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Luke Haakenson) 17’
COL: Diego Rubio ‘78
Discipline
COL: Diego Rubio (caution) 14’
COL: Lalas Abubakar (caution) 41’
NSH: Eric Miller (caution) 43’
COL: Bryan Acosta (caution) 51’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (caution) 56’
Lineups
NSH: Elliot Panicco, Daniel Lovitz, Dave Romney, Jack Maher, Eric Miller (Dax McCarty 74’), Walker Zimmerman ©, Hany Mukhtar (Aké Loba 82’), Luke Haakenson (Taylor Washington 74’), Tah Brian Anunga (Aníbal Godoy 82’), Sean Davis, CJ Sapong
Unused Substitutes: Joe Willis, Handwalla Bwana, Ethan Zubak, Ahmed Longmire, Josh Bauer
COL: William Yarbrough, Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Auston Trusty, Lalas Abubakar, Jonathan Lewis, Jack Price © (Nicolas Mezquida 84’), Bryan Acosta (Mark-Anthony Kaye 55’), Anthony Markanich (Max Alves da Silva 55’), Diego Rubio, Gyasi Zardes (Michael Barrios 45’)
Unused Substitutes: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Gustavo Vallecilla, Collen Warner, Steven Beitashour
Attendance: 15,465
Weather: Clear, 80 degrees
