CHARLOTTE, NC (May 20, 2023)– Nashville Soccer Club extended its unbeaten streak to eight matches across all competitions with a 2-1 road victory over Charlotte FC on Saturday night. After falling behind in the 6th minute, reigning 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar tied the match in the 39th minute \[WATCH\]. In stoppage time, winger Jacob Shaffelburg drew a penalty, and it Mukhtar who secured the victory in the 93rd minute \[WATCH\].
Rising Up The Table: Nashville SC finishes Matchday 14 in second place in the Eastern Conference (7W-3L-4D, 25 pts.) with the best goal differential in the conference at +10.
Results Keep Coming: Nashville SC extended its unbeaten streak to eight matches in all competitions dating back to April 22 with a 6W-0L-2D record, while outscoring its opponents 15-5.
The MVP is Now Fifth in MLS History: Hany Mukhtar became the fifth fastest player in MLS history to produce 50 career goals and 30 career assists, behind only Carlos Vela (69 games), Sebastian Giovinco (78 games), Robbie Keane (82 games) and Jamie Moreno (92). Mukhtar now has 51 MLS regular season goals and 33 assists in 93 matches in his MLS career.
No. 2 All-Time In MLS History: Dax McCarty tied tonight Chad Marshall for second all-time in MLS history for matches started by an outfield player at 404 starts.
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Match This Tuesday: Nashville SC will have a quick turnaround as the Boys in Gold take on Inter Miami CF in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup Round of 16 at 6:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday on CBS Sports GOLAZO Network.
Match Timeline:
CLT 6’: Brandt Bronico finds a ball from Justin Meram in the box and deflects a shot off the post to score
NSH 39’: Hany Mukhtar finds a ball from Sean Davis, takes a shot from distance and finds the bottom corner of the net
NSH 90+3’: Winger Jacob Shaffelburg wins a penalty, and Hany Mukhtar converts to earn a brace on the night
Notes:
- Nashville SC:
- is 1W-1L-0D against Charlotte FC in series history
- is tied for fewest goals allowed in MLS with nine (LAFC has allowed the same number in two fewer matches played)
- has scored in its last seven league matches including four on the road
- earned its first result of the season after conceding first
- is 1W-2L-3D when tied at the half this season, 12W-13L-24D historically
- is 31W-1L-8D all-time when scoring two or more goals
- is 2W-2L-2D on the road this season, 16W-19L-19D historically
- has scored seven goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half this season, only Columbus Crew has scored more (8)
- Teal Bunbury made his 351st career regular season appearance
- Sean Davis recorded his first assist of 2023
- Jack Maher led the team with eight duels won
- Dax McCarty
* tied Chad Marshall tonight for second all-time in MLS history for matches started by an outfield player at 404 starts
* led the team with 54 accurate passes
* Hany Mukhtar
* served as captain for the fifth time, fourth consecutively
* has led Nashville SC to a 4W-0L-1D record and a +8 goal differential as captain
* has contributed to 84 of Nashville SC’s total 148 goals in club history
* is ahead of his 2022 pace with 8 goals through week 14, compared to 6 in 2022
* led the team with 1.2 xG on the night
* Joe Willis * had his first match with five or more saves since Apr. 22, 2023 (vs. LAFC) * ended the night tied fourth in the league with 45 saves (also, Brad Stuver, William Yarbrough)
Box Score:
Nashville SC (7W-3L-4D, 25 pts.) vs. Charlotte FC (5W-6L-3D,18 pts.)
May 20, 2023 – Bank of America Stadium
Final Score
NSH: 2
CLT: 1
Scoring Summary
CLT: Brandt Bronico (A: Justin Meram) 6’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (A: Sean Davis) 39’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Penalty) 90+3’
Discipline
CLT: Nathan Byrne (caution) 11’
NSH: Teal Bunbury (caution) 34’
CLT: Brandt Bronico (caution) 54’
NSH: Dax McCarty (caution) 69’
Lineups:
NSH Starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz, Lukas MacNaughton, Jack Maher, Shaq Moore; Dax McCarty, Hany Mukhtar (C) (Ethan Zubak 90’ + 4), Teal Bunbury (Jacob Shaffelburg 80’), Alex Muyl (Taylor Washington 80’), Sean Davis; Fafà Picault (Aníbal Godoy 71’)
Substitutes: Josh Bauer, Ján Greguš, Luke Haakenson, Tah Brian Anunga, Elliot Panicco
CLT Starters: Kristijan Kahlina; Jan Sobocinski, Bill Tuiloma, Nathan Byrne, Adilson Malanda (Jaylin Lindsey 81’); Ashley Westwood (C) (Harrison Afful 81’), Brandt Bronico, Derrick Jones, Justin Meram (Kerwin Vargas 81’); Enzo Copetti (Brandon Cambridge 62’), Karol Swiderski
Substitutes: Chris Hegardt, Pablo Sisniega, Joseph Mora, Patrick Agyemang, Andrew Privett, Brandon Cambridge
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
AR1: Andrew Bigelow
AR2: Kevin Klinger
4th Official: Jeffrey Greeson
VAR: Malik Badawi
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
Attendance: 30,526
Weather: Clear, 71 degrees
