KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Sept. 20, 2023 - Nashville SC kicked off its two-match road trip with a decisive 3-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City with goals from Fafá Picault, Hany Mukhtar and Jack Maher. In the midst of a two-match Western Conference road trip, Nashville SC will head to San Jose Earthquakes next in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.
His Boots are Golden: Hany Mukhtar’s 66th minute goal put him back in sole possession of the 2023 MLS Golden Boot race lead. Mukhtar now has 15 goals this season, and 58 goals in 107 games. The double-goal contribution marked the third match of the season Mukhtar has recorded both a goal and an assist.
That Man Maher: Jack Maher’s 76th minute goal marked his first of the 2023 season and his first time seeing the score sheet since his brace at Vancouver on Aug. 27, 2022. Maher also helped anchor Nashville SC’s defense to a shutout victory with 10 clearances.
Shut out Sporting: Tonight’s clean sheet marked Nashville SC’s first shutout against Sporting Kansas City across four matches in series history. Joe Willis made two crucial saves to keep the clean sheet. Walker Zimmerman, in his first match since Leagues Cup 2023, contributed with four clearances to Maher’s 10.
Headed West Next: Nashville SC will continue its Western Conference road trip as it takes on San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, Sept. 23. The match will kick off at 9:30 p.m. CT and will be available on the MLS Season Pass.
Match Timeline:
NSH 29’: Dan Lovitz services a corner kick that finds Fafá Picault as he rises above the line to nod the ball into the back of the net
NSH 66’: Walker Zimmerman crosses the ball into the box and Hany Mukhtar picks up a ball from Picault to send it into the upper left corner
NSH 76’: Hany Mukhtar services a ball, and Jack Maher flicks the ball into the back of the net
Box Score:
Nashville SC (12W-9L-7D, 43 pts) vs. Sporting Kansas City (9W-13L-8D, 35 pts)
Sept. 20, 2023 – Children’s Mercy Park
Final Score:
NSH: 3
SKC: 0
Scoring Summary:
NSH: Fafá Picault (A: Dan Lovitz) 29’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Unassisted) 66’
NSH: Jack Maher (A: Hany Mukhtar) 76’
Discipline:
NSH: Alex Muyl (Caution) 52’
NSH: Taylor Washington (Caution) 82’
NSH: Shaq Moore (Caution) 90’ + 1
SKC: Dany Rosero (Caution) 90’ + 4
Lineups:
NSH Starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz (Taylor Washington 81’), Jack Maher, Shaq Moore, Walker Zimmerman (C) (Josh Bauer 70’); Dax McCarty, Hany Mukhtar, Alex Muyl, Aníbal Godoy (Tah Brian Anunga 69’), Sean Davis (Sam Surridge 81’); Fafá Picault (Jacob Shaffelburg 87’)
Substitutes: Randall Leal, Ethan Zubak, Luke Haakenson, Elliot Panicco
SKC Starters: Tim Melia; Adreu Fontas (Robert Voloder 78’), Dany Rosero, Jake Davis, Logan Ndenbe; Nemanja Radoja (Gadi Kinda 45’), Erik Thommy (Felipe Gutierrez 75’), Remi Walter; Johnny Russell (C) (Marinos Tzionis 75’), Alan Pulido (Willy Agada 72’), Daniel Salloi
Substitutes: John Pulskamp, Khiry Shelton, Roger Espinoza, Felipe Hernandez
Match Officials:
Referee: Victor Rivas
AR1: Kyle Atkins
AR2: Noah Kenyawani
4TH Official: Armando Villarreal
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
AVAR: Peter Balciunas
Weather: Clear, 75 degrees
