NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 30, 2024) – Nashville SC battled defending MLS Cup Champions the Columbus Crew to a 2-2 draw at GEODIS Park Saturday night behind goals from midfielders Hany Mukhtar and AnÍbal Godoy. With Saturday night’s result, the club remained undefeated at the Castle in 2024 across all competitions with a 2W-0L-4D record. The club is now 1W-0L-2D all-time against the Crew at home.
Captain Clutch: Sporting the Captain's armband, Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar scored his first MLS goal of the season during first half stoppage time to draw the Boys in Gold even with Columbus at one apiece. It was Mukhtar's second goal of the season across all competitions (also Feb. 22 vs. Moca FC in the Concacaf Champions Cup).
Tour de Godoy: Nashville SC midfielder AnÍbal Godoy scored the Boys in Gold's second goal during first half stoppage time with a highlight reel bicycle kick into the back of the net. It was Godoy's first MLS goal since a game winner against the Seattle Sounders on Feb. 27, 2022.
Lend a Foot: Fresh off a goal for the Canadian Men's National Team in a 2-0 Copa America play-in match victory last weekend, forward Jacob Shaffelburg assisted on both Nashville SC goals Saturday night. Shaffelburg now has three assists in five MLS matches this season.
Next up: The Boys in Gold will play the second half of a two-match homestand on Saturday, April 6 when they host the Philadelphia Union at 7:30 p.m. CT at GEODIS Park. Tickets are available here.
Match Timeline:
CLB 16’: Diego Rossi services a corner kick and Sean Zawadzki rises up to find the back of the net
NSH 45’ + 3: Jacob Shaffelburg brings the ball down the far side of the field and sends a cross into the box, which Hany Mukhtar cooly slots home
NSH 45’ + 9: Hany Mukhtar connects with Jacob Shaffelburg who sends a cross into a waiting Anibal Godoy, who finds the back of the net with a left-footed bicycle kick
CLB 79’: Yaw Yeboah knocks a ball into Marino Hinestroza who finds the back of the net
Notes:
- Nashville SC:
- remains unbeaten at GEODIS Park during the 2024 season across all competitions (2W-0L-4D)
- extended its series history record against the Columbus Crew to 2W-3L-3D and 1W-0L-2D at home (both Nissan Stadium and GEODIS Park)
- recorded 10 shots, five shots on goal, and 2.08 expected goals (xG)
- extended its record to 13W-0L-10D when scoring two
- extended its record to 8W-31L-15D when conceding first
- extended its record to 31W-1L-11D when leading at half
- extended its record to 2W-6L-5D in March
- halftime performer Reyna Roberts, along with former GEODIS Park performers Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer and Tiera Kennedy featured on the song BLACKBIIRD on Beyoncé’s new album COWBOY CARTER
- Josh Bauer led the team with 93% passing accuracy and five clearances
- Aníbal Godoy
- recorded his first MLS goal since the game-winner at Lumen Field against SEA on Feb. 27, 2022
- recorded his first goal contribution across all competitions since Aug. 4, 2023 at CIN in Leagues Cup knockout play
- was voted Man of the Match
- Dan Lovitz recorded his first start of the 2024 MLS regular season
- Hany Mukhtar
- recorded his first goal of the 2024 MLS regular season
- expanded NSC’s record with him wearing the armband to 7W-3L-5D in MLS regular season play (8W-4L-5D all competitions)
- has recorded at least one goal contribution in seven of his 15 MLS regular season matches sporting the armband
- led the team with five shots and 0.73 expected goals (xG)
- Elliot Panicco has faced 38 penalties in net for the Boys in Gold across all competitions (including shootouts) and has saved nine attempts (six of them coming since Aug. 2023)
- Jacob Shaffelburg
- recorded two assists in one match for the second time in his career (also Sept. 29, 2021 with TOR) and his second match in regular season career history with multiple goal contributions
- led the team with six crosses
Box Score:
Nashville SC (1W-1L-4D) vs. Columbus Crew (3W-1L-2D)
March 30, 2024 – GEODIS Park
Final Score:
NSH: 2
CLB: 2
Scoring Summary:
CLB: Sean Zawadzki (A: Diego Rossi) 16’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (A: Jacob Shaffelburg) 45’ +3
NSH: Aníbal Godoy (A: Jacob Shaffelburg, Hany Mukhtar) 45’ +9
CLB: Marino Hinestroza (A: Yaw Yeboah) 79’
Discipline:
NSH: Jack Maher (Caution) 48’
CLB: Malte Amundsen (Caution) 66’
NSH: Josh Bauer (Caution) 90’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Caution) 90’ + 2
Lineups:
NSH Starters: Elliot Panicco; Dan Lovitz, Jack Maher (Brent Kallman 66’), Josh Bauer; Jacob Shaffelburg (Taylor Washington 75’), Dru Yearwood (Amar Sejdić 88’), Alex Muyl, Aníbal Godoy (Tah Brian Anunga 75’), Sean Davis; Sam Surridge (Teal Bunbury 88’), Hany Mukhtar (C)
Substitutes: Ben Martino, McKinze Gaines
CLB Starters: Patrick Schulte; Malte Amundsen, Yevhen Cheberko, Mohamed Farsi, Steven Moreira; Darlington Nagbe (C), Aidan Morris, Yaw Yeboah, Sean Zawadzki (Marino HInestroza 46’); Diego Rossi, Jacen Russell-Rowe (Max Arfsten 80’)
Substitutes: Nocholas Hagen, Philip Quinton, Will Sands, Taha Habroune, Evan Bush, Cole Mrowka
Match Officials:
Referee: Jon Freeman
AR1: Cory Richardson
AR2: Kali Smith
4TH: Luis Arroyo
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
Weather: Clear, 73 degrees
