NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 29, 2024) – Nashville Soccer Club fell 2-1 to first place Inter Miami CF in front of a sellout crowd at GEODIS Park Saturday night despite a goal from Hany Mukhtar which saw the midfielder become the sixth player in Major League Soccer history to register 100 goal contributions over a four-year span.
Mukhtar magic: With his goal in the 73rd minute, Nashville SC's all-time leading scorer and first-ever designated player Hany Mukhtar became just the sixth player in MLS history to record 100 goal contributions (59 goals, 41 assists) during a four-year span. Mukhtar leads Nashville SC this season with 12 MLS goal contributions (5 goals, 7 assists).
Three-in-a-row: Nashville SC forward Forster Ajago made his third-straight appearance Saturday night, logging an MLS career-high 23 minutes plus 10 minutes of extra time. During Ajago’s 33 minutes on the pitch, the Boys in Gold generated six scoring chances.
Shorthanded: Two Nashville SC regulars were unavailable against Miami on international duty at the Conmebol Copa América™ Group Stage: defender Shaq Moore (United States) and midfielder Jacob Shaffelburg (Canada). Shaffelburg started for Canada Saturday night, logging 65 minutes in the team's Quarterfinal-clinching scoreless draw with Chile. Moore and the United States play again Monday, July 1 at 8 p.m. CT versus Uruguay on Fox Sports 1.
Next up: Nashville SC will hit the road for two matches in four days beginning Wednesday, July 3 when the Boys in Gold visit defending MLS Cup Champions the Columbus Crew at 5:30 p.m. CT followed by the Portland Timbers on Sunday, July 7 at 9:30 p.m. CT.
*Please note that Nashville SC will host its next pre-match media availability for its July 3 match at Columbus this Monday, July 1 at 9:30 a.m. CT at the Vanderbilt Health Training Center. Media wishing to attend in-person must RSVP to *communications@nashvillesc.com* by 5 p.m. CT on Sunday, June 30.
Match timeline:
MIA 40’: Julian Gressel delivers a corner kick and Ian Fray heads it into the back of the net
MIA 44’: Jordi Alba collects a clearance and scores from distance
NSH 73’: Hany Mukhtar buries a penalty kick won by Tyler Boyd
Notes:
Nashville SC:
- is unbeaten in seven of its last nine matches (4W-2L-3D), outscoring opponents 10-6 in that span
- is 38W-28L-36D all-time against Eastern Conference opponents
- is 4W-3L-5D at home in 2024
- is 35W-35L-42D all-time on weekends
- is 6W-6L-4D all-time in the month of June
Forster Ajago
- made his third career MLS appearance
- set a single-match MLS high for minutes played after subbing on in the 67th minute of the match
Tyler Boyd
- drew the penalty for Hany Mukhtar’s goal contribution
- led the team with four crosses
Sean Davis led the team with 100% passing accuracy
Jack Maher leads Nashville SC with 18 games started and 1,619 minutes
Hany Mukhtar
- became the sixth player in league history to record 100 goal contributions over a four-year span
- leads Nashville SC in regular season goal contributions (12) with five goals and seven assists
- is Nashville SC’s all-time leading scorer with 63 regular season goals
- converted his third penalty kick of the season
- is five goals and three assists away from becoming the fastest player in league history to reach 10 goals and 10 assists in four consecutive seasons
Alex Muyl leads Nashville SC with 20 games played this season
Box score:
Nashville SC (6W-6L-8D) vs. Inter Miami CF (13W-3L-5D)
June 29, 2024 – GEODIS Park
Final score:
NSH: 1
MIA: 2
Scoring summary:
MIA: Ian Fray (A: Julian Gressel) 40’
MIA: Jordi Alba (Unassisted) 44’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Penalty Kick) 73’
Discipline:
MIA: Yannick Bright (Caution) 31’
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Caution) 83’
Lineups:
NSH starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz, Jack Maher, Josh Bauer, Walker Zimmerman (C); Hany Mukhtar, Teal Bunbury (Forster Ajago 67’), Dru Yearwood (Amar Sejdić 59’), Sean Davis (Tah Brian Anunga 60’); Sam Surridge, Tyler Boyd (Alex Muyl 83’)
Substitutes: Elliot Panicco, Joey Skinner, Taylor Washington, Brent Kallman
MIA starters: Drake Callender (C); Ian Fray (Ryan Sailor 67’), Jordi Alba, Sergii Kryvtsov, Federico Redondo; Sergio Busquets, Diego Gomez (Robert Taylor 79’), Julian Gressel, Benjamin Cremaschi (David Ruiz 90’+5); Leo Campana (Shanyder Borgelin, 90’+5), Yannick Bright
Substitutes: CJ Dos Santos, Noah Allen, Franco Negri, Lawson Sunderland, Leo Afonso
Match officials:
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
AR1: Jason White
AR2: Diego Blas
4TH: Matthew Thompson
VAR: Kevin Suares
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
Weather: 89 degrees, sunny
