MLS All-Star week is in the books.
Hany Mukhtar and Walker Zimmerman represented Nashville SC in the 2022 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target on Wednesday night. MLS took the win over Liga MX 2-1.
Before the All-Stars took to the pitch, Mukhtar helped win the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge on Tuesday, showing off his skills against Liga MX’s stars. In addition, Nashville SC Academy U17 defender Alejandro Carrillo played in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game on Wednesday. After that, Jad Rahme and Ahmad Amedi from the Nashville SC Special Olympics Unified Team participated in the Special Olympics Unified All-Star Game, presented by MLS WORKS, ESPN and Coca-Cola.
Here’s how our Nashville SC representatives fared during All-Star Week:
MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G
Hany Mukhtar was the star of the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge on Tuesday night. He led MLS to victory in the Touch Challenge with the highest score of any player in the challenge.
Then, the MVP candidate brought the house down with a long-range crossbar strike to seal the entire Skills Challenge for MLS over Liga MX.
MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate
Nashville SC Academy defender Alejandro Carrillo made a second-half appearance in Wednesday’s MLS NEXT All-Star Game for the West. The NSC U17 player made some crucial defensive plays, including a perfectly-timed slide tackle in the second half.
The West would fall 2-1 to the East All-Stars.
Special Olympics Unified All-Star Game presented by MLS WORKS, ESPN & Coca-Cola
Nashville SC Special Olympics Unified Team members Jad Rahme and Ahmad Amedi played for the West in the Special Olympics Unified All-Star Game. Rahme was named co-captain of the West team and made some big defensive plays in the Minnesota heat. The East took the win by a score of 3-0.
The night before, Rahme and Amedi got to hang out with Hany Mukhtar after he won the Skills Challenge for MLS.
2022 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target
Zimmerman and Mukhtar each contributed to the MLS All-Stars’ 2-1 win over Liga MX. Zimmerman started and played the entire first half, making some crucial defensive plays and jumpstarting the offense forward. A long-range pass to Jordan Morris nearly set up MLS’ second goal, but the shot was deflected behind for a corner kick.
The real star of the night, however, was Zimmerman’s son Tucker, who got plenty of camera time during his dad’s interview, even if it was past his bedtime.
Mukhtar entered in the late stages of the first half, playing 30 minutes. In the second half, Mukhtar wore the captain’s armband and nearly set up MLS’ second goal with a great through ball to FC Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez to set up a Paul Arriola goal, but the play was ruled offside.
The two Nashville SC All-Stars now return to Nashville to prepare for this Sunday’s match against Minnesota United FC at GEODIS Park at 8 p.m. CT. With crucial points in the race for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs up for grabs, Sunday is going to be a big one. Tickets are still available here.
