NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 6, 2023) ā Nashville Soccer Club earned a 3-0 victory over Chicago Fire FC on Saturday night in front of 28,611 fans at GEODIS Park. Reigning MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar scored his third career hat trick, second against Chicago Fire FC.Ā
Off a corner kick, midfielder Dax McCarty was brought down in the box for Nashville SCās first penalty which Mukhtar converted in stoppage time of the first half [WATCH].Ā
The second penalty was earned after Mukhtar sent a pass down the flank to Jacob Shaffelburg, who took his defender inside the 18 before ultimately being dragged down. Mukhtar converted his second penalty in the second half [WATCH], before wrapping up his hat trick evening with a goal in stoppage time [WATCH].
Captain Mukhtar:Ā Mukhtar wore the captainās armband for the first time in his career at GEODIS Park, second time overall (also, Aug. 27, 2022, at Vancouver Whitecaps FC). The German has now scored six total goals in two career matches against the Fire, both of them being hat tricks. Mukhtarās first hat trick made history as he scored the fastest hat-trick in MLS history in the span of six minutes (10ā, 13ā, 16ā) in a 5-1 victory on July 17, 2021.
Goals All Around:Ā Nashville SC has now tied its season-high for goals scored in a match in back-to-back weeks, following the three goals scored last week against MLS rival Atlanta United FC.Ā
Joe Reaches 100 Appearances For Nashville:Ā Goalkeeper Joe Willis became the first Nashville SC player in club history to reach 100 MLS regular season appearances with his start tonight. Willis has started in all but two 102 regular season matches in the clubās history. Willis recorded his sixth shutout of the season, tied with Seattle Sounders FCās Stefan Frei for the league lead.Ā
Personal Record For Head Coach Gary Smith:āÆĀ Head Coach Gary Smith set a new personal record for most wins at an MLS club with his 44thĀ victory tonight, across MLS regular season, postseason and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Smith surpassed his previous record of 43 set with the Colorado Rapids from 2008-11.
Next Match Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup:Ā Nashville SC will return to GEODIS Park on Wednesday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. CT to take on FC Dallas in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Tickets are available by visitingĀ www.NashvilleSC.com/Tickets.Ā
Match Timeline:Ā Ā
NSH 45ā + 2: Hany Mukhtar sends a ball flying past Chicago Fire FCās goalkeeper to convert a penalty kick
NSH 70ā: Hany Mukhtar converts a second penalty kick, sending the ball into the lower left corner of the net
NSH 90 +1: Hany Mukhtar scores off a deflection by Chicago Fire FCās goalkeeperĀ
Notes:āÆāÆāÆĀ
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Nashville SC:Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
oĀ Ā Ā Ā is 2W-0L-2D all-time against Chicago Fire FC
oĀ Ā Ā Ā has outscored Chicago Fire FC 9-2 in series historyĀ
oĀ Ā Ā has allowed the fewest goals in MLS with six (LAFC has allowed the second fewest goals with seven in two fewer matches played)
oĀ Ā Ā drew and converted its first two penalty kicks of the season
oĀ Ā Ā outshot Chicago Fire 14-0 in the first half
oĀ Ā Ā has not lost when scoring first since Aug. 8, 2021
oĀ Ā Ā owns a 5W-0L-1D record this season and a 35W-4L-15D record historically when scoring first
oĀ Ā Ā is 29W-1L-8D when scoring two or more goals all-time
oĀ Ā Ā is 26W-1L-10D all-time when leading at the half and is unbeaten in its last 35 matches when leading at the half (25W-0L-10D)
oĀ Ā Ā is 14W-1L-0D all-time when scoring three or more goals in an MLS match
oĀ Ā Ā has not conceded a first half goal in 10 of 11 matches, leading the leagueĀ
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Teal Bunbury made his 348thĀ career regular season appearanceĀ Ā Ā Ā
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā JĆ”n GreguÅ”made his 96thĀ career regular season appearanceĀ
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jack Maher made his 50thĀ career MLS regular season startĀ
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Dax McCarty made his 498thĀ career regular season appearance and 402ndĀ career regular season startĀ Ā
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Hany MukhtarĀ Ā Ā
- has led Nashville to a 2W-0L-0D record and a plus six goal differential as CaptainĀ
- has scored or assisted in four consecutive MLS matchesĀ Ā Ā
- has contributed to 80 of Nashville SCās total 144 goals in club historyĀ
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Alex MuylĀ made his 201stĀ career regular season appearanceĀ
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Joe WillisĀ Ā Ā
- earned his 55thĀ career shutoutĀ
- ended the contest sitting fourth in the league with 37 saves
- recorded his sixth shoutout of the season, his 37thĀ with Nashville SC
Box Score:āÆāÆāÆĀ
Nashville SC (5W-3L-3D, 18 pts.) vs. Chicago Fire FC (2W-3L-5D,11 pts.)Ā Ā
May 6, 2023 ā GEODIS ParkĀ Ā
Ā
Final ScoreĀ Ā Ā
NSH:3
CHI: 0
Ā
Scoring SummaryĀ Ā Ā Ā
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Penalty) 45ā +2
NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Penalty) 70ā
NSH: Hany Mukhtar 90ā +1 (Unassisted)Ā
DisciplineāÆāÆĀ
NSH: Dan Lovitz (caution) 29ā
CHI: Georgios Koutsias (caution) 36ā Ā Ā
CHI: Wyatt Omsberg (caution) 52ā
NSH: Teal Bunbury (caution) 56ā
NSH: Shaq Moore (caution) 77ā
Ā
Lineups:Ā Ā Ā
NSH Starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz, Lukas MacNaughton (Taylor Washington, 63ā), Jack Maher, Shaq Moore; Dax McCarty (JĆ”n GreguÅ”,75ā), Hany Mukhtar (C), Teal Bunbury (Ethan Zubak, 63ā), Jacob Shaffelburg (FafĆ Picault, 79ā), AnĆbal Godoy (Sean Davis, 75ā), Alex MuylĀ
Substitutes: Elliot Panicco, Josh Bauer, Luke Haakenson, Tah Brian Anunga
CHI Starters:Ā Chris Brady; Daniel Aceves, Rafael Czichos (C) (Maren Haile-Selassie, 21ā), Wyatt Omsberg, Jonathan Dean, Kendall Burks; Xherdan Shaqiri, Fabian Herbers (Gaston Gimenez, 45ā), Federico Navarro; Kacper Przybylko (Kei Kamara, 63ā), Gergios Koutsias
Substitutes: Arnaud Souquet, Miguel Navarro, Brian Gutierrez, Spencer Richey, Mauricio Pineda Ā
Referee: Mark AllatinĀ
Ar1:Ā Jason White
Ar2: Meghan MullenĀ
4th Official: Ismir PekmicĀ
VAR:Ā Jose Carlos Rivero
AVAR:Ā Tyler Wyrostek
Attendance:Ā 28,611
Weather:Ā Clear, 77 Degrees