Nashville SC Concludes Two-Match Western Conference Trip with Four Points; Unbeaten in Last Four Matches

Hany Mukhtar Becomes Second-ever MLS Player to Secure 10+ Goals and 10+ Assists in Third Consecutive Season

Nashville Soccer Club earned a 1-1 draw at San Jose Earthquakes to conclude its two-match road trip against Western Conference sides with four points and unbeaten in the past four matches. Teal Bunbury scored the opening goal in the 50th minute off assists from Shaq Moore and Hany Mukhtar.

Three Great Years and Counting: Mukhtar’s assist in Bunbury’s goal made the reining Landon Donovan MLS MVP just the second ever player to register 10+ goals and 10+ assists in three consecutive seasons (also Preki 1996-98).

Push for the Playoffs: Nashville SC, currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, has five matches remaining in the regular season as it approaches the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Four of those five matches will take place at GEODIS Park after Nashville SC’s week-long Western Conference road trip.

No Loss to the West: Nashville SC is yet to lose a game against a Western Conference opponent in the 2023 season. With a 3W-0L-2D record, the Boys in Gold will face one final Western team next week, when they host the Seattle Sounders FC at GEODIS Park on Saturday, Sept. 30. The night will also serve to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month. Tickets for the match can be purchased at www.NashvilleSC.com/Tickets.

Match Timeline:

NSH 50’: Hany Mukhtar finds Shaq Moore in the box from midfield, and Teal Bunbury pokes a pass from Moore into the top of the net

SJ 74’: Matthew Hoppe strikes a ball from Carlos Akapo into the back of the net from close distance

Notes:

  • Nashville SC:

o   holds a 3W-3L-6D record this season when leading at the half

o   is 10W-1L-3D when scoring first this season

o   extended its record against Western Conference teams to 3W-0L-2D this season

o   extended its series record against San Jose Earthquakes to 0W-0L-3D

o   is unbeaten in its last four matches, spanning from Aug. 30, 2023

  • Teal Bunbury scored his third goal of the MLS regular season, fourth in all competitions and led the team with three shots on target
  • Dan Lovitz led the team with 10 possessions won
  • Hany Mukhtar

o   is five goal contributions shy of tying Sebastian Giovinco for most contributions in a three-year span

o   led the team with four successful dribbles and three shots on target

  • Elliot Panicco

o   made his second MLS start and appearance in 2023

o   recorded four saves, bringing his season total to eight, marking a new career high (7 in 2022)

  • Walker Zimmerman led the team with eight clearances

Box Score:

Nashville SC (12W-9L-8D, 44 pts) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (10W-10L-11D, 41 pts)

Sept. 23, 2023 – PayPal Park

Final Score:

NSH:  1

SJ: 1

Scoring Summary:

NSH: Teal Bunbury (A: Shaq Moore, Hany Mukhtar) 50’

SJ: Matthew Hoppe (A: Carlos Akapo) 74’ 

Discipline:

SJ: Cristian Espinoza (Caution) 10’

NSH: Aníbal Godoy (Caution) 11’

SJ: Carlos Gruezo (Caution) 54’

NSH: Walker Zimmerman (Caution) 89’

Lineups:               NSH Starters: Elliot Panicco; Dan Lovitz, Jack Maher, Walker Zimmerman (C), Shaq Moore; Alex Muyl (Josh Bauer 88’), Tah Brian Anunga (Sean Davis 79’), Aníbal Godoy, Hany Mukhtar; Teal Bunbury (Sam Surridge 67’), Fafá Picault (Randall Leal 67’)

Substitutes: Joe Willis, Dax McCarty, Jacob Shaffelburg, Taylor Washington, Luke Haakenson

SJ Starters: Daniel De Sousa Brito; Jonathan Mensah, Miguel Trauco (Paul Marie 61’), Rodrigues, Carlos Akapo; Carlos Gruezo (Niko Tsakiris 55’), Jackson Yueill (C), Jamiro Monteiro; Cristian Espinoza, Jeremy Ebobisse, Cade Cowell (Matthew Hoppe 61’)

Substitutes: JT Marcinkowski, Ayo Akinola, Tanner Beason, Tommy Thompson, Benji Kikanovic, Judson

Match Officials:

Referee: Joe Dickerson

AR1: Corey Rockwell

AR2: Kali Smith

4TH Official: Mark Allatin

VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero

AVAR: Robert Schaap

Weather: Clear, 60 degrees

Nashville SC joined Major League Soccer on Feb. 29, 2020 in front of the largest attendance ever recorded for a soccer match in the State of Tennessee. In its inaugural MLS season, Nashville SC defeated expectations by becoming the second MLS expansion side to win and advance to the Conference Semifinals in the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Nashville SC returned to the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in its sophomore season after becoming just the seventh team in MLS history to go unbeaten at home in a season. Nashville SC inaugurated GEODIS Park, the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States and Canada, in front of a 30,109-sellout crowd on May 1, 2022. For more information, visit NashvilleSC.com and follow the club at @NashvilleSC on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and Spotify.