Nashville SC 3, Colorado Rapids 1 (05.28.22)

Nashville SC ends eight-match road trip with a 3W-3L-2D record

(NashvilleSC.com, 04.24.22)

COMMERCE CITY, COLO. — Nashville Soccer Club finished its stretch of eight matches in 28 days with a dominating 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night. Forward CJ Sapong opened the scoreboard in the eighth minute followed by Hany Mukhtar scoring two goals in three minutes. 

My Oh My, Mukhtar: MLS Best XI midfielder Hany Mukhtar secured his second brace of the season in the victory over Colorado, moving his goal total to six. Nashville SC has never lost when Mukhtar scores in the regular season with a 9W-0L-9D record. 

No Panicco In His MLS Debut: Nashville SC goalkeeper Elliot Panicco made his MLS debut tonight. The former No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, presented by adidas, recorded four saves in route to his first career win. 

Quite The Return: Nashville SC Head Coach Gary Smith returned to Colorado for the first time since being the manager of the Rapids over a decade ago. Smith led the Rapids to an MLS Cup in 2010, the Club’s first and only trophy. 

International Break: Following an international break that will feature Walker Zimmerman and Aníbal Godoy represent the U.S. Men’s National Team and Panama’s National Team, respectively, Nashville SC will return to MLS action on June 11 at GEODIS Park to take on the San Jose Earthquakes in a nationally televised contest on UniMás, TUDN and an English streaming option via Twitter. This break concludes a stretch of eight matches in 28 days that saw the Boys in Gold finish with a 5W-1L-2D record across all competitions.

SCORING SUMMARY
NSC — C.J. Sapong (Walker Zimmerman) 8′
NSC — Hany Mukhtar (Daniel Lovitz) 15′
NSC — Hany Mukhtar (Luke Haakenson) 17′
COL — Diego Rubio 78′

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
COL — Yellow Card — Diego Rubio (14′)
COL — Yellow Card — Lalas Abubakar (41′)
NSC — Yellow Card — Eric Miller (42′)
COL — Yellow Card — Bryan Acosta (51′)
NSC — Yellow Card — Hany Mukhtar (56′)

COLORADO LINEUP
William Yarbrough
Lalas Abubakar
Danny Wilson
Auston Trusty
Keegan Rosenberry
Jack Price (Nicolas Mezquida 84′)
Bryan Acosta (Mark-Anthony Kaye 55′)
Anthony Markanich (Max Alves da Silva 55′)
Diego Rubio
Gyasi Zardes (Michael Barrios 46′)
Jonathan Lewis

NASHVILLE LINEUP
Elliot Panicco
Jack Maher
Walker Zimmerman
David Romney
Sean Davis
Eric Miller (Dax McCarty 74′)
Luke Haakenson (Taylor Washington 74′)
Tah Brian Anunga (Aníbal Godoy 82′)
Daniel Lovitz
Hany Mukhtar (Aké Loba 82′)
C.J. Sapong