Hany Mukhtar Scores Hat Trick in Nashville SC’s 4-1 Victory over the Colorado Rapids

September 1, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Nashville SC News Release

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville Soccer Club scored its way to a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids with a hat trick from MVP front-runner Hany Mukhtar and Jacob Shaffelburg’s second goal with Nashville.

MVP-MVP-MVP: With MVP chants booming at GEODIS Park, Hany Mukhtar improved his goal total to 19 this season (tied for the league lead). The German attacker has 30 goal contributions this season, the most of any player in MLS, and has been involved in over half of Nashville SC’s regular season goals in club history (66 of 124). He is the all-time leader in club history in goals (39) and assists (27).

Hatty Mukhtar: Hany Mukhtar scored the second hat trick in club history following the one he scored on July 17, 2021, against Chicago Fire FC. Mukhtar has also scored multiple goals in five games this season, the most of any player in MLS.

Jump For Jacob: Newly acquired winger Jacob Shaffelburg scored his second goal with Nashville SC in as many starts. Both of Shaffelburg’s goals for the Boys in Gold have come in front of the home fans at GEODIS Park.

Next Match: Nashville SC will have a quick turnaround facing second seed Austin FC on Saturday night at GEODIS Park with major playoff seeding implications on the line. At the conclusion of Nashville’s win tonight, the Boys in Gold are just two points shy of third place in the Western Conference.

* Match Timeline *

NSH 29′: Hany Mukhtar converts a well taken penalty with a strike in the top right portion of the net

COL 35′: Diego Rubio feeds Steven Beitashour down the wing who slots a ball across the face of goal to find Gyasi Zardes in front of net

NSH 54′: Shaq Moore dishes a pass to Randall Leal who sends a ball in the channel to Hany Mukhtar who fires a shot and scores

NSH 61′: After a blocked shot in the box, Jacob Shaffelburg comes crashing in the box and fires a shot on frame to score

NSH 75′: Randall Leal fires a shot on frame that is saved in the air where Hany Mukhtar leaps over a Colorado defender to complete his hat trick

Notes:

Nashville SC:

tied its highest goal total of the season tonight (4)

scored its first hat trick at GEODIS Park

has scored three or more goals in three consecutive matches, outscoring its opponents 11-1 in the last three matches

had a higher expected goals average than Colorado (2.55-0.39)

completed the season sweep of the Colorado Rapids, out-scoring them 7-1 in the season series. This marks the second season sweep of two-matches or more (also Seattle Sounders FC)

have held opponents to lower than a 1.00 expected goals in three consecutive matches

has outscored their opponents 26-12 in the first half of a match this season

is unbeaten this season when scoring the first goal of the match 10W-0L-7D

is 28W-4L-12D when scoring the first goal all-time

is 18W-1L-0D all-time when scoring three goals or more in a match

Randall Leal has recorded a goal or assist in consecutive matches

Shaq Moore recorded his second assist of the season

Hany Mukhtar

has contributed to at least one goal in eight straight home matches

has scored in at least seven of the last eight home matches

led the team in shots (7) and shots on target (5) tonight

is the team leader in goals (19) and assists (11) and leads all of MLS in combined goals and assists, and tied for first in goals at the conclusion of tonight’s match

has contributed to at least one goal in 14 of his last 17 MLS appearances

Walker Zimmerman led the team in completed passes (52)

Box Score:

Nashville SC (11W-9L-9D, 42 pts.) vs. Colorado Rapids (8W-12L-8D, 32 pts.)

August 31, 2022 – GEODIS Park

Final Score

NSH: 4

COL: 1

Scoring Summary

NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Penalty) 29′

COL: Gyasi Zardes (Steven Beitashour & Diego Rubio) 35′

NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Randall Leal & Shaq Moore) 54′

NSH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Unassisted) 61′

NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Unassisted) 75′

Discipline

COL: Lalas Abubakar (caution) 41′

NSH: Aníbal Godoy (caution) 45′

NSH: Randall Leal (caution) 59′

NSH: Dax McCarty (caution) 69′

COL: Bryan Acosta (dissent) 70′

Lineups

NSH: Joe Willis; Daniel Lovitz, Jack Maher, Shaq Moore (Eric Miller 88′), Walker Zimmerman (C), Hany Mukhtar (Luke Haakenson 80′), Jacob Shaffelburg (Alex Muyl 64′), Anibal Godoy (Dax McCarty 64′), Sean Davis, Randall Leal, CJ Sapong (Ethan Zubak 80′)

Unused Substitutes: Dave Romney, Taylor Washington, Tah Brian Anunga, Elliot Panicco

COL: William Yarbrough; Keegan Rosenberry, Lalas Abubakar, Steven Beitashour; Jonathan Lewis (Sam Nicholson 76′), Felipe Gutierrez (Ralph Priso 90′), Bryan Acosta (Max 82′), Lucas Esteves, Diego Rubio (C) (Collen Warner 90+1′), Michael Barrios, Gyasi Zardes (Darren Yapi 82′)

Unused Substitutes: Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Danny Wilson, Anthony Markanich

Referee: Mark Allatin

AR1: Corey Parker

AR2: Kyle Atkins

4th Official: Silviu Petrescu

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

AVAR: Eric Weisbrod

Weather: Clear, 80 degrees

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