Match Recap: Late penalty lifts 10 man Nashville SC to 1-0 win over Philadelphia Union
Determined performance extends unbeaten streak to 14
In a battle among heavyweight Eastern Conference contenders, it was the late show as Hany Mukhtar sunk a 101st minute penalty to give Nashville SC an improbable 1-0 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Union.
The win lifts the Boys in Gold to second in the East, and results elsewhere ensure they also rise to second in the Supporters Shield table, one point behind leaders Cincinnati in both sets of standings.
A 68th minute red card for Nashville’s Jonathan Pérez looked like it might take the fight out of the Boys in Gold, but B.J. Callaghan’s men put together one of the gutsiest displays in club history as they propelled themselves past Philadelphia, and affirmed their status among the elite in Major League Soccer.
Let’s take a look.
Lineup
It was a full strength side for Nashville as Joe Willis started in goal behind a backline of Andy Najar, Jeisson Palacios, Jack Maher and Dan Lovitz.
Eddi Tagseth returned from suspension alongside Patrick Yazbek, as the two of them fed a front four of Alex Muyl, Jonathan Pérez, Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge.
Off the bench, Ahmed Qasen, Bryan Acosta, Teal Bunbury and Josh Bauer were called upon to reinforce the shorthanded Nashville.
The Numbers
Nashville SC
Shots: 11
Shots on goal: 3
Possession: 51.7%
Corners: 4
xG: 2.0
Yellow Cards: 1 (Eddi Tagseth)
Red Cards: 1 (Jonathan Pérez)
Philadelphia Union
Shots: 11
Shots on goal: 3
Possession: 48.3%
Corners: 3
xG: 1.2
Yellow Cards: 4 (Cavan Sullivan, Kai Wagner, Jakob Glesnes, Ben Bender)
Analysis
What an unbelievable win for Nashville SC. Quite comfortably the biggest win the club’s had since defeating CF Monterrey in 2023’s Leagues Cup Semifinal. Quite comfortably the loudest GEODIS Park has been since playing Inter Miami in CONCACAF Champions Cup last season.
Enough applause cannot be given to this organization, top to bottom, from the coaching staff to the scouting and recruitment team to the front office for turning this team around as quickly as they have.
Not only is this team utterly unrecognizable from last season, this perhaps is the very best Nashville SC team to ever be fielded. They’re serious threats to win the U.S. Open Cup. They’re serious threats to win the Supporters Shield. They’re serious threats to win MLS Cup.
There’s nothing this team cannot do, and all I ask is you please enjoy watching them from here on out. This win marks 14 straight games unbeaten in all competitions, and while that will surely come to an end at some point, it cannot be lost how incredible a run like that truly is.
There’s a group of about six clubs at the top of Major League Soccer right now. For me, that’s San Diego FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew SC, Inter Miami CF, and your very own Nashville SC.
These are the clubs that are going to decide, one way or another, how the rest of this 2025 season plays out. In February, when we did our preseason predictions, I felt bullish picking Nashville to finish sixth in the East.
What a fool I am, huh?