Hany Mukhtar’s second goal of the game came on a penalty kick in stoppage time to give Nashville SC a 2-1 victory against host Charlotte FC on Saturday night.
The winning goal came after a penalty on Charlotte’s Nathan Byrne in the penalty area.
Mukhtar’s first goal was a first-half tally that wasn’t one of beauty like many coming from the high-scoring player, but it enabled him to have a special night.
Brandt Bronico scored for Charlotte early in the game.
Goalkeeper Joe Willis made five saves for Nashville (7-3-4, 25 points), which extended its unbeaten streak to six games at 4-0-2.
Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina was credited with two saves for Charlotte (5-6-3, 18 points), which had a three-game winning streak end.
The teams were mostly even in terms of position in the second half, much like the opening 45 minutes. Charlotte had two corner kicks in the game’s final eight minutes.
Bronico, a midfielder, scored in the sixth minute for his first goal in his second MLS season. He gained control of the ball just as he entered the box, then muscled his way into close range, shielding off three Nashville players before tucking the shot in the left side of the net.
Justin Meram’s assist on the sequence continued the production from the newcomer who has spent less than a month with the team since a trade from Real Salt Lake.
Meram became the first player in Charlotte FC franchise history to record a goal or an assist in four consecutive games. Those are the only four games he has played for the team.
Mukhtar tied the score in the 39th minute for his seventh goal of the season and his first since a hat trick three games earlier. It came on a bouncing shot from outside the box. Sean Davis assisted on the transition goal.
Mukhtar also scored a goal last year in Charlotte, though that came in a 4-1 defeat.
–Field Level Media
