Hany Mukhtar recorded his third brace of the season and defender Daniel Lovitz also scored a goal to lift visiting Nashville SC to a 3-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday in Washington, D.C.
Mukhtar scored in first-half stoppage time and again in the 50th minute to push his team-leading goal total to eight on the season.
Randall Leal notched two assists, Dax McCarty had one and Joe Willis made two saves for Nashville SC (7-5-5, 26 points). The Music City representatives improved to 3-0-2 versus Eastern Conference foes this season and 3-0-1 all-time against D.C. United.
Taxiarchis Fountas scored in the 59th minute and Rafael Romo turned aside two shots for D.C. United (4-9-2, 14 points), who saw their winless skid extend to six matches (0-4-2).
Nashville SC opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Leal’s service was misplayed by D.C. United defenders Julian Gressel and Andy Najar. An unmarked Lovitz made D.C. United pay for the miscue by wiring a shot just inside the left post.
The goal was the first of the season and third career for Lovitz, who was making his 150th career MLS start.
Nashville SC doubled the advantage following a pretty passing sequence during first-half stoppage time. Leal deftly slipped the ball ahead to McCarty before the latter unselfishly fed Mukhtar for the proper finish at the right post.
Mukhtar added insurance after his left-footed shot caromed off D.C. United defender Steve Birnbaum and sailed skyward before finding its way into the net.
Mukhtar is no stranger to enjoying big performances versus D.C. United. He had the game-winning goal and added an assist in Nashville SC’s 5-2 win over D.C. United on Aug. 15, 2021.
Fountas converted Nigel Robertha’s centering feed for his sixth goal of the season, tying him with Ola Kamara for the team lead.
–Field Level Media
