Hany Mukhtar scored a brace as Nashville SC brushed aside visitors Toronto FC 2-0 on Saturday night.
Veteran Joe Willis made three saves and recorded a clean sheet for Nashville (18-3-6, 60 points) in his first appearance of the season as the Boys in Gold avenged their 2-1 defeat to Toronto (6-10-11, 29 points) earlier in the month.
Mukhtar opened the scoring in the 16th minute, Elias Saad playing the ball to Cristian Espinoza at the far post, who squared it to the German for an easy tap-in. Saad recovered the ball when defender Nicksoen Gomis scuffed his clearing attempt moments earlier.
Willis made an athletic double save in the 37th minute, denying Theo Corbeanu from the edge of the box and then Josh Sargent from near the penalty spot.
Mukhtar scored his second from long range, shuttling the ball to the edge of the box and blasting it into the far corner in the 43rd minute. Goalkeeper Luka Gavran remained frozen on his goal line, making no attempt at a desperation save.
Nashville’s Sam Surridge had a number of opportunities to extend his scoring streak to three games. Perhaps his best opportunity came in the 66th minute when Gavran denied him on a close-range header.
Gavran made a number of key stops on the 11 attempts on target he faced to keep the scoreline respectable.
TFC were forced to field a rotated backline with Walker Zimmerman (suspended), Richie Laryea and Benjamin Kuscevic (both on international duty) all absent. Willis was forced between the sticks for Nashville with Brian Schwake and Xavier Valdez both away on international duty.
Alejandro Piedrahita made his debut for the visitors, entering the match as a substitute in the 73rd minute. Toronto captain Jonathan Osorio started his first match since July 31. Toronto is now winless in three.
Mukhtar has three goals in two games. BJ Callaghan’s men remain undefeated at Geodis Park with three home games remaining.
–Field Level Media
