Ahmed Qasem scored his second goal in as many career MLS starts, Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar each added their first of the season and Nashville SC pulled off a 3-1 upset victory over the Philadelphia Union on Sunday afternoon in Chester, Pa.
Mukhtar scored on a penalty late in the second half following a video review, in which referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere reversed his original decision not to penalize Jakob Glesnes’ late aerial challenge.
Not long before, Lauziere was instructed to review replay at the other end of the field for an offense that could’ve given Philadelphia a game-tying PK attempt, but stuck with his decision on the field.
Joe Willis made four saves for Nashville (2-1-1, 7 points), including a late double stop of Quinn Sullivan’s penalty and Bruno Damiani’s rebound attempt.
Jovan Lukic scored his second goal of the season for Philadelphia (3-1-0, 9 points), which suffered its first defeat under new manager Bradley Carnell. Philadelphia’s Tai Baribo was kept scoreless for the first time this season, keeping his MLS-leading total at six goals.
Qasem had been excellent in his first MLS start last weekend, earning a penalty kick attempt and then eventually scoring from open play in a 2-0 home win against Portland.
On Sunday, he gave his side a 2-1 lead just before halftime after Daniel Lovitz’s first-time pass from his own half freed the attacker into a break down the right. Qasem controlled it well and guided a low finish from a tight angle past Andre Blake and inside the far post.
Willis made an excellent stop with his legs to deny Daniel Gazdag a close-range equalizer in the 58th minute. Not long after, Philly thought it could tie it after Lauziere was asked to review Lovitz’s challenge on Quinn Sullivan. After a lengthy look, Lauziere stuck with his on-field decision.
Several minutes after that, Lauziere was again summoned for Glesnes’ aerial challenge on Mukhtar, and this time judged the defender to have felled the attacker following his flick-on header.
Mukhtar had missed two penalties a week ago. This time he stepped up and chipped coolly down the middle as Blake lunged to his right, doubling the visitors’ advantage in the 82nd minute.
Lauziere eventually awarded a penalty to Philadelphia deep in second-half stoppage time for Lovitz’s late lunge on Chris Donovan, but Willis’ double-save denied the Union again.
–Field Level Media
