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How Nashville SC, Hany Mukhtar pulled off shorthanded win vs Philadelphia Union
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- How Nashville SC, Hany Mukhtar pulled off shorthanded win vs Philadelphia Union
The first hour had everything — slick passes, mid-air collisions, diving saves and a large, raucous crowd in attendance — foreshadowing a classic ending to a showdown of two of Major League Soccer's best teams.
The ending was, in fact, classic. Just not in a way Nashville SC or the Philadelphia Union likely envisioned.
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While Jonathan Perez 's 63rd-minute red card flipped what had been an intense battle on its head, Nashville had no intention of rolling over. Hany Mukhtar 's game-winning penalty-kick goal 11 minutes into stoppage time gave 10-man Nashville (12-4-5, 41 points) a 1-0 win over the Union (12-5-4, 40 points) on July 5 at Geodis Park, extending its unbeaten streak to 14 matches across all competitions.
"Both teams played at a really, really high level," Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan said. "We're on the fortunate side. ... The whole group that we have, the belief that they have in each other, the way they push each other, the way they compete against each other, this is a real culture win."
Nashville has won four straight to vault into second place in the Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield standings, one point behind FC Cincinnati . It hosts D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on July 9.
Playoff-type match
A game featuring the two top goalscorers in MLS — Nashville's Sam Surridge and Philadelphia's Tai Baribo — was dominated by the goalkeepers instead.
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Nashville's Joe Willis recorded his seventh shutout of the season (good for third in MLS), making challenging stops on close-range shots by Chris Donovan and Bruno Damiani in the second half. Willis also got help from center back Jeisson Palacios, who cleared a shot from Damiani off the goal line in the 24th minute. Philadelphia's Andre Blake made key saves on Mukhtar and Alex Muyl early in the game.
Further upfield, the action was marked by a "playoff" intensity according to Mukhtar, who noticed "a little bit extra" in every duel.
"I'd like to think we made it difficult on them," Callaghan said. "They made it difficult on us."
Jul 5, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC forward Hany Mukhtar (10) celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Union during the second half at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Jonathan Perez red card forces Nashville to play a man down
Perez was sent off after he kicked Baribo in the head while going for a loose ball. In a postgame statement , the Professional Referee Organization cited "full contact with the studs to the head," which warranted a red card for "serious foul play."
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"The whole game was played at high intensity," Callaghan said. "A lot of bang-bang type of plays, lot of tackles, lot of high kicks. I respect the referee's decision on the field. It's not an easy job."
With just 10 players, Nashville played a more compact defense, looking to neutralize the Union's prowess on crosses and free kicks. Mukhtar cited recent inspiration from Paris-Saint Germain , which was down to nine men in its FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal against Bayern Munich on July 5 and won 2-0.
"We're here for Jonny," Mukhtar said. "He has been brilliant this season so far, and these things can happen to every single player. We need to respond. ... This gives you extra motivation. One man down doesn't mean anything."
MORE: Nashville SC right back Andy Najar named to 2025 MLS All-Star team
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Hany Mukhtar scores late winner
Mukhtar was as good as his word.
Off a 96th-minute throw-in, Mukhtar saw an opportunity. He broke free of Philadelphia's Olwethu Makhanya and won the race to the ball, but Makhanya knocked it loose with a sliding tackle in the penalty box. Mukhtar waited, arms outstretched, wondering when the foul would come: it took over a minute before a VAR check confirmed Makhanya had hit Mukhtar's leg, giving Nashville a penalty and a chance to steal all three points.
In Nashville's 3-1 win over the Union on March 16, Mukhtar beat Blake on a "Panenka" penalty — a soft chip down the middle. This time, he went with the opposite approach.
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"I had just one thing in mind," he said. "Hit it, you know. Just smash it."
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC beats Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Hany Mukhtar game-winner
