Nashville SC produced a breathtaking late escape at GEODIS Park on Saturday night, scoring twice in stoppage time to beat Columbus Crew 3-2 in Major League Soccer.
Hany Mukhtar gave the home side a deserved first-half lead with his goal in the 27th minute, capping a controlled opening in which Nashville established territorial authority and kept Columbus quiet in attack. Nashville went into the interval 1-0 ahead, with the visitors still searching for a way into the fixture.
Columbus found it after the restart. Mohamed Farsi levelled in the 58th minute, before André Gomes completed the turnaround with a free-kick goal in the 68th minute. With just three total shots on the night, the Crew had made two of them count and appeared poised to leave Tennessee with an unlikely three points.
But Nashville refused to relent. The hosts dominated the underlying numbers, finishing with 57.9 percent possession, 13 shots to Columbus’ three, six efforts on target and eight corners. Their pressure finally told deep into added time when substitute Reed Baker-Whiting headed home in the 90th minute plus three to make it 2-2.
There was still one final twist. Andy Najar struck in the 90th minute plus five, completing a remarkable two-goal stoppage-time surge and sparking celebrations around GEODIS Park as Nashville sealed the 3-2 win.
Goals
- Nashville SC: Hany Mukhtar, 27′
- Columbus Crew: Mohamed Farsi, 58′
- Columbus Crew: André Gomes, 68′
- Nashville SC: Reed Baker-Whiting, 90’+3′
- Nashville SC: Andy Najar, 90’+5′
Nashville SC next host FC Cincinnati on Saturday, August 29. Columbus Crew return home the same day to face New England Revolution.
