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2022 Major League Soccer, Regular Season
  • Christian Fuchs (26' PEN)
  • Karol Swiderski (61')
  • Sergio Ruiz (89')
  • Andre Shinyashiki (90'+1')
  • Hany Mukhtar (67' PEN)

Charlotte FC breaks out in 2nd half to rout Nashville

Christian Fuchs scored on a first-half penalty kick, and Karol Swiderski, Sergio Ruiz and Andre Shinyashiki added second-half goals as Charlotte FC defeated visiting Nashville SC 4-1 on Saturday night.

Charlotte FC (8-10-2, 26 points) is in its inaugural season and this result marks the first time in MLS play that either team in one of its games has reached the four-goal mark.

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Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina made six saves.

Joe Willis was back as Nashville's goalkeeper following a one-game benching. He stopped two shots. Nashville SC (7-7-6, 27 points) lost for just the second time in MLS action since May 14 in what became its most-lopsided margin of the season.

Fuchs posted his second goal of the season in the 26th minute. Fuchs delivered the left-footed penalty kick to the bottom left corner, with Willis guessing wrong and diving in the other direction.

That opportunity was set up when Nashville SC's Tah Anunga was called for a foul in the penalty area, with Sergio Ruiz drawing the foul.

Swiderski's goal came on a header in the 61st minute for a 2-0 lead. Yordy Reyna's cross set up the goal.

But Nashville applied pressure and benefited from Hany Mukhtar's penalty kick to draw within 2-1 in the 67th minute. Mukhtar drew the penalty on a foul by Harrison Afful in the penalty area.

The goal added to Mukhtar's historic impact for Nashville SC, who are in their third MLS season. Mukhtar has been involved in 51 of the 103 goals scored during regular season play in team history.

The goals from Ruiz and Shinyashiki came in the 89th minute and extra time, respectively. Benjamin Bender assisted on Ruiz's tally, while Shinyashiki was unassisted with a blast from outside the box.

The start of the game was delayed for about 30 minutes after pregame storms swept through the area.

MLS Standings

POS Team GP GD PTS
1 St. Louis CITY SC 15 +16 28
2 Seattle Sounders FC 17 +7 27
3 LAFC 13 +13 26
4 FC Dallas 17 +3 26
5 San Jose Earthquakes 16 0 23
6 Vancouver Whitecaps 16 +6 21
7 Minnesota United FC 16 -3 20
8 Austin FC 16 -6 19
9 Real Salt Lake 16 -9 19
10 Houston Dynamo FC 15 -6 18
11 Portland Timbers 16 -5 17
12 Sporting Kansas City 17 -8 17
13 Colorado Rapids 17 -11 13
14 LA Galaxy 15 -13 12

MLS Standings

POS Team GP GD PTS
1 FC Cincinnati 16 +11 39
2 Nashville SC 16 +13 31
3 Philadelphia Union 16 +12 30
4 New England Revolution 16 +5 27
5 Atlanta United FC 17 +4 25
6 Columbus Crew 16 +9 24
7 D.C. United 17 +3 23
8 Orlando City SC 15 +3 23
9 Charlotte FC 17 -8 21
10 CF Montréal 16 -12 19
11 New York Red Bulls 17 -5 19
12 Toronto FC 17 -4 18
13 New York City FC 16 -5 17
14 Chicago Fire FC 16 -4 17
15 Inter Miami CF 16 -6 15