Nashville SC clean lowly Chicago Hearth to complete on a robust observe

Alex Muyl, Sam Surridge and Jacob Shaffelburg scored second-half objectives as Nashville SC defeated the host Chicago Hearth 3-0 on MLS’ Determination Day.

Anibal Godoy had a pair of assists and goalkeeper Elliot Joseph Panicco made six saves in posting the shutout for Nashville (9-16-9, 36 factors), which missed the playoffs for the primary time since becoming a member of the league in 2020.

Chris Brady made three saves for the Hearth (7-20-9, 30 factors), who completed final within the Japanese Convention.

The spotlight for Chicago may need come when Gregg Berhalter, the previous U.S. nationwide group coach, sounded the hearth alarm earlier than the match. Berhalter has been employed because the membership’s coach and director of soccer, a job he’ll assume within the offseason.

After a scoreless first half, Muyl tallied within the 54th minute. He took a cross from Godoy alongside the left sideline about 35 yards from the purpose and dribbled into the penalty space earlier than making an attempt a shot from about 12 yards out. The shot deflected off a pair of Chicago defenders and looped over a leaping Brady and into the far facet netting.

Surridge made it 2-0 within the 87th minute, taking a cross close to midfield and making a run by a number of defenders earlier than poking a shot previous a charging Brady from 10 yards out.

Shaffelburg capped the scoring in second-half stoppage time, his shot from the fitting facet of the penalty space going by the legs of defender Jonathan Dean and off the close to publish on its approach into the online.

Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar, who wanted two objectives to grow to be the primary participant in MLS historical past to report 10-plus objectives and 10-plus assists in 4 consecutive seasons, had a pair of golden alternatives within the second half.

Within the 52nd minute, Mukhtar took a cross in the midst of the penalty space together with his again to the online, spun and located he was surrounded by Brady and a trio of defenders. Mukhtar maneuvered to get a shot off, however it went off the again of Chicago’s Jonathan Dean and over the crossbar.

Ten minutes later, Mukhtar moved in on a two-on-one breakaway with Shaffelburg. Mukhtar bought the ball again simply outdoors the highest of the 6-yard field with solely Brady between him and the online. Mukhtar tried to chip the ball over the goalie however did not get a lot energy on the shot and the Hearth’s Kellyn Acosta was capable of loop again and clear the ball simply earlier than it reached the purpose line.