CHESTER, Pa. — In a thrilling MLS matchup on Sunday, Nashville SC secured a 3-1 victory, handing the Philadelphia Union their first defeat of the season. Nashville’s Sam Surridge and Ahmed Qasem both scored in the first half, while Hany Mukhtar sealed the win with a late penalty kick.
Nashville quickly took the lead at Chester, Pennsylvania with Surridge finding the back of the net in the 15th minute. Walker Zimmerman contributed with an assist, marking his first of the season and adding to his tally of seven assists over six seasons with Nashville. Surridge’s goal marked his first this season, following a successful last year where he scored 12 times.
The Union retaliated in the 33rd minute with a stunning unassisted goal from Jovan Lukic following a high deflection. This marked Lukic’s second career goal, achieved within his first four starts and appearances.
Nashville reclaimed their advantage shortly before halftime in the 44th minute. Qasem, a promising 21-year-old midfielder, scored his second goal within only two career starts and four appearances. Daniel Lovitz’s assist on the play was his second of the season, contributing to Nashville’s lead.
Hany Mukhtar further cemented the victory for Nashville with a penalty kick in the 82nd minute, scoring for the first time this season. The penalty was a result of a foul on Mukhtar by Jakob Glesnes.
In goal, Nashville’s Joe Willis managed to stop four shots, while Philadelphia’s Andre Blake recorded just one save. The match saw disciplinary action in stoppage time when Olwethu Makhanya, a rookie defender making his fourth start, received a red card.
A notable absence on the scoresheet for Philadelphia was Tai Baribo, who did not score for the first time this season. Baribo’s previous performances had matched a record from 1999 with six goals over the first three matches.
The Union began the season strong, winning their initial three matches under new manager Bradley Carnell, and had maintained a consistent lineup across these games – something not achieved since April 2022.
Looking ahead, Nashville is set to play against CF Montreal on Saturday, while the Philadelphia Union will host St. Louis City on the same day.
