Hany Mukhtar heats up as Nashville SC continue home dominance  | OneFootball

By Ben Wright

NASHVILLE, Tenn**. -** On Wednesday night, Nashville SC did something they'd never done before: beat the New York Red Bulls.

Hany Mukhtar's second-half strike gave the Coyotes their first win over the Red Bulls in eight attempts in a 2-1 victory at Geodis Park. They've won four of their last five matches, have a club-best 23 points through 13 matches, and have won six matches at home already this season. In the entirety of the 2024 season, they won just six.

"From day one when we started here, we said that we want to be a team that represents the city," BJ Callaghan told media afterwards. "We want to be a team that represents the fans and that they can be proud. And we want them to come to the stadium. They gave us great energy... And we want this part to be a really difficult place to play. And right now it is."

Home cooking

Through 13 match weeks, Nashville have the best home record in MLS, taking 19 points from eight home matches. Wednesday's result was the latest in a string of steadily improving performances, and Callaghan was especially pleased in the way they scored, a quick counter and a crisp passing move.

"When you daydream about what a Nashville goal will look like, those two are right up there," Callaghan laughed.

The opener came from Patrick Yazbek, his first-ever in a Nashville shirt. The 23-year-old Australian international hasn't historically been a prolific scorer, with just four goals in nearly 120 professional appearances. That didn't seem to be an issue on Wednesday, drilling an absolute laser past Carlos Coronel, smashing the net so hard that it rolled back all the way out of the penalty area.

"It just came off nicely," Yazbek said. "I've been working on my finishing. There are times where I probably should be a little bit more selfish than what I am on the field. I just started to let it rip. So it was nice, good feeling."

Yazbek has quietly been a crucial piece of Nashville's success. Paired with newcomer Eddi Tagseth in midfield, they've formed a dynamic partnership at the heart of Callaghan's 4-2-2-2 formation. The duo have collectively covered 165 miles already this season, per Sportec, and have done a lot of the dirty work that makes this club tick.

The goal pulls the spotlight back towards Yazbek momentarily, but it doesn't change anything in his mind.

"I don't play this sport to get credit. I just love it," he said. "I love it so much and I'm always watching games back and I know my worth in this team for sure, I know all the boys do and all the fans do... Goals are important for individuals and if I can contribute in that way and also get a win, I'm happy."

Mukhtar delivers

The other key piece of this win? Hany Mukhtar. A notoriously slow starter, the 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP is rounding into form, scoring four goals and adding two assists in his last five games.

"Hany's a player that eats, breathes, and sleeps soccer," said Callaghan. "He's someone who's constantly trying to improve himself, find ways, and study the game and how he can improve there... He's truly dedicated at his craft and he's constantly working to improve.

"And I think that's why you see an upward trajectory throughout his seasons. And selfishly, I'd rather it that way. I'd rather slow starts and hot finishes than the other way around."