Sporting KC snaps Nashville SC's lengthy home unbeaten streak

Updated: May 17, 2023, 04:56 am

Felipe Hernandez and Graham Zusi scored goals and Sporting Kansas City halted Nashville SC's 22-game home unbeaten streak with a 2-1 victory on Sunday in Nashville.

Ake Loba scored for Nashville, which lost at home for the first time in MLS play since falling 1-0 to FC Dallas on Nov. 4, 2020. The home unbeaten streak was sixth longest in MLS history.

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The victory was the first on the road in nine attempts (1-6-2) this season for Sporting Kansas City (4-9-4, 16 points).

Nashville (6-5-5, 23 points) also saw its five-match overall unbeaten streak (3-0-2) end.

Nashville appeared to be in a good position to tie the match when it was initially awarded a penalty kick in the 87th minute after Sporting KC's Logan Ndenbe took down Nashville's Alex Muyl in the box.

But the play was reviewed and three minutes later the penalty was rescinded due to Muyl being offside at the outset of the play.

Graham Zusi celebrates after his eye-catching goal that gave Sporting KC the win over Nashville SC.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia was called on to make just one save. Nashville goalie Joe Willis had two saves.

Nashville held a 9-8 edge in shots but placed just two on target. Sporting KC put four on net.

Sporting KC moved ahead in the 41st minute when Hernandez took a free kick from well outside the box. He sent the shot toward the net as Willis hesitated with players from both teams in the area in front of him.

But nobody touched the ball and Willis' slow reaction time allowed the shot to go into the right corner of the net.

The goal was Hernandez's first of the season.

Zusi made it 2-0 in the 51st minute when he sent a left-footed blast into the top left corner of the net. It was also Zusi's first goal of the campaign.

Nashville finally got on the board 12 minutes later after a Sporting KC miscue led to a break from midfield.

Hany Mukhtar received a pass and took a hard right-footed shot that was stopped by Melia. But the rebound went in the direction of Loba, who came forward and blasted the ball past Melia for his first goal of the season.

Nashville had a chance to tie in the 84th minute but Mukhtar was ruled to be offside when he received the ball before passing it to C.J. Sapong for an easy tap-in.