After winning both of their Leagues Cup 2023 knockout ties until tonight on penalties, Nashville SC switched it up for their quarter-final clash with a thrashing of Minnesota United FC.
The visitors were looking to the tournament’s joint-top scorer Bongokuhle Hlongwane to deliver again, but were dealt a crucial blow on the half-hour mark as right-back DJ Taylor was sent off. Nashville then made the most of their numerical advantage by scoring no less than five goals over the next 30 minutes.
A couple of close-range strikes from Shaquell Moore and Teal Bunbury would see Gary Smith’s men ahead at half-time, before Alex Muyl headed in the third just after the break.
Sam Surridge then found the net for his second game since moving from the Premier League, after scoring a dramatic late equaliser against Club América on his debut. No Nashville winning performance would be complete without a Hany Mukhtar goal, and the German attacker duly added the fifth five minutes later, for his 15th of the campaign.
With the result all but wrapped up, the MLS Eastern Conference side saw out the match comfortably as they confirmed their spot in the tournament’s last four. The Tennessee outfit are now just one win away from a first-ever appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the continental competition kicking off next spring.
Mukhtar and his teammates will take on LIGA MX giants CF Monterrey for a ticket to the final, after Rayados came back from behind to beat Los Angeles FC.
