Major League Soccer
Nashville SC 3-2 Columbus Crew: Late brace seals dramatic home win
Hirving Mukhtar and D. Lovitz sparked a stunning Nashville comeback as two stoppage-time goals completed a 3-2 victory at Geodis Park.
Nashville SC rode a late surge to a 3-2 home victory over Columbus Crew at Geodis Park, with two goals in stoppage time sealing all three points on Sunday night.
The home side opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Hirving Mukhtar slotted home an assist from D. Lovitz, giving Nashville a narrow lead heading into halftime.
Columbus Crew equalized early in the second half through Maxime Chanot, who converted a cross from M. Amundsen in the 58th minute. Just ten minutes later, the visitors took the lead when A. Gomes found the net unmarked, leaving Nashville reeling.
A yellow card for D. Lovitz in the 39th minute added early pressure to the home side, while Columbus midfielder C. Ruvalcaba picked up a booking in first-half stoppage time before the break.
With the match seemingly slipping away, Nashville mounted a frantic push in the dying moments. In the 90+3rd minute, R. Baker-Whiting pulled one back, finishing off a clever pass from Mukhtar to reignite hope at Geodis Park.
Two minutes later, substitute A. Najar completed the turnaround, slotting home an assist from J. Palacios to make it 3-2 in dramatic fashion.
The result lifts Nashville SC to first place in the Eastern Conference with 46 points through 20 matches, while Columbus Crew remain in 12th on 20 points after the defeat.
Referee Victor Rivas brought the contest to a close after a tense five minutes of added time, confirming a memorable night for the home faithful at Geodis Park.
Both teams will regroup quickly, with Nashville’s late heroics serving as a reminder of how fine the margins can be in Major League Soccer.
The win not only showcased Nashville’s resilience but also highlighted the unpredictable drama that defines the regular season.