Mukhtar scores – Hany Mukhtar scored three times, including his first hat trick since 2023, as Nashville SC beat Los Angeles FC 3-2. The win kept Nashville unbeaten and fueled a slide for LAFC, which came in struggling for results.
Nashville SC didn’t just win Sunday night—it did it with a scoring surge that began early and kept LAFC chasing for 90 minutes.
Hany Mukhtar scored three goals, his first hat trick since 2023, as Nashville beat Los Angeles FC 3-2. Mukhtar, the 2022 MLS MVP, became the seventh player in MLS history to reach at least five regular-season hat tricks.
The first goal came in the 13th minute. Mukhtar tapped a pass to Warren Madrigal at the top of the penalty box. Madrigal flicked a slick return back to a charging Mukhtar, who finished from the right corner of the 6-yard box.
Madrigal’s impact kept building. The 21-year-old has five goal contributions—three goals and two assists—in the last five games.
Mukhtar then added free-kick goals in the 21st and 59th minutes, extending his total across Nashville. The 31-year-old has 101 goals across all competitions in 229 career appearances for the club.
LAFC got its chances but couldn’t shut down Nashville’s attack. David Martinez scored for LAFC in the 22nd minute for his second straight game, and Denis Bouanga added a goal in the 68th minute.
Brian Schwake made seven saves for Nashville. At the other end, Thomas Hasal made his second start this season in place of Hugo Lloris, who was sidelined with a thigh injury. Hasal finished with one save.
Lloris was injured in training Wednesday and is out indefinitely. LAFC’s time of trouble showed up in the standings as well: the club entered with a three-game losing streak and was winless in four straight.
Nashville arrived in control of the race. The team is 9-1-3, leads all of MLS with 30 points, and is unbeaten with five wins in its last seven games. San Jose and Vancouver were tied atop the Western Conference at 29 points apiece.
There were also absences for Nashville.. Sam Surridge and Andy Nájar did not play.. Surridge missed his fourth consecutive game due to what the club called a “middle body” injury.. The 27-year-old forward. injured late in a 4-2 loss to Charlotte on April 25. has nine goals in seven appearances this season. with four starts.. Nájar suffered a muscle injury in Wednesday’s 3-0 win at New England.
The picture on the field reflected Nashville’s edge in finishing despite LAFC having more opportunities. LAFC outshot Nashville 21-8, including 9-4 on target.
Nashville SC Los Angeles FC Hany Mukhtar MLS hat trick Warren Madrigal Denis Bouanga David Martinez