Sam Surridge and Alex Muyl scored first-half goals to help Nashville SC post a 2-1 victory over visiting Charlotte FC on Saturday night.
Shaq Moore and Taylor Washington registered assists and Joe Willis made three saves for Nashville (1-0-3, 6 points).
Brecht Dejaegere scored a first-half stoppage-time goal for Charlotte (1-2-1, 4 points).
Charlotte had a superb opportunity to tie the match in the 87th minute but Patrick Agyemang sent his header wide to the left.
In the second minute of second-half stoppage time, Dejaegere’s header was saved by Willis.
Nashville has scored five goals in its four MLS matches this season.
Charlotte has three goals in four league matches.
Charlotte had a 9-8 edge in shots and placed four on target to Nashville’s two.
Nashville took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute when Surridge sent a header into the top right corner of the net.
Eight minutes later, Nashville took a two-goal advantage when Muyl’s header went into the left portion of the net.
Charlotte got on the board in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time. Jere Uronen fed a short pass to Dejaegere, who booted a point-blank right-footer into the left corner of the net.
Both teams had solid chances in the first 22 minutes of the second half.
Surridge made a bid for a brace in the 51st minute but his right-footed blast sailed over the net.
Charlotte came up empty on a free kick in the 56th minute as Uronen delivered a high right-footed shot that Willis tipped and the ball caromed off the crossbar.
Five minutes later, Muyl had a shot at his second goal but his right-footer narrowly ticked off the left goal post.
In the 67th minute, Charlotte had another free kick. This time, Scott Arfield took it and his hard right-footed shot sailed just over the top of the net.
Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina didn’t record any saves.
–Field Level Media