Los Angeles FC defeated Nashville, 2-1, at GEODIS Park on July 17 in the first meeting between the sides in MLS. LAFC could become just the third team to beat Nashville home and away in a single regular season after Atlanta United did so in 2020 (3 meetings) and the Dynamo this year.
Los Angeles FC clinched its second Supporters’ Shield with a 2-1 victory over the Timbers on Sunday. LAFC is the second team in MLS history to win multiple Supporters’ Shields in its first five seasons in the league, joining MLS original D.C. United, who won the title in both 1997 and 1999.
Nashville SC’s six-match unbeaten streak ended with a 2-1 home loss against Houston on Sunday, dropping it to the fifth seed in the West. Nashville, now in a position to play a road playoff game in the first round, has lost only one of its last seven away matches (W3 D3) dating back to late May.
Carlos Vela scored the first of LAFC’s two goals against Portland on Sunday. Vela has scored four of LAFC’s last six MLS goals after scoring just two of its previous 35 league goals dating back to May.
Hany Mukhtar, with 23 goals, takes a two-goal lead into the final day of the season in the race for the Golden Boot. Should he win, the German will be just the third European to win the award (B. Wright-Phillips 2x, N. Nikolic) and the second from mainland Europe.
