Anibal Godoy sends Nashville SC past Seattle Sounders

Anibal Godoy converted a cross from Randall Leal in the 80th minute, right after a shot on goal was cleared away, and Nashville SC held on for 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday night in the Major League Soccer season opener for both teams in rainy Seattle .

Godoy hit the winner moments after Seattle's Leo Chu, who'd just come on as a substitute, had a shot on goal from distance that missed high. The Sounders didn't have many good looks early and might have been dealing with the fatigue from a match they played Thursday in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Nashville was the stronger and fresher team in the first half, as the visitors had two good scoring chances in the 18th and 23rd minutes.

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Hany Mukhtar, last season's leading goal scorer for Nashville, got free on a breakaway and was headed toward the goal when the Sounders' Xavier Arreaga fouled him from behind for a yellow card, preventing a shot.

Five minutes later, Mukhtar had back-to-back shots on goal saved by Seattle's Stefan Frei, the first one in the bottom right corner of the net.

Seattle had a quality chance in the 37th minute. Defender Yeimar worked the ball into the box and had a chance to put in a deflected ball but missed wide.

Nashville wanted a handball on a shot under a Sounders defender in the 53rd minute but did not get the ball.

The Sounders put pressure on late to try and get a draw, as Nico Lodeiro's header in the third minute of second half stoppage time rolled just wide.

Seattle had more possession, had an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks and had 26 crosses to 13 for Nashville. The match marked the debut of newly acquired Albert Rusnak for the Sounders, and the return of forward Jordan Morris from a major injury.