In a decisive Saturday night performance at Geodis Park, Nashville SC defeated FC Cincinnati 4-0, extending the team’s unbeaten run to four games and preserving its league‑leading record of 52 points after 22 matches. The win underscores Nashville’s historic start to the MLS season, the best in league history through this point count.
Key contributors
Sam Surridge added his 13th goal of the season and recorded an assist, opening the scoring with a header in the 43rd minute after a cross from Cristian Espinoza. Hany Mukhtar, who has now scored in four consecutive matches, provided a first‑touch finish in the 54th minute, further extending his personal tally to four goals in his last four games.
Late‑game substitutes also made their mark. Bryan Acosta, who entered in the 87th minute, struck the left post with a free‑kick delivery from Mukhtar in the 90th minute. Ahmed Qasem capped the scoring in stoppage time, finding the net in the sixth minute of added time.
Goalkeeping and defensive notes
Goalkeeper Brian Schwake recorded his 10th shutout of the season, tying for second‑most shutouts in MLS history with Jonathan Bond and Yohei Takaoka, behind only Hugo Lloris’s 11. Cincinnati’s Roman Celentano made three saves, but his side remains winless in their last four outings.
Season context
With a record of 16‑2‑4, Nashville sits atop the Eastern Conference and leads the entire league. The club’s single loss in its last 16 games dates back to a 1‑0 defeat at Chicago on April 4. The team’s offensive firepower and defensive solidity have combined to produce a points total that no MLS side has reached this early in a season.
FC Cincinnati, now 8‑7‑7, continues to search for consistency after a string of defeats. The loss marks their fourth straight without a win, highlighting the gap between the two clubs as the season progresses.
Looking ahead
Nashville SC will aim to maintain its momentum as it prepares for its next league matchup, while Cincinnati looks to regroup and find a path back to the win column. Fans can expect the rivalry to intensify as both clubs vie for playoff positioning later in the year.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
