Nashville SC Keeps Record Pace with 4-0 Home Win over FC Cincinnati
MLS Nashville SC

Nashville SC Keeps Record Pace with 4-0 Home Win over FC Cincinnati

Published on August 29, 2026 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Nashville SC News Release


Nashville, TN - MLS-leading Nashville Soccer Club maintained its record pace Saturday night at GEODIS Park, defeating FC Cincinnati 4-0 for the best 22-match regular season start in MLS history (16W-2L-4D, 52 points) while matching the best home start through 12 matches in league history at 11W-0L-1D.

Sam Surridge kicked off the scoring with a header in the 43rd minute from Cristian Espinoza and Andy Najar, with Hany Mukhtar doubling the advantage in the 54th minute assisted by Elias Saad and Surridge.

Bryan Acosta scored his third MLS goal of the season in the 90th minute on a Mukhtar assist and Ahmed Qasem added a fourth in the 90th + 6 minute with helpers from Reed Baker-Whiting and Shak Mohammed.

Nobody hotter: Nashville SC, currently on the longest active winning streak in MLS at four straight, has earned the most points in MLS play since the World Cup break with 19.

And another one: One week after setting the record for the best 21-match start in MLS history, the Boys in Gold set the record for points (52) through 22 regular season matches.

Rare air: With Saturday's win, Nashville SC matched the best home start in MLS history through 12 matches with 11 wins and 34 points and remains the only team unbeaten at home in league play this season.

History repeats itself: Saturday night's victory was the Boys in Gold's 16th in MLS this season, matching the club record for regular season wins with 12 matches remaining.

Next up: Nashville SC will play its first of three straight road matches on Friday, Sept. 4 when it visits New York City FC at Yankee Stadium at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Notes:

Nashville SC:

is off to the best start through 22 matches in MLS history at 16W-2L-4D and 52 points

is tied for the best home start through 12 matches in MLS history at 11W-0L-1D and 34 points

is unbeaten in 15 of its last 16 MLS matches at 12W-1L-3D

is in first place in MLS

tied its single season record for most regular season wins with 16

is the only unbeaten home team in MLS this season

is outscoring opponents 36-12 at GEODIS Park in MLS play this season

scored three or more goals in four of its last six matches in all competitions (MLS, Leagues Cup)

is unbeaten in 27 of 33 matches this season across all competitions (MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup)

is 20W-6L-7D across all competitions this season

has earned an MLS-best 19 points since the World Cup break

Bryan Acosta scored his third MLS goal of the season, tying his single-season career high

Cristian Espinoza recorded his league-leading 11th assist of the season

Warren Madrigal did not dress due to a lower body injury

Hany Mukhtar

scored his 10th MLS goal of the season and his fourth in as many matches

recorded his sixth multi-goal match of the 2026 regular season and second in as many matches

recorded his ninth career assist against FC Cincinnati, his most against any MLS opponent

Andy Najar

recorded his sixth MLS assist of the season

has three goal contributions in his last four MLS matches (two goals, one assist)

Ahmed Qasem scored his second MLS goal of the season

Elias Saad recorded his third MLS assist of the season and third in five league appearances

Brian Schwake made six saves and recorded his 10th MLS shutout of the season (15th across all competitions)

Sam Surridge

scored his team-leading 13th MLS goal of the season and his fourth in four career regular season matches vs. FC Cincinnati

recorded his first MLS assist of the season

earned Man of the Match honors

Eddi Tagseth made his 50th career MLS regular season appearance

Reed Baker-Whiting recorded his third MLS assist of the season and fourth goal contribution in his last four MLS matches

Shak Mohammed recorded his first career MLS assist

Box score:

Nashville SC (16W-2L-4D) vs. FC Cincinnati (8W-7L-7D)

Aug. 29, 2026 - GEODIS Park

Final score:

NSH: 4

CIN: 0

Scoring summary:

NSH: Sam Surridge (A: Cristian Espinoza, Andy Najar) 43'

NSH: Hany Mukhtar (A: Elias Saad, Sam Surridge) 54'

NSH: Bryan Acosta (A: Hany Mukhtar) 90'

NSH: Ahmed Qasem (A: Reed Baker-Whiting, Shak Mohammed) 90+6'

Discipline:

CIN: Obinna Nwobodo (Caution) 44'

NSH: Andy Najar (Caution) 48'

NSH: Jeisson Palacios (Caution) 70'

NSH: Eddi Tagseth (Caution) 79'

CIN: Bryan Ramirez (Caution) 89'

Lineups:

NSH starters: Brian Schwake; Reed Baker-Whiting, Maxwell Woledzi, Jeisson Palacios, Andy Najar (Dan Lovitz 87'); Patrick Yazbek (Matthew Corcoran 62'), Eddi Tagseth (Bryan Acosta 87'), Elias Saad (Alex Muyl 90' + 4); Cristian Espinoza (Shak Mohammed 87'), Hany Mukhtar (C) (Ahmed Qasem 90'+ 5), Sam Surridge

Substitutes: Joe Willis, Jack Maher, Josh Bauer

CIN starters: Roman Celentano; Samuel Gidi (Kyle Smith 66'), Miles Robinson, Matt Miazga; Obinna Nwobodo (Bryan Ramirez 46'), Evander (C) (Tah Brian Anunga 90+1'), Gerardo Valenzuela (Tom Barlow 73'), Ender Echenique (Alvas Powell 87'), Kevin Denkey, Kenji Mboma Dem (Ayoub Jabbari 46'), Pavel Bucha

Substitutes: Evan Louro, Nick Hagglund, Teenage Hadebe

Match officials:

Referee: Armando Villarreal

AR1: Kathryn Nesbitt

AR2: Diego Blas

4TH: Rubiel Vazquez

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

AVAR: Jonathan Johnson

Weather: 88 degrees and clear

MEDIA RESOURCES:

POST-MATCH QUOTES FROM NASHVILLE SOCCER CLUB VS. FC CINCINNATI

HEAD COACH B.J. CALLAGHAN

(On tonight's win...)

"I think tonight there were different challenges posed to us by a really good attacking team that's got talent and halftime subs when more [good] guys come on. I thought at the beginning of the game we started pretty well, then we had to weather a little bit. Then kind of the same thing in the second half, there was a good start and then there was a period of time where we had to weather. I think getting a shutout against a really good Cincinnati attacking team is a huge positive for the group. I thought the way we were able to create chances in different ways was a huge positive. The guys that came on and made an impact was also really positive. For us we are constantly going to try and get better and I thought tonight some of the difficulties Cincinnati gave us we were able to learn and manage those situations. When we have the ability to look back at it and kind of start to prepare next week, we'll be better for that."

GOALKEEPER BRIAN SCHWAKE

(On the feeling in the locker room after another big win...)

"The boys are buzzing. We had a strong performance today in every aspect of the game, so there's a lot to be happy about. There are obviously some things we can get better at, which is normal, but everyone's enjoying the win right now."

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 29, 2026


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