Player Ratings: Nashville's 2-2 draw in the capital

Nashville SC couldn't hold onto a 2-0 lead on Saturday night, giving up two goals in the second half to draw with DC United, their second 2-2 draw of the 2026 season.

Recap: Nashville SC drop two-goal lead in DC

The Boys In Gold come back from the nation’s capital with a point.

SixOneFive SoccerValair Shabilla

Here's a look at which players stood out.

Brian Schwake - 8.0

Perhaps it's too generous to give Brian Schwake such a high rating after conceding two goals, but the young 'keeper was truly spectacular at points. He made five saves, including an incredible point-blank stop to deny Tai Baribo, and wasn't at fault for any of DC's goals.

Stock: Up

Andy Nájar - 7.0

Andy Nájar is still working back to full fitness after injury, but his quality down the right flank made a massive difference for Nashville in the first half. His ability to beat defenders can almost feel predictable at times because he does it so often. Could have done better with his delivery a few times.

Stock: Unchanged

Maxwell Woledzi - 6.0

Nashville's star defender had a mixed bag. He made some strong defensive interventions and was generally assured on the ball, but picked a really poor time in the second half to try and carry the ball through pressure. It's part of his game, but on the road with a one-goal lead, it was a risk that wasn't worth it. He turned the ball over, and then worked back to deflect the ensuing shot past Schwake into the net. A frustrating night for the Ghanaian.

Stock: Unchanged

Jeisson Palacios - 6.5

Jeisson Palacios played on edge the entire night, getting into it with DC's attackers from the opening whistle. Solid in possession and good in the air, and he made an exceptional sliding tackle late in the game to deny what seemed like a certain goal.

Stock: Unchanged

Dan Lovitz - 6.5

Dan Lovitz wasn't quite as efficient in possession as he usually is, completing just 68% of his passes, but he did a good job acting as an outlet in possession and looking to get the ball into the box.

At times he could have done better to shut down service into the penalty area more quickly.

Stock: Unchanged

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Matt Corcoran - 6.5

It was a fine, rather unremarkable night from the young midfielder. Matt Corcoran had a few tasty diagonals and was able to find space through DC's defensive block, but also had some sloppy positioning to close down passing lanes, and too often loses momentum with a poor first touch.

Stock: Unchanged

Eddi Tagseth - 7.0

Eddi Tagseth was more forward-thinking against DC, getting further up the pitch and playing in and around the box more than usual. This was before he slid out to the right side of midfield late in the game. He's quietly strung together some decent performances over the last two weeks.

Stock: Unchanged

Ahmed Qasem - 5.5

Ahmed Qasem is struggling to make a mark on games to any extent. He initially looked more comfortable when he began playing in a more central role, but he's consistently too slow in possession and too hesitant to play the ball forward. He took just one shot on the night and only played two passes into the penalty area. With Elias Saad in the squad and Cristian Espinoza and Warren Madrigal returning from injury, his path to playing time looks murky.

Stock: Down

Shak Mohammed - 8.0

Shak Mohammed can't stop scoring! The young winger still has moments in which he makes the wrong decision in the final third, but he's shown a knack for popping up in crucial spots in front of goal. He might not hold a spot in the starting lineup for much longer, but he'll certainly be one of the first names off the bench going forward.

Stock: Up

Hany Mukhtar - 7.5

This was potentially Hany Mukhtar's best showing since the World Cup. He didn't technically get the assist for Mohammed's goal, but the turn and pass to play Mohammed into the box was exquisite.

He went down an injury in the second half, taking a knock to his right ankle and holding his right calf. He came back onto the pitch for several minutes and was mostly mobile – albeit with a slight limp – but was uncharacteristically substituted off in the 76th minute. His status heading into Leagues Cup is one to watch. Nashville can't afford to miss him once MLS play returns.

Stock: Up

Sam Surridge - 7.5

Sam Surridge bagged his 50th goal in MLS play (regular season and playoffs) from the penalty spot to give Nashville the lead, and he's firmly in the Golden Boot race despite playing just over 1,200 minutes so far this year.

Surridge was more involved from open play than in the past few weeks, touching the ball 29 times. His combination with Warren Madrigal in the second half was especially encouraging.

Stock: Unchanged

Substitutes

Elias Saad - 6.5

The Tunisian international made his Nashville debut in the 62nd minute and looked lively, eager to take on defenders 1v1. He had a few nice interchanges around the box, and looked like a difference maker once he's fully acclimated.

Stock: Up

Warren Madrigal - 6.5

Warren Madrigal return to the pitch for the first time post-World Cup and instantly threatened to get in behind DC's backline, opening up space that had been sorely lacking. He had a couple cushioned headers for Surridge that nearly led to a goal.

Stock: Up

Bryan Acosta - 6.0

It was another emergency shift for Bryan Acosta, who slotted in for Hany Mukhtar with roughly 15 minutes to play. The Honduran had a few teasing set piece deliveries, but also had a pair of really sloppy giveaways that could have cost Nashville on another night.

Stock: Unchanged

Josh Bauer - N/A

The versatile defender came on for the final six minutes to close things down, and he helped absorb pressure as DC pushed for a winner.

Stock: Unchanged

Reed Baker-Whiting - N/A

Reed Baker-Whiting returned from injury for a late cameo, playing in a much more advanced role on the right wing.

Stock: Unchanged

Manager

BJ Callaghan - 7.0

Nashville played significantly better in the first half, and at times showed flashes of the Nashville side we saw before the World Cup break. It's hard to blame Callaghan for either of the goals conceded, one being a controversial video refereeing decision and the other a poor individual decision from Woledzi, but Nashville didn't deal well with the mounting pressure from DC in the second half.

Callaghan will need to use the Leagues Cup break to get players healthy and integrate new signings like Elias Saad and Famara Camara. Nashville haven't been great since returning to play, but they've survived. They'll need to do much more than that on August 15 against fellow Supporters' Shield contenders Inter Miami. Everything needs to be focused on being back to their best by then.