NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville SC earned all three points in a dominant 3-0 win against the Chicago Fire. The Boys in Gold were in control for the overwhelming majority of the match and massively limited the Fire.
Ben Wright
Let's see how each player performed!
• Players begin with a base grade of 6 and can increase or decrease their rating based on performance.
• Players must play a minimum of 15 minutes to earn a rating.
Brian Schwake - 6.5
Brian Schwake made a minor mistake coming out of his goal in the first half, but his defenders were there to cover. Otherwise, he wasn't tested much by Chicago. He kept things tidy and was there when needed.
Stock: Unchanged
Andy Nájar - 8.0
Andy Nájar continues to be a pillar of Nashville's build-up play. Though he might've had fewer touches than usual, he is still more involved than most full-backs. His understanding of the game and his teammates were on full display against Chicago. He also ended the night with a nice assist that came from an intelligent run.
Stock: Unchanged
Nashville have taken 37 from a possible 39 points at Geodis Park this season. That’s stupid good.
— Ben Wright (@benwright) September 20, 2026
Also, unless I’m wrong, this is their first ever game in which all three DPs have scored. https://t.co/5ExVpX8TU5
Jeisson Palacios - 8.5
Another stellar performance from Jeisson Palacios, who instilled confidence and calm in Nashville's defense whenever the Fire built up momentum. His decision-making in and around the penalty box was superb, often stopping danger before it developed into anything substantial.
As always, he was secure on the ball and rotated it well.
Stock: Up
Maxwell Woledzi - 8.0
Maxwell Woledzi had a quiet shift by his standards, but that's not necessarily a bad thing for a center-back. He was alert whenever the ball came to his side and held his ground well. He was also excellent on the ball.
Stock: Unchanged
Reed Baker-Whiting - 8.5
After a couple of questionable performances, Reed Baker-Whiting seems to be back at his top level. He was very involved on both sides of the ball, but he was especially impressive in possession. He was a handful on the left flank and created a few good chances. The full-back also delivered a nice assist to open the scoring.
Stock: Up
Matt Corcoran - 9.0
An excellent match by Matt Corcoran, who was the metronome of Nashville's game plan. He had the most touches and controlled the rhythm of the match overall. As the game progressed, he was feeling more comfortable and took more risks with the ball.
He ended the night with a very nice secondary assist for Nashville's first goal.
Stock: Up
Patrick Yazbek - 8.0
Patrick Yazbek only misplaced one of his 40 passes. This type of output is extremely important to how Nashville play, especially given the amount of possession they had. He was also solid defensively.
Stock: Unchanged
FT: that’s a comprehensive victory for NSC following a strong performance in Miami. They seem to be rounding back into form
— NSC Stats (@NSC_Stats) September 20, 2026
Yazbek was incredible. I think we really missed him. Corcoran a great partner
RBW maybe the signing of the season locking down both FB spots
Elias Saad - 7.0
A good shift from Elias Saad, who ended the match with the most touches in the opponent's box. He wasn't always involved in Nashville's build-up play, but when the ball fell to him, he often made the right decision. At times, his timing was off, and he held on to the ball a bit longer than required.
Stock: Unchanged
Cristian Espinoza - 8.5
Cristian Espinoza had a great match; he created the most chances, scored a goal, and delivered an assist. He was a constant threat on the right side, and Chicago's defenders had no answer for his creativity.
He could've and should've scored the first goal of the game after he was through on goal with only the keeper to beat, but his shot went wide.
Stock: Up
Hany Mukhtar - 8.0
Hany Mukhtar was rapid in his pressing and pressured the Chicago defenders into a couple of mistakes. He was great on the ball and often created space for himself and others.
He also scored a nice goal to cap off a great night for Nashville.
Stock: Unchanged
Sam Surridge - 8.0
Aside from his goal, Sam Surridge was a lot more involved in Nashville's attack, which helped him keep up with the pace of the game. It was a complete performance from the Englishman, who was effective in his pressing, passing and finishing when needed.
Stock: Up
Always in the right spot 🎯🙌 https://t.co/7AsBrvITMG pic.twitter.com/gyzD4KYtPc
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) September 20, 2026
Substitutes
Shak Mohammed - 6.5
Shak Mohammed worked tirelessly during his cameo and won the ball high up the pitch a couple of times. He was also perfect with his passing.
Stock: Unchanged
Dan Lovitz - N/A
Dan Lovitz was mostly put in to defend and ensure Nashville could see the game out, and he did exactly that.
Stock: Unchanged
Eddi Tagseth - N/A
Eddi Tagseth did well enough to keep things moving when Nashville had the ball. He also brought much-needed fresh legs to Nashville's midfield.
Stock: Unchanged
Alex Muyl - N/A
It was a very late and quick appearance for Alex Muyl. An easy addition to his appearance bonus, if he has one.
Stock: Unchanged
Josh Bauer - N/A
See Muyl rating above for the Josh Bauer rating.
Stock: Unchanged
Manager
BJ Callaghan - 9.0
BJ Callaghan again beats his longtime friend Greg Berhalter. His game plan was exactly what Nashville needed after multiple games in which they seemed to lose control at critical moments.
The measured, possession-based approach helped keep the ball in Chicago's half for most of the game. His personnel choices were spot on, especially his decision to stick with the Yazbek/Corcoran midfield.
