NASHVILLE, TN – In a rollercoaster of a match, Nashville SC beat the Columbus crew 3-2. The Boys in Gold needed two stoppage-time goals to go ahead after being down 2-1. Nashville remain atop the Supporters' Shield standings, nine points clear of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Let's dig into some ratings!
• 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 - 5.5
Brian Schwake ended up with zero saves throughout the match. It's hard to pin either of Columbus' goals on him. For the first, he was let down by his defenders, and the second was a well-placed ball by Andre Gomez. Still, it was a below-average night by his standards.
Stock: Unchanged
Andy Nájar - 8.0
Andy Nájar wasn't as involved in attack in the first half, but continued to play his role off the ball. Once Nashville needed the boost to muster a comeback, he was front and center; everything Nashville did on the ball flowed through him.
He positioned himself well for the winner and took his finish beautifully.
Stock: Up
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! 😱😱
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 23, 2026
Two goals in two minutes for @NashvilleSC to surely complete an insane comeback win! pic.twitter.com/VpUk9axzGJ
Jeisson Palacios - 8.5
Jeisson Palacios had the most touches in the game. The Colombian was again solid defensively and did well on the ball. His vision and execution for the winner would make you think he's a world-renowned number 10, not a center-back. Four assists already in MLS play this season!
Stock: Up
Maxwell Woledzi - 8.0
Another great match for Maxwell Woledzi, despite the team conceding twice. He was able to recover multiple Columbus long balls that could've been dangerous if he hadn't intervened. He was exceptional on the ball, only miss-hitting one pass out of 77 tries.
Stock: Unchanged
Dan Lovitz - 6.5
Dan Lovitz played well for the majority of his shift, but could've been better during Columbus' goal. It wasn't all on him; he got caught in a weird position after following his man into the center of the box. In the plus column, he put in a nice assist with his weak foot for Mukhtar's opener and was secure on the ball overall.
Stock: Unchanged
Matt Corcoran - 7.0
Solid all around from Matt Corcoran, who's becoming one of Nashville's most consistent performers. He could've been more alert during Columbus' leveler, but that's hardly on him. He rarely miss-hit a pass and was all over the pitch defensively
Stock: Up
Patrick Yazbek - 5.5
It was a rare off night for Patrick Yazbek, who looked rusty in his first start back from a 13-match injury. He gave the ball away in dangerous areas a couple of times and struggled to keep up with the pace of the game. While he might be physically ready, he is clearly still working his way up to 100% match sharpness, but getting him back into the mix is a huge boost for the 'Yotes.
Stock: Unchanged
Alex Muyl - 6.0
Alex Muyl was having a great night until Nashville conceded the first goal. He was too late to recognize that Mohamed Farsi was all alone and didn't put in the effort to close him down.
Prior to the goal, he played a major role in shutting down Columbus whenever they were close to Nashville's box. He also pressed extremely well, winning the ball high up multiple times, and linked up well with Surridge and Mukhtar in the attacking half.
Stock: Unchanged
Such a nice passing sequence from Nashville here. Deserved a better end product, but that off-ball rotation could feed families. pic.twitter.com/FvO8uwiMDW
— Ben Wright (@benwright) August 23, 2026
Cristian Espinoza - 7.0
Cristian Espinoza didn't get on the scoresheet, but was a constant presence on the right flank. He was also vital to Nashville's press. The Argentine created the most chances in the match and won all of his duels.
Stock: Unchanged
Hany Mukhtar - 9.5
Hany Mukhtar continues to play at an MVP level. The German finished really well from a tight angle for the game's opening goal. He also came up with a great assist from a corner for Nashville's second. Aside from the goal contributions, he was a threat on and off the ball with his press, chance creation, and shots. Up to 10 goals in all competitions this season.
Stock: Up
Sam Surridge - 7.0
Sam Surridge was mostly limited with the ball, but very active overall. His pressing and counter-pressing are among the best in the league, and he contributes massively to Nashville's style of play.
Stock: Unchanged
There's only one week left to vote in the Best Of Nashville 2026 awards, and we'd love if you voted for us!
• Best Sports Writer – Ben Wright or Valair Shabilla
• Best Sports Radio Show or Podcast – Pharma Soccer or Club & Country
• Best Photographer – Christina Moore or Mike Meredith
Substitutes
Reed Baker-Whiting - 8.0
It was another great showing by Reed Baker-Whiting. Aside from his goal, he was very active up and down the pitch and did well when the ball got to him. He did well to leap above others and win the header for Nashville's second goal.
Stock: Up
Eddi Tagseth - 6.0
Eddi Tagseth could've been stronger in a couple of challenges, but he played his part in Nashville's final push.
Stock: Unchanged
Reed Baker-Whiting at the death to equalize for @NashvilleSC! pic.twitter.com/dni7LaaNNk
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 23, 2026
Elias Saad - 6.0
Not as clean on the ball as usual for Elias Saad, but he put the Columbus defense under a lot of pressure. He came close to scoring a goal of his own, but the ball went slightly wide.
Stock: Unchanged
Bryan Acosta - N/A
Bryan Acosta connected on all of his passes and did exactly what was asked of him. Brought a huge and much-needed energy boost to the match.
Stock: Unchanged
Shak Mohammed - N/A
Shak Mohammed did well in his short cameo, keeping the ball in dangerous areas and earning Nashville the corner that led to the second goal.
Stock: Unchanged
Manager
BJ Callaghan - 8.0
BJ Callaghan continues to get the best out of his entire squad. In a week in which Nashville earned all nine available points, they also rotated and ended the three matches with a combined score of 8-3.
He has instilled in the squad a belief that has allowed them to overcome difficult situations regularly. This team is special.

