NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville SC continued their electric form, blowing past FC Cincinnati in a 4-0 drubbing. It's their first-ever win over Cincinnati at Geodis Park, and their seventh time scoring at least four goals in 2026.
The vibe check (TL;DR)
- What happened: The 'Yotes were dominant from the opening whistle, unlucky not to score twice in the opening two minutes. They had to weather a difficult stretch in the first half, and another coming out of the break, but were fully deserving of the three points.
- What we learned: Every time if seems like Nashville may have hit their high point, they continue to find yet another level. Against an incredibly difficult Cincinnati team, they weren't just completely dominant in attack, but kept their 10th regular-season clean sheet of the season. They've allowed just 17 goals in 22 matches, the best in MLS.
- Big picture: This team is elite. Full stop. They're playing some of the best soccer ever seen in MLS. Through 22 matches, they've earned 52 points, the most in MLS history.
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Key moments
- 1' | Nearly a perfect start for Nashville. Hany Mukhtar finds Cristian Espinoza on the right side of Cincinnati's penalty area, but Sam Surridge can't turn his fizzed cross into the goal.
- 2' | Another should-have chance for Nashville, with Mukhtar slipping Elias Saad into the penalty area. His shot is saved by Roman Celentano.
- 6' | Mukhtar hits a shot towards the top corner from just outside the box, but Celentano tips over.
- 32' | After consistent Nashville pressure, Surridge comes close again, heading just wide after a whipped cross from Espinoza.
- 34' | Another nearly moment for Nashville, with Miles Robinson turning a cross from Elias Saad towards his own goal and forcing Celentano into another quick reaction save.
- 43' | The goal finally comes for Nashville, who had been fully deserving. Espinoza and Andy Nájar combine down the right flank, and the Argentine winger curls in a cross for Surridge, who heads in his 15th goal in all competitions.
- 50' | Cincinnati come inches from pulling a goal back after a much-improved start to the half, with head coach Pat Noonan making a pair of changes at the break. Gerardo Valenzeula receives a cutback on the top of the box and whips a low shot off the outside of the post.
- 54' | Nashville double the lead through Mukhtar, after an absolutely filthy run and cutback from Saad.
- 58' | An absolutely unreal double save from Brian Schwake, cutting out a long-range effort and somehow getting back across goal to block a point-blank shot from Kévin Denkey. Minutes later, Maxwell Woledzi makes a decisive clearance off the goal line to keep Nashville's clean sheet.
- 69' | Andy Nájar skims the roof of the net with an ambitious half-volley from outside the box, after yet another blistering transition from Nashville.
- 71' | More heroics from Schwake and Woledzi. The 'keeper pulls off a reaction save to deny Ayoub Jabbari from point-blank range, and Woledzi slides across the goal line to save the rebound from Evander.
- 88' | Another save from a tight angle for Schwake to deny Evander.
- 90' | Substitute Bryan Acosta kills the game off with his first touch of the night. Instead of putting a set piece into the box, Mukhtar pulls it back to the top of the box, and the Honduran curls it into the bottom corner past a completely frozen Celentano.
- 90+6' | Ahmed Qasem gets in on the fun, finishing a great solo run calmly off the far post and in for his second regular-season goal of the night.
- 90+7' | It's so close to a second from Qasem, who lashes an effort into the side netting after rounding Celentano.
Standout performers
- Brian Schwake had a match-winning performance, even with four goals scored at the other end. The 24-year-old put in no less than three jaw-dropping saves to keep Cincinnati off the board, and was incredibly calm with the ball at his feet to boot.
- Elias Saad was a constant threat down the left flank, setting up Mukhtar's goal and coming close to one of his own on several occasions.
- As he does every year, Hany Mukhtar has rounded into form in the middle of the season, logging four goals and two assists in his last four games.
Lineup notes
BJ Callaghan rolled out Nashville's strongest on-paper lineup, starting Eddi Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek in midfield together for the first time since April 28 in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal against Tigres.
What it means
With Inter Miami's shock loss at home to Toronto FC, Nashville have opened up a 10-point gap on top of the Eastern Conference, and are nine points ahead of the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Supporters' Shield race (although the 'Caps do have a game in hand). Nashville are in firm control of their Shield destiny, but can't afford to take their foot off the gas.
Up next
Nashville begin a stretch of three straight matches on the road that could settle if the single-season points record is even attainable. They'll play New York City FC on Friday, September 4, travel to Toronto FC the following Wednesday, and cap off their road stint with a match in Miami on September 12.
Stats
Possession: NSH 52% – 48% CIN
Field tilt (per Futi): NSH 63% – 37% CIN
Shots: NSH 19 – 15 CIN
Shots on goal: NSH 7 – 8 CIN
Penalty kicks: NSH 0 – 0 CIN
Goals: NSH 4 – 0 CIN
Expected goals: NSH 2.04 – 1.74 CIN
Total Passes: NSH 408 – 380 CIN
Fouls: NSH 14 – 9 CIN
Yellow cards: NSH 3 – 2 CIN
Red cards: NSH 0 – 0 CIN
Deserved win (per Futi): NSH 44% – 17% CIN
