Nashville SC can officially open its trophy case. The team’s first trip to the U.S. Open Cup tournament final proved both successful and historic.
NSC downed Austin FC 2-1 on Wednesday in front of a sellout crowd of 20,738 at Q2 Stadium, capturing the first trophy in club history and the first major pro sports championship in Tennessee state history.
The Open Cup is not the Major League Soccer title, but rather an in-season tournament that began with 96 teams of all levels across the country.
As the Major League Soccer season draws to a close, the Boys in Gold are chasing trophies
Starting in May, Nashville downed the Chattanooga Red Wolves, Orlando City SC, DC United, the Philadelphia Union and Austin FC to capture the crown. NSC hadn't advanced beyond the quarterfinal stage of the tournament before this season.
“I think the only word you can come up with is 'proud,'” says Nashville SC coach B.J. Callaghan when asked to sum up his feelings.
“We [said we] wanted to compete for trophies this year, and committed to that on Jan. 10 when we got together [in training camp]. To do what you say you’re going to do gives us a tremendous amount of pride.”
The Boys in Gold prevailed in a highly entertaining contest, one that saw each team awarded a penalty kick — NSC goalie Brian Schwake stopped Austin’s attempt — and Nashville’s Sam Surridge ejected in the closing seconds for picking up a second yellow card.
In the end, goals by Hany Mukhtar and Surridge — whose 60th-minute penalty kick proved decisive — were just enough to defeat an Austin team that is one of the best defensive squads in MLS.
“Amazing, I’m so proud of the group,” said Mukhtar, a former MLS most valuable player who has been with the team since it began league play in 2020.
“I think in general how the group this year evolved is a credit to the [players] and makes me so proud. ... We tried to control the game with [ball possession], and that is a big step in the right direction. And I believe there is still another step to go.”
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It was Mukhtar who struck first in the game’s 17th minute, a goal that began with Surridge’s cross from just outside the left edge of the penalty box. Midfielder Jacob Shaffelburg chested the ball to Mukhtar in the box, and Nashville’s career goal-scoring leader finished from close range.
Schwake made a diving save on Myrto Uzuni’s penalty kick in the 21st minute to help NSC preserve its lead. But Austin tied the contest 1-1 late in first-half stoppage time, scoring a goal that could have — but ultimately did not — swung momentum in favor of the home team.
“I think [Nashville’s] response is a credit to [the players],” Callaghan says. “At halftime, the way that locker room was, it was calm. There was good conversations going on — like deep conversations, [such as] what we need to do, what we need to improve, how are we going to chase this game and get back the lead.”
Sure enough, Nashville regained the 2-1 advantage 15 minutes into the second half, when Austin’s Daniel Pereira pulled down Nashville’s Jeison Palacios in the penalty box. Surridge stepped to the penalty spot and drilled a low shot right down the middle.
There were still some scary moments for the visitors as the clock wound down, and Surridge’s second yellow card — for time wasting — left NSC a man down in the closing seconds. But ultimately, Nashville SC claimed its first hardware after the final whistle blew.
It was NSC’s first road win in its past seven games, dating back to June 28.
“That whole second half was just a complete team performance,” Callaghan says. “The guys that started the game played well, and the guys that came into the game elevated the play. It’s not easy at the end of a final to finish it out, but I thought we did a really good job of that.”
Nashville will now set its sights on a second trophy this season, as competition for the MLS Cup begins later this month.
NSC has already clinched a playoff berth, but with two games left in the league’s regular season, the team is still hoping to earn home-field advantage for the first round.
“This team has been built to represent the city of Nashville,” Callaghan says, “and I think you saw that tonight with the commitment and the absolute team effort.”
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
