“Sam Surridge breaks the deadlock just before halftime, finishing off a Cristian Espinoza assist after Nashville had already tested the keeper through Mukhtar”
Pivotal“Hany Mukhtar doubles Nashville's lead early in the second half, capitalizing on Elias Saad's assist moments after Cincinnati had pushed forward looking for an equalizer”
Pivotal“Substitute Bryan Acosta heads home from a corner after Ayoub Jabbari's earlier header was saved, extending the lead to 3-0 in stoppage time”
“Fresh substitute Ahmed Qasem caps off a chaotic finish with a fourth goal moments after coming on, assisted by fellow substitute Reed Baker Whiting”
Nashville SC
Cincinnati
Outstanding performance
Nashville SC•AttackerNashville SC controlled this from the moment Sam Surridge opened the scoring just before halftime, and Hany Mukhtar's early second-half strike effectively settled the contest. The hosts dominated dangerous attacks 56 to 33 and out-shot Cincinnati 19 to 15, translating territorial control into goals even as Cincinnati created their own share of big chances without converting - Cincinnati managed five big chances but missed all of them, a wasteful evening in front of goal. Nashville's clinical edge came through late substitutes Bryan Acosta and Ahmed Qasem, who both scored in stoppage time to turn a comfortable lead into a rout. For Nashville this result strengthens their position in a tight title race, while Cincinnati will need to quickly regroup after a disciplined but ultimately toothless attacking performance undone by profligacy in the final third.
How entertaining was this match?
Corner awarded.
Ahmed Qasem takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Ahmed QasemShot! Ahmed Qasem scores with a left-footed shot.
assist: Reed Baker-Whiting
Goal! Ahmed Qasem scores, making it 4-0, assisted by Reed Baker Whiting.
Ahmed Qasem is on, and Hany Mukhtar is off.
Alex Muyl replaces Elias Saad.
Brian Anunga Tah is substituted off for Evander da Silva Ferreira.
Bryan AcostaBryan Acosta scores with a right-footed shot.
assist: Hany Mukhtar
Goal! Bryan Acosta scores to make it 3-0, assisted by Hany Mukhtar.
Yellow card shown to Bryan Ramirez.
Corner awarded.
Ayoub Jabbari's header is saved.
Evander da Silva Ferreira takes a shot with his right foot, but it is saved.
Alvas Powell comes on for Ender Echenique.
Daniel Lovitz comes on for Andy Najar.
Bryan Acosta comes on for Edvard Tagseth.
Shak Mohammed is on, and Cristian Espinoza is off.
Edvard TagsethYellow CardYellow card issued to Edvard Tagseth.
Ender Echenique takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Bryan Ramirez takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Offside.
Tom Barlow is on, and Gerardo Valenzuela is off.
Evander da Silva Ferreira takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Ayoub Jabbari's right-footed shot is saved.
Corner awarded.
Ayoub Jabbari takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Yellow card issued to Jeisson Andres Palacios Murillo.
Andy Najar takes a right-footed shot but misses.
On comes Kyle Smith, off goes Samuel Gidi.
Hany Mukhtar takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Elias Saad takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
On comes Matthew Corcoran, off goes Patrick Yazbek.
Offside.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Evander da Silva Ferreira takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Ayoub Jabbari's right-footed shot is saved.
Ahoueke Steeve Kevin Denkey takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Hany MukhtarHany Mukhtar scores with a left-footed shot.
Hany Mukhtar takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
assist: Elias Saad
Goal! Hany Mukhtar scores to make it 2-0, assisted by Elias Saad.
Offside.
Gerardo Valenzuela takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Evander da Silva Ferreira takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Andy Najar receives a yellow card.
Ayoub Jabbari comes on for Kenji Mboma.
Substitution: Bryan Ramirez comes on for Obinna Nwobodo.
The first half ends with a score of 1-0.
Obinna NwobodoYellow CardYellow card shown to Obinna Nwobodo.
Sam SurridgeSam Surridge takes a shot with his head and scores a goal.
assist: Cristian Espinoza
Goal! Sam Surridge scores to make it 1-0, assisted by Cristian Espinoza.
Hany Mukhtar takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Hany Mukhtar's right-footed shot is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Jeisson Andres Palacios Murillo attempts a header but misses the shot.
Patrick Yazbek takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Sam Surridge takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Elias Saad takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Evander da Silva Ferreira takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Jeisson Andres Palacios Murillo attempts a header, but it is blocked.
Hany Mukhtar takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Andy Najar takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Elias Saad takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Cristian Espinoza takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Kick-off! The referee is Armando Villarreal.
Nashville SC, chasing MLS history with 49 points from 21 games, welcome FC Cincinnati to GEODIS Park looking to extend their unbeaten home record. Cincinnati arrive out of form but with Evander's 13 goals giving them a puncher's chance against the league's top side.
