NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, USA — GEODIS Park roared to life on a night when Nashville SC made an emphatic statement, dismantling New England Revolution 4-1 in a commanding MLS performance that was never truly in doubt. Sam Surridge struck inside five minutes to set the tone, and the hosts never looked back, with Hany Mukhtar and Warren Madrigal adding further gloss to a result that flattered the visitors. Nashville's 55.4% possession advantage and 14 shots to New England's four told the story of a thoroughly one-sided contest.
The opening exchanges were barely underway when Nashville drew first blood. In the 5th minute, Surridge pounced from very close range following a corner, drilling a right-footed effort into the centre of the goal to send the home faithful into raptures. The Revolution had barely settled before they were chasing the game, and Nashville showed no intention of easing the pressure. Edvard Tagseth delivered a dangerous cross in the 16th minute, and Surridge was there again, powering a header from close range into the bottom right corner to double the advantage. Matt Turner in the Revolution goal had already been called into action moments earlier, denying Surridge with a sharp stop in the centre of the goal from a right-footed effort assisted by Tagseth — a sign of things to come for the beleaguered New England stopper.
Nashville's third arrived before the interval, and it was a goal befitting the home side's dominance. Warren Madrigal played a key role in the build-up, threading a precise pass to Hany Mukhtar, who needed no second invitation, rifling a right-footed shot from very close range high into the centre of the goal in the 39th minute. The half-time whistle blew with Nashville leading 3-0, and the tie was effectively over as a contest.
New England offered a brief flicker of hope just two minutes into the second half when Leonardo Campana latched onto a Carles Gil cross and swept a composed left-footed finish into the bottom right corner in the 47th minute. For a fleeting moment, the Revolution faithful dared to dream of a comeback. Those hopes were extinguished almost immediately. Within two minutes, Warren Madrigal restored Nashville's three-goal cushion, driving a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner in the 49th minute to make it 4-1. Griffin Yow had already been shown a yellow card in the 48th minute for a reckless challenge, and the Revolution's discipline was fraying as badly as their defensive shape.
The tactical picture throughout was one of Nashville's midfield engine — with Patrick Yazbek and Madrigal particularly influential — controlling the tempo and dictating terms. Cristian Espinoza caused persistent problems down the flanks, while Andy Nájar provided defensive solidity before being replaced by Josh Bauer in the 72nd minute. For New England, Carles Gil worked tirelessly to create moments of quality, and his assist for Campana's goal was a reminder of his class, but he received precious little support from those around him.
Matt Turner's evening was a difficult one. The Revolution goalkeeper was called upon to make four saves in total, and while he denied Surridge on multiple occasions and produced a fine stop to tip away Ahmed Qasem's effort in the 89th minute, he was ultimately powerless to prevent the rout. Nashville's eight shots on target from 14 total attempts underlined their clinical efficiency, while New England managed just one shot on target from their four attempts — a damning indictment of their attacking output.
The foul count reflected the physical nature of the contest, with Nashville committing 16 fouls to New England's 11, though the evening's only yellow card went to the Revolution's Yow. Nashville's substitutions in the second half — including Woobens Pacius replacing Surridge and Matthew Corcoran coming on for Yazbek — allowed the hosts to manage the game comfortably through the closing stages.
Confidence will be high when Nashville SC face Atlético Ottawa on February 24, while the Revolution must dust themselves off before travelling to face New York Red Bulls on February 28.
