Major League Soccer Regular Season - 3

Nashville SC 3 - 1 FT Minnesota United FC

Geodis Park

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
45
FT
Sun, Mar 8
Nashville SC
3-1
Minnesota United FC
⚡ Intensity 44
⚖️ Balance 27
🏆 Stakes 44
🎲 Upset 0
Surridge double keeps Nashville rolling.

Surridge Brace Powers Unbeaten Nashville Past Loons

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 45/100. Sam Surridge delivered a clinical masterclass in finishing to cement Nashville's spot at the top of the table, leaving a struggling Minnesota side desperate for answers.

Setting the Early Tempo

The energy inside Geodis Park was electric as Nashville SC immediately set out to dictate the rhythm of the game. The hosts confidently controlled possession with a 58% share, systematically probing a vulnerable Minnesota United FC defensive unit. The inevitable breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute when Sam Surridge expertly found the back of the net, sending the home supporters into full voice. Rather than absorbing pressure after taking the lead, the league leaders kept their foot firmly on the gas pedal. Just seven minutes later, C. Espinoza doubled the advantage with a precise strike. The opening half-hour showcased a roster brimming with supreme confidence, perfectly reflecting their flawless, unbeaten run of form in this early portion of the regular season.

A Frantic Nine Minutes

Just as the matchup looked entirely one-sided, the visiting Loons struck back to completely alter the Balance of the evening. In the 35th minute, N. Triantis converted a crucial opportunity for Minnesota, capping off a chaotic and highly entertaining sequence of three goals in just nine minutes. This sudden flurry of action completely changed the complexion of the match and significantly cranked up the Intensity across the field. The match devolved into a heavy-hitting affair, with the two sides ultimately combining for a staggering 29 shots by the final whistle. Despite facing mounting pressure before the break, Nashville's defensive spine refused to buckle. Jeisson Palacios anchored the backline with an absolute standout performance, ensuring the home side successfully navigated the temporary storm and headed into the locker room with their narrow one-goal lead securely intact.

Slamming the Door Shut

Any lingering hopes of a dramatic second-half comeback were ruthlessly extinguished mere moments after the restart. In the 47th minute, Surridge stepped up to strike again, completing a spectacular hero's brace that completely deflated the traveling squad. Much of the attacking rhythm seamlessly flowed through the boots of Patrick Yazbek, whose visionary playmaking through the midfield lines resulted in two pivotal assists on the night. Given the significant Stakes for a Minnesota team desperately trying to claw their way out from the bottom of the league standings, suffering a comprehensive 3-1 defeat on the road is a devastating blow. For the hosts, this convincing victory serves as another massive statement of intent, effortlessly extending their dominant start to the campaign.

Key Questions

Who was named Man of the Match?

Jeisson Palacios earned Man of the Match honors for his outstanding defensive performance, anchoring the backline for Nashville SC.

How many goals did Sam Surridge score?

Sam Surridge scored a decisive brace, netting critical goals in the 26th and 47th minutes of the match.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
58%
42%
Nashville SC 58%
Minnesota United FC 42%
Shots
15
14
Nashville SC 15
Minnesota United FC 14
Shots on Target
6
3
Nashville SC 6
Minnesota United FC 3
Expected Goals (xG)
1.75
0.92
Nashville SC 1.75
Minnesota United FC 0.92
Passes
572
427
Nashville SC 572
Minnesota United FC 427
Pass Accuracy
87%
83%
Nashville SC 87%
Minnesota United FC 83%
Corners
5
2
Nashville SC 5
Minnesota United FC 2
Fouls
11
10
Nashville SC 11
Minnesota United FC 10
Yellow Cards
1
1
Nashville SC 1
Minnesota United FC 1
Red Cards
0
0
Nashville SC 0
Minnesota United FC 0

Match Events

26' S. Surridge
33' C. Espinoza
N. Triantis 35'
HT
47' S. Surridge
62' 🔄 D. Lovitz J. Bauer
B. Hlongwane J. Gressel 🔄 66'
A. Markanich K. Duncan 🔄 75'
N. Triantis M. Dieng 🔄 75'
78' 🔄 A. Najar R. Baker-Whiting
78' 🔄 C. Espinoza W. Madrigal
81' 🟨 J. Palacios
86' 🔄 H. Mukhtar A. Qasem
86' 🔄 S. Surridge W. Pacius
D. Padelford D. Taylor 🔄 86'
W. Trapp O. Gene 🔄 86'
J. Gressel 🟨 89'
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Nashville SC

Goalkeepers
B. Schwake
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
A. Najar
MAGNET
MAGNET
89
Activity
89
Activity
78
Passes
11
Duels
J. Palacios
MAGNET
MAGNET
86
Activity
86
Activity
79
Passes
7
Duels
M. Woledzi
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
80%
Duel Win %
D. Lovitz
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Midfielders
P. Yazbek
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
2
Assists
68%
Pass Acc
E. Tagseth
MAGNET
MAGNET
71
Activity
71
Activity
66
Passes
5
Duels
C. Espinoza
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
H. Mukhtar
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
A. Muyl
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
S. Surridge
HITMAN
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
8.3
Rating
BENCH
J. Willis
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Maher
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Bauer
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Baker-Whiting
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Knight
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Acosta
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Qasem
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
W. Madrigal
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
W. Pacius
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Minnesota United FC

Goalkeepers
D. Callender
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
J. Diaz
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
53%
Pass Acc
M. Duggan
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
D. Padelford
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
A. Markanich
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
88%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
B. Hlongwane
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
N. Triantis
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
W. Trapp
NPC
NPC
86
Minutes
86
Minutes
35%
Pass Acc
6.3
Rating
Forwards
J. Pereyra
MAGNET
MAGNET
53
Activity
53
Activity
47
Passes
6
Duels
K. Yeboah
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Chancalay
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
A. Smir
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
K. Duncan
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Romero
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Taylor
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Gressel
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. Stroud
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Harvey
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
O. Gene
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Dieng
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
08/12/2023 Nashville SC 5 - 0 Minnesota United FC Leagues Cup GEODIS Park
08/15/2022 Nashville SC 1 - 2 Minnesota United FC Major League Soccer GEODIS Park
03/05/2022 Minnesota United FC 1 - 1 Nashville SC Major League Soccer Allianz Field
10/07/2020 Nashville SC 0 - 0 Minnesota United FC Major League Soccer Nissan Stadium
08/12/2023
Leagues Cup GEODIS Park
08/15/2022
Major League Soccer GEODIS Park
03/05/2022
Major League Soccer Allianz Field
10/07/2020
Major League Soccer Nissan Stadium
Nashville SC Win
Minnesota United FC Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 New York City FC 2 6 7 1 +6 WNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)WPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)
2 Inter Miami 2 6 6 3 +3 WDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)
3 New York Red Bulls 3 6 3 4 -1 LNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)WOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)
4 Chicago Fire 2 4 3 0 +3 DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)WChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
5 Nashville SC 1 3 4 1 +3 WNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
6 FC Cincinnati 2 3 2 1 +1 LFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
7 Toronto FC 1 3 1 0 +1 WFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)
8 CF Montreal 2 3 3 3 0 WNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)LChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
9 DC United 2 3 2 2 0 LDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)
10 Columbus Crew 1 1 0 0 0 DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)
11 Philadelphia Union 2 0 1 3 -2 LPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)
12 Atlanta United FC 1 0 0 2 -2 LFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
13 New England Revolution 2 0 1 5 -4 LNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)LNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
14 Orlando City SC 3 0 3 11 -8 LNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)