Major League Soccer Gameweek 29
Nashville SC 4 - 0 FT Sporting Kansas City
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
10' Hany Mukhtar (Andy Najar)
17' Sam Surridge (Hany Mukhtar)
29' Andy Najar (Cristian Espinoza)
↓ André Luiz ↑Calvin Harris 45'
↓ Zorhan Bassong ↑Jacob Bartlett 45'
HT
↓ Seymour Garfield-Reid ↑Taylor Calheira 53'
65' Sam Surridge
68' ↓ Andy Najar ↑Daniel Lovitz
68' ↓ Cristian Espinoza ↑Shakur Mohammed
↓ Ian James ↑Jacob Davis 69'
76' ↓ matthew corcoran ↑Bryan Acosta
76' ↓ Hany Mukhtar ↑Warren Madrigal
↓ Jayden Reid ↑Emir Karic 81'
83' ↓ Sam Surridge ↑Alex Muyl
90'+3 Warren Madrigal
90'+5 Warren Madrigal
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Nashville SC
Goalkeepers
Brian Schwake 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Andy Najar 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Jeisson Palacios
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Maxwell Woledzi 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Reed Baker-Whiting
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Matthew Corcoran 
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
5
Duels Won
100%
Win %
Edvard Tagseth
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cristian Espinoza 
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
1
Assists
17%
Pass Acc
Hany Mukhtar
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
21%
Pass Acc
Elias Saad
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Sam Surridge 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
5
Shots
7.9
Rating
BENCH
Joe Willis 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Josh Bauer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Daniel Lovitz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jack Maher
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Patrick Yazbek
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bryan Acosta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shakur Mohammed
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alex Muyl
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
7
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Warren Madrigal 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
6.4
Rating
Sporting Kansas City
Goalkeepers
Stefan Cleveland 
OCTOPUS
6
Saves
6
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Ian James
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Jansen Miller
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Wyatt Meyer
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Jayden Reid 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
André Luiz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
46
Total Mins
45
Entry
Zorhan Bassong
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
46
Total Mins
45
Entry
K. Agyabeng
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Ruben Ramos Jr.
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Seymour Garfield-Reid
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
53
Total Mins
53
Entry
BENCH
John Pulskamp
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ethan Bartlow
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jacob Bartlett
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
44
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Emir Karić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jacob Davis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Stephen Afrifa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Capita
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Calvin Harris
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
44
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taylor Calheira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
37
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/30/2024 | Nashville SC | 2 - 1 | Sporting Kansas City | Friendlies Clubs | Oxbridge Academy |
| 09/21/2023 | Sporting Kansas City | 0 - 3 | Nashville SC | Major League Soccer | Children's Mercy Park |
| 06/19/2022 | Nashville SC | 1 - 2 | Sporting Kansas City | Major League Soccer | GEODIS Park |
| 04/10/2022 | Sporting Kansas City | 1 - 2 | Nashville SC | Major League Soccer | Children's Mercy Park |
| 10/11/2020 | Sporting Kansas City | 2 - 1 | Nashville SC | Major League Soccer | Children's Mercy Park |
01/30/2024
09/21/2023
06/19/2022
04/10/2022
10/11/2020
Nashville SC Win
Sporting Kansas City Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 24 GD: +31
P: 23 GD: +17
P: 23 GD: +18
P: 24 GD: +8
P: 24 GD: +2
P: 23 GD: +6
P: 22 GD: -6
P: 23 GD: -12
P: 23 GD: -6
P: 23 GD: -14
P: 22 GD: -10
P: 24 GD: 0
P: 24 GD: -5
P: 25 GD: -18
League Standings
P: 32 GD: +43
P: 32 GD: +10
P: 32 GD: +20
P: 33 GD: +11
P: 33 GD: +15
P: 33 GD: +11
P: 33 GD: -6
P: 33 GD: +6
P: 33 GD: -16
P: 32 GD: -16
P: 33 GD: +3
P: 32 GD: -10
P: 33 GD: -21
P: 32 GD: -16
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Nashville SC
Sporting Kansas City
Nashville SC
Sporting Kansas City
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Nashville SC Demolishes Sporting Kansas City
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 58/100. The league leaders delivered a ruthless first-half masterclass at Geodis Park to cement their absolute dominance over a struggling opponent.
Music City Blitz
The home side wasted no time putting on an offensive clinic for the Geodis Park faithful. While Sporting Kansas City technically edged possession with a narrow 51 percent share in the opening phases, they were entirely unprepared for the sheer Intensity of Nashville SC's aggressive transitional game. The visitors passed the ball around the back but lacked any cutting edge. Hany Mukhtar ignited the rout in the 10th minute, carving through the defensive line with a clinical finish to set a relentless tone. Before the visitors could catch their breath or adjust their defensive shape, Mukhtar turned provider. He delivered a perfectly weighted assist for Sam Surridge just seven minutes later. The hosts suffocated their opponents, turning every turnover into a lethal scoring opportunity and ensuring the match's Balance tilted entirely in their favor right out of the gate.
No Mercy
With a comfortable two-goal cushion established early, Nashville continued to turn the screw and completely dismantled the opposition's defensive setup. A staggering 16 shots generated inside the penalty box highlighted their absolute superiority in the final third, turning the field into a veritable shooting gallery. The defining pivot of the game arrived in the 29th minute when Cristian Espinoza orchestrated a brilliant attacking sequence to set up Andy Najar. That third goal effectively extinguished the contest before the halftime whistle even blew. Any remote hope of an Upset evaporated completely as Sporting Kansas City failed to generate meaningful chances against a resolute home defense. The visitors managed a dismal 0.49 expected goals and registered just a single shot on target throughout the entire ninety minutes. Their defensive structure completely crumbled under the weight of Nashville's unrelenting attacks and consistent set-piece pressure.
The Final Word
The second half saw Nashville expertly manage the tempo with supreme confidence, perfectly reflecting the massive difference in table Stakes between the runaway first-place hosts and the desperately struggling 15th-place visitors. While the pace slowed, technological drama emerged in the later stages as VAR heavily intervened. Officials first chalked off a potential brace for Surridge in the 65th minute due to an infraction, offering a brief reprieve for the weary visitors. However, the relief was temporary. Deep into stoppage time, VAR struck again, this time confirming a controversial penalty decision. Warren Madrigal confidently stepped up and buried the spot-kick in the 95th minute to put an exclamation point on a flawless 4-0 victory. This commanding performance thoroughly underlined Nashville's championship credentials this season, while leaving a battered Sporting Kansas City searching for urgent answers at the very bottom of the league standings.
Key Questions
How did VAR change this match?
VAR denied a second goal for Sam Surridge in the 65th minute but later confirmed a stoppage-time penalty that Warren Madrigal easily converted.
What made H. Mukhtar the Man of the Match?
Mukhtar set the tone by scoring the 10th-minute opener and quickly providing an assist, dominating the offensive tempo completely.
What does this mean for Nashville SC's season?
The victory solidifies Nashville's first-place position in the standings with 53 points, maintaining their massive momentum.
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.
Top Meets Bottom in Title Race Clash
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 63/100. Nashville's march toward the top prize continues as they host a desperate Sporting Kansas City side with nothing left to lose.
The Setup
When Nashville SC step onto the pitch at Geodis Park on October 15, 2026, the contrast could not be starker. Sitting comfortably in first place with a dominant Form rating at home, they have turned their stadium into a fortress, winning an incredible 13 of 14 home fixtures. On the flip side, Sporting Kansas City arrives stuck in 15th place, burdened by a leaky defense that has shipped 65 goals this season. For the hosts, the Stakes are massive; a slip-up here could completely derail their championship ambitions.
Key Battle
Expect fireworks out wide. The playmaking brilliance of Cristian Espinoza for the home side will be a constant headache for the visiting defense. However, the away side boasts a shining light of their own in André Luiz. Even as his team struggles, his individual Stars rating highlights a clinical edge that Nashville cannot afford to ignore on the break.
Our Prediction
A heavy home victory is entirely expected. The tactical Balance is heavily skewed toward Nashville. We anticipate the league leaders to exploit the visiting back line early, taking control of possession and capitalizing on the glaring defensive gaps. Sporting might find a consolation goal on the counter, but the home side's attacking firepower will be overwhelming over ninety minutes.