Sam Surridge, Cristian Espinoza and Hany Mukhtar provided the goals, Brian Schwake recorded his 12th clean sheet of the season and Nashville SC became the first team to clinch a playoff berth with a 3-0 triumph over the visiting Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
Nashville (17-3-6, 57 points) improved on its league-best record while ending an 0-1-2 rut with its first victory of September. It also pushed the Coyotes to a dominant 12-0-1 at home this season. They’re in position to threaten the MLS record for points in a season (74) set by Inter Miami two years ago.
Schwake, who was called up for his first U.S. men’s national team appearance in the upcoming window, made one save. Nashville leads MLS defensively with 21 goals allowed.
Chris Brady, himself a USMNT goalie and World Cup participant, had two saves for Chicago.
The Fire (11-8-6, 39 points) have lost two straight following a seven-game unbeaten run (three wins followed by four draws) from Aug. 1-Sept. 9.
Schwake spilled a save in the 11th minute and fell out of position as Philip Zinckernagel continued the play for Chicago, but the ensuing attempt was blocked away by a Nashville defender.
Reed Baker-Whiting created the game’s first goal on a second chance. After his first cross into the 6-yard box went long, Nashville recycled it to Jack Corcoran at the top. He sent a perfect cross back to Baker-Whiting, who headed the ball center-box for a charging Surridge to convert for a 33rd-minute goal.
Surridge, who netted 24 goals last season, now has 16 in 20 games.
Nashville doubled the lead in the 78th minute. Andy Najar received a long pass up the right side and dribbled into the box before beautifully tapping a pass behind him to Espinoza, who curled in his fourth goal of the year.
A few minutes later, the Fire had one of their best looks when Puso Dithejane fed Robert Lewandowski in the box, but his tapper trickled just wide of the far post.
The hosts left no doubt when some on-point passing sprung a 4-on-2 rush in the 87th minute. Espinoza set up Mukhtar for a surefire strike, his 11th goal of the season.
–Field Level Media
