Sam Surridge scored two second-half goals and Nashville SC set the MLS record for points in a regular season by defeating host FC Cincinnati on Saturday.
Nashville (23-3-8, 77 points) tied the points record a week earlier in its home finale and then took another step in a match that had no implications on its playoff seeding but provided another chance to display dominance.
Inter Miami CF posted 74 points in 2024 to set the previous standard.
Brian Schwake made five saves, including four in the first half, for the clean sheet. Nashville has registered four shutouts since Oct. 14.
It was a costly result for Cincinnati (12-12-10, 46 points), which dropped from potentially the sixth spot to the ninth seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs. That came because of its loss plus Columbus defeating Chicago on Sunday, marking the worst possible scenario for Cincinnati on Decision Day.
Goalie Roman Celentano made three saves for Cincinnati, which had a four-match unbeaten streak snapped.
Surridge reached the 21-goal mark for the season with his sixth multi-goal match this year. He had one goal earlier this season vs. Cincinnati. His 21 goals are three shy of his 2025 total, though he has appeared in six fewer matches.
Surridge scored in the 61st minute as he charged into the box and received a delivery from Andy Najar.
The second goal came on a breakout for Nashville, with Surridge depositing the ball off Patrick Yezbek’s pass.
Cincinnati had the first four shots on goal. Nashville didn’t record a shot until late in the first half, but it went on to blank Cincinnati for the second time this season.
–Field Level Media
