On a humid Saturday night at GEODIS Park, Nashville SC edged out Toronto FC 1-0 in a tightly contested Major League Soccer showdown, setting a new franchise record for regular season wins and sending ripples through the Eastern Conference standings. The game was marked by Sam Surridge’s MLS lead-tying 18th goal of the season, a clinical finish that not only secured victory but also underscored his status as one of the league’s most lethal forwards.
Surridge’s goal came in the 28th minute after a remarkable sequence that highlighted Nashville’s tenacity and sharpness in the attacking third. The play began with 22-year-old winger Ahmed Qasem, who poked the ball loose from Toronto’s Maxime Dominguez. Hany Mukhtar then won possession and unleashed a left-footed shot that Toronto goalkeeper Sean Johnson spectacularly saved. However, the rebound spilled to Surridge, who was quick to capitalize, slotting the ball past Johnson for the only goal of the match.
This goal was historic for Surridge, as he became the 10th player in MLS history to score at least 18 goals in his team’s first 24 games of a season, joining elite company that includes Carlos Vela and Josef Martínez. Notably, he shares the Golden Boot lead with Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, who scored twice earlier that day in Miami’s 5-1 rout of the New York Red Bulls.
Nashville’s win pushed their record to 14-5-5, amassing 47 points and setting a new club record for regular season wins, surpassing the previous high of 13 set in both 2022 and 2023. The victory also marked the team’s ninth home win this season, as they extended their unbeaten run at GEODIS Park to an impressive 11 matches across all competitions (9 wins, 0 losses, 2 draws). This home dominance is the best in MLS this season, reflecting Nashville’s fortress-like status on their turf.
Goalkeeper Joe Willis was another standout for Nashville, recording his ninth clean sheet of the season, the second most in the league. Willis did not have to make a single save in this match, but his leadership and command of the defense were vital in limiting Toronto to just one shot on goal. Willis’s consecutive shutouts demonstrate his resilience, especially after a costly clearance error in a recent 2-1 loss to Inter Miami. "You take a day to sulk and be upset," Willis said, "Then you flush it and move forward."
Defensively, Nashville’s backline was rock-solid, with center backs Walker Zimmerman and Jeisson Palacios winning the majority of their duels both on the ground and in the air. Zimmerman led the match with a remarkable 94.6% passing accuracy, completing over 70 passes and orchestrating the defense with precision. The team’s collective defensive effort was a testament to their “defend together, attack together” mentality, as Willis put it. This defensive discipline helped Nashville record their fourth shutout in their last five MLS games.
Toronto FC, meanwhile, struggled to break through despite having seven total shots. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson made four critical saves, including two key stops against Nashville’s star Hany Mukhtar, the 2022 MLS MVP. One of Johnson’s best moments came in the 28th minute when he saved Mukhtar’s left-footed shot, only for the rebound to fall to Surridge. Toronto’s hopes for a comeback were further dashed when a potential penalty call in the 60th minute was overturned after VAR review, ruling the foul just outside the box and resulting in a direct free kick instead.
Toronto’s offense has been adapting following the departures of Italian stars Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne earlier in July, but the Reds were shut out for the first time in six games. Their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities ultimately cost them dearly against a well-prepared Nashville side.
The match’s kickoff was delayed by 45 minutes due to thunderstorms, which forced both teams back to the locker rooms during warmups. Despite the disruption, Nashville’s coach B.J. Callaghan praised his team’s grit and resilience, noting the physical and emotional toll of a grueling schedule that included multiple midweek matches and travel. "The last five games — Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, travel in Miami — everybody in this building is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted," Callaghan said. "They were able to just rise up and grind out a really difficult win."
Nashville’s dominance over Toronto was further highlighted by their unbeaten streak against the Canadian side, extending to six matches (4 wins, 0 losses, 2 draws) and a scoring advantage of 8-3. When Surridge finds the net, Nashville boasts a perfect record of 10 wins, 0 losses, and 2 draws across all competitions this season, underscoring his importance to the team’s success.
Looking ahead, Nashville SC will have another opportunity to climb to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings when they travel to face expansion side San Diego FC on July 25. The race for the Supporters’ Shield is heating up, with Nashville briefly sitting atop the league before FC Cincinnati’s late win edged them out by a single point.
Overall, Nashville SC’s blend of attacking prowess, defensive solidity, and home-field advantage has propelled them to their best start in club history through 24 MLS matches. The Boys in Gold have not only set new records but have also established themselves as serious contenders for MLS honors this season.
With Sam Surridge’s goal-scoring form and Joe Willis’s steady presence in goal, Nashville looks poised to maintain their momentum. As Willis remarked, "We're obviously aware of where we are in the standings, and we have goals of winning the Supporters' Shield, winning MLS Cup, winning everything we compete in. At the same time, we're more process-based and focused on the present... We can't win the Supporters' Shield today, but we can win this game against Toronto."
The 1-0 victory over Toronto FC on July 19, 2025, was more than just three points—it was a statement. Nashville SC is here to compete, and with performances like this, they’re making a strong case for silverware this season.
