Nashville SC claimed the first major trophy in its history with a 2-1 victory over Austin FC at Q2 Stadium, lifting the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. In just six seasons of MLS play the club had flirted with big moments, but this time turned potential into silverware. The win carried double weight: it secured a place in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup and delivered Tennessee its first-ever national championship in professional sports.
Schwake saves early, Uzuni strikes late
The night opened exactly how Nashville likes to play, direct, intense, and ruthless. Seventeen minutes in, Jacob Schaffelburg cushioned the ball on his chest and Hany Mukhtar smashed it first time for the opener. Just two minutes later, the game tilted. Goalkeeper Brian Schwake brought down Uzuni in the box, but redeemed himself with a sharp penalty save to keep the lead intact. The stop fired up the visitors, but Austin kept piling on pressure.
The hosts drove forward with wave after wave of attacks. Dani Pereira picked up a yellow in the 30th minute, and Schwake had to step in twice more before halftime. He couldn’t stop the equalizer, though, deep into stoppage time, Uzuni finished off a cross from captain Ilie Sanchez, who marked his first Open Cup assist to make it 1-1.
Surridge’s record goal and tense finish
The second half carried the same intensity. Sanchez went into the book in the 50th, and seven minutes later came the decisive moment. Jeisson Palacios was clipped by Pereira in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot. Pereira avoided a second yellow, but Sam Surridge buried the penalty to put Nashville back in front. It was his sixth goal of the tournament, setting a modern-era record, and his 28th overall this season.
Austin pressed hard but couldn’t find the finish. Fouls broke up the flow, and cross after cross was cleared away. Schwake, making his mark as an unlikely hero, ended the night with seven saves, despite only starting in Cup matches.
Stoppage time brought one last twist. Surridge picked up a second yellow for kicking the ball away, reducing Nashville to ten men. Austin nearly made them pay through Osman Bukari, but the shot was blocked and the whistle followed soon after. The home side had doubled Nashville’s total in shots, yet couldn’t crack their defensive wall.
A historic crown
The US Open Cup stands as Nashville’s first title in six MLS seasons and the first major pro championship ever won in Tennessee. Beyond the silverware, the team booked its ticket to the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup and set new milestones along the way: 21 wins in all competitions, the most in club history, capped by a Cup run of nine victories in 11 games.