Sam Surridge scores twice to help Nashville set points record with 2-0 victory over Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Sam Surridge netted twice in the second half on Saturday, securing a 1-0 victory for Nashville SC over FC Cincinnati. Surridge's second goal marked his 21st of the season, bringing his total to 20 goals in back-to-back seasons, making him the sixth player in league history to achieve this milestone. The win propelled Nashville to 77 points for the regular season, three more than Inter Miami's 2024 tally, and solidified their position as supporters' shield winners.

This victory also saw Nashville claim the top seed in the Eastern Conference, surpassing Inter Miami by a 17-point margin. Cincinnati's defeat, coupled with Columbus Crew's win over Chicago Fire, dropped them from seventh to ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. In the upcoming wild-card round of the postseason, Nashville will face the winner of the Orlando City match, while Cincinnati will face the loser in the best-of-three first round.