The next time you hear someone complain about a lack of scoring in soccer, tell them to check tonight’s MLS game between Nashville SC and the Chicago Fire.
Playing at home, Nashville challenged numerous MLS records by unleashing a seven-goal onslaught — with five coming in the first half — against Chicago, coached by former United States men’s national team manager Gregg Berhalter. The hosts became the 13th team to score at least seven goals in an MLS match, reaching that benchmark in the 57th minute. Chicago saved face a bit thereafter, pulling two goals back to establish an only slightly more flattering 7-2 scoreline.
Only five other games throughout the league’s previous 29 seasons saw more combined goals across 90 minutes, although Saturday’s match represents the biggest blowout of the set.
Nashville’s scoring deluge was led by Sam Surridge, a striker who signed in the summer of 2023 after stints with several clubs including Premier League sides AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest. He became the 18th player to score four goals in a single game, one behind Clint Mathis’ record of five set on August 25, 2000. Two of his goals came from the penalty spot, while the other two both saw Surridge run onto a long ball beyond Chicago’s backline. Honduras international Andy Najar, who led Nashville with three assists, fed Surridge on both.
FOUR GOALS IN ONE MATCH 🤯
IT’S A PARTY AT GEODIS PARK pic.twitter.com/Ot1mC31XhV
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) April 27, 2025
It’s the second four-goal showing this month alone, following United States international Brian White’s quartet against Austin FC on April 12. On the whole, the team was quite accurate with its shooting, placing 12 of 18 shots on Chris Brady’s goal. Hany Mukhtar, the 2022 MLS MVP, scored a pair of goals, while center back Jeisson Palacios scored his first MLS goal.
It was a wildly entertaining night at GEODIS Park between two of the league’s most improved teams from last season. Both Nashville and Chicago missed the playoffs in 2024, but entered Saturday’s match among the initial handful of postseason contenders.
The match also pitted Berhalter against Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan, his former assistant with the USMNT who served as interim manager for much of 2023. In their first matchup as opponents, it was Callaghan’s side who dominated the game very quickly and never ceded that advantage. Berhalter led the USMNT from 2018 through the 2022 World Cup before being appointed again from June 16, 2023, through the aftermath of the team’s elimination in the 2024 Copa América.
The result leaves Chicago with just two points and no wins from its four most recent games, although their most recent triumph — a 3-1 away victory at Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps — gives reason to think they’re still poised to contend. Chicago is also among four MLS teams vying to sign Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne when his contract with Manchester City ends this summer.
The win saw Nashville finish the night sixth in the East, having won two of its last three games.
(Casey Gower / Imagn Images)