The wait is over as Nashville SC have made historical past by successful the primary Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in membership historical past, defeating Austin FC 2-1 on Wednesday evening at Q2 Stadium. Nashville SC started taking part in in 2020 and have been capable of raise a trophy of their second membership last of their historical past after dropping the 2023 Leagues Cup last to Inter Miami. It was none apart from star striker Sam Surridge who put Nashville forward for good from the penalty spot along with his sixth objective within the competitors and his twenty eighth in all competitions.
Austin had their possibilities with ahead Myrto Uzuni lacking a penalty within the first half, however supervisor B.J. Callaghan’s facet have been capable of bunker and get the win in a hostile atmosphere. It is a main second not just for Nashville but in addition for the state of Tennessee, as this Open Cup title is the primary skilled sports activities trophy within the historical past of the state. For a workforce that has been among the many finest within the league since beginning play in MLS, it is a well-deserved title.
Callaghan is skilled in being on teaching staffs for these moments, as he was an assistant with the Philadelphia Union for 3 Open Cup finals that the workforce misplaced, and it was one thing that helped put together them for this second. He additionally helped lead the U.S. males’s nationwide workforce to a Concacaf Nations League title in 2023 as an interim supervisor, so he is no stranger to the massive stage.
Hany Mukhtar opened the scoring for Nashville earlier than Austin equalized within the first half, shifting the momentum in a wild affair. With two gamers being tangled within the field, a penalty was known as within the second half and Nashville would not look again from there.
Even with Surridge being despatched off in stoppage time on account of getting a second yellow card for time losing, Austin did not have sufficient time to come back again within the match. At instances, cup finals will be cagy affairs which are low scoring, however with each of those groups chasing their first trophy in membership historical past, it was an open match. For Austin to get so far with out Brandon Vazquez, who suffered a season-ending damage in July, is a powerful feat, and so they’ll be again on this stage. Subsequent up, each of those groups have booked their locations within the MLS Cup playoff, so there’s a likelihood that they may meet once more in MLS Cup.
