MLS Standings: Nashville caps historic season with late win
The club tied the league record for total points and finished with a perfect home record before their final match of the year.
By Adriana Abebe ·
Nashville SC erased a two-goal deficit on a rainy Sunday to defeat New York Red Bulls 3-2, securing a ninth consecutive unbeaten match and ending the Red Bulls' playoff chances. The victory concluded a historic regular season for the Nashville squad, which had already clinched the Supporters' Shield earlier in the campaign.
The club reached 74 points with one game left, matching the Major League Soccer record set by Inter Miami in 2024. Nashville also recorded a league-best 44 points in its home matches, finishing with a 15-0-2 record at home for the second time in franchise history. The team had already secured its first-place finish in the Eastern Conference before this contest.
New York controlled the first half, taking a 2-0 lead. Julian Hall scored the opener in the 34th minute, assisted by Adri Mehmeti and Sekou Kone. Six minutes later, Rafael Mosquera, who had entered the game as a substitute, found the net for his first MLS goal to extend the visitors' advantage.
Nashville responded with two own goals to level the score. Tim Parker put the ball into his own net in the 45th minute, and Julian Bazan repeated the feat in the 81st minute. Sam Surridge headed the winning goal in the first minute of stoppage time, capping a 19-goal campaign for the forward.
Cristian Espinoza provided the assist for Surridge, marking his 15th helper of the season. That number represents a career high for Espinoza, who now has 97 assists in 247 appearances. The result also cemented the postseason berth for the Columbus Crew, as their 3-1 loss to Atlanta United combined with New York's defeat to secure the Eastern Conference spot.
New York goalkeeper Ethan Horvath made seven saves, while Nashville rookie Brian Schwake recorded two saves. The Red Bulls, now 11-16-6, will host Atlanta United Saturday to close their season. Nashville travels to FC Cincinnati on the same day to complete its schedule.
The Nashville side has not lost a home game since the final day of the 2024 season, when Atlanta United defeated them 1-0. The team's previous meeting with New York on August 19 resulted in a 1-0 Nashville victory on the road.
