Nashville SC beat Austin FC 2-1 in final of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night at Q2 Stadium to win the team’s first major trophy.
The two recent MLS expansion sides — Nashville started play in 2020 and Austin in 2021 — weren’t separated by much over the course of the 90 minutes plus extra time, with Sam Surridge‘s second-half penalty proving to be the difference.
The U.S Open Cup, which dates back to 1914, is the oldest soccer competition in the United States. The win earns Nashville an automatic spot in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Hany Mukhtar opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a clinical finish from the middle of the area after teammate Jacob Shaffelburg chested a cross right into Mukhtar’s path to give the visitors an early lead.
“I think it is important for us that we know that we can do it, that we can win a trophy,” said Mukhtar, who has been with the club since it joined MLS. “It gives us extra confidence for the rest of the (MLS) season.”
Austin had a chance to draw level shortly after, but Brian Schwake saved Myrto Uzuni‘s spot kick after the Nashville keeper tripped him to concede the penalty.
Uzuni made amends for his saved penalty just before the break when he settled a through ball from Ilie Sánchez and smashed his next touch between the legs of an onrushing Schwake to level the score at halftime.
Austin’s Dani Pereira fouled Jeisson Palacios in the penalty area to set up a chance for Nashville to go ahead again, and Surridge made sure of it, converting his attempt to put B.J. Callaghan’s side up 2-1.
“I think this year we showed we can control games with the ball. That is a big improvement. And I still believe we have at least one step to go to be a top team, to be one of the best teams in this league,” Mukhtar said.
Nashville finished the game with 10 players after Surridge was shown a second yellow card.
Callaghan also guided the USMNT to victory in the 2023 Nations League final after taking over as interim coach after Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired following the 2022 World Cup.
Nashville’s last final was in the Leagues Cup two years ago but the team missed out on a trophy, falling in a penalty shootout to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
Actor Matthew McConaughey, an Austin FC owner and the team’s “Minister of Culture,” was among those at the match.
The final featured an all-women on-field officiating crew for the first time that included referee Tori Penso and assistants Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt.
The U.S. Open Cup is open to both professional and amateur clubs, but Major League Soccer teams have dominated the competition for more than two decades.
The last time a non-Major League Soccer team made it to the final was in 2022 when the USL Championship-level Sacramento Republic played Orlando City.
The last time a non-MLS team won the event was in 1999 when the Rochester Rhinos defeated the Colorado Rapids.
Nashville is currently in sixth place in MLS’ Eastern Conference with two games to play and are assured a spot in MLS Cup playoffs.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
