Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Nashville SC 1st with 54 points, Cincinnati 8th with 32, 22 apart. Cincinnati had been under-performing their position — 18th on five-round form against 8th in the table. Against a league average of 1.6 goals per team per game, Nashville SC ran at 2 scored and 0.84 conceded, Cincinnati at 2.17 and 2.46.
Momentum sat with Nashville SC, winners of their last three.
Across 4 recorded meetings, Nashville SC have 1 win to Cincinnati's 2, with 1 draw, at 3 goals per meeting. Hosting has counted for little in this fixture — the home side has won only 25% of those meetings. History points to goals: 75% of the meetings had three or more, and both sides scored in 75%.
The match was played at GEODIS Park (capacity 30,000). Half-time and full-time told different stories: Nashville SC led 1-0 at the break, before 3 more goals closed it at 4-0.
Goal scorers
Nashville SC: Sam Surridge (43'), Hany Mukhtar (53'), Bryan Acosta (89'), Ahmed Qasem (90')
Key stats
Possession: Nashville SC 52% · Cincinnati 48% · Total shots: 19-15 · On target: 7-8 · Corners: 6-4