Nashville SC wallops Orlando City 5-1 behind multi-goal games from Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge

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Nashville SC wallops Orlando City 5-1 behind multi-goal games from Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge

Jacob Shames, Nashville Tennessean · The Tennessean

Sat, Aug 23, 2025 ·

8 min read

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For Nashville SC , returning home after three straight losses to face an Orlando City team it came in tied with in the MLS standings, anything would have sufficed.

But Nashville didn't settle for any old win. It ended its first losing streak of 2025 convincingly, beating Orlando City 5-1 at Geodis Park on Aug. 23 behind two goals each from Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar . NSC also kept pace in the Eastern Conference, where it sits third with six regular-season matches left.

"The guys did a great job this week," coach B.J. Callaghan said. "Dug deep, put in extra work, really came together. This is the time of season where everything's magnified."

Nashville (15-8-5, 50 points) still has a shot at the Supporters' Shield, trailing the Philadelphia Union for the league's best record by four points. Its next match is at home against Atlanta United on Aug. 30 (7:30 p.m. CT).

MORE: Nashville SC forward Hany Mukhtar 4th player in MLS history with 5 straight seasons of 10 assists

Flying start

Coming off short rest after its Leagues Cup win over Toluca on Aug. 20, Orlando City (13-7-8, 47 points) sat six regular starters, and its rotation was never a match for Nashville.

Surridge scored just three minutes after kickoff when Mukhtar tucked a pass to him between two Orlando defenders. It was Mukhtar's turn next. In the 17th minute, Josh Bauer 's long throw-in bounced through the penalty box and right to Mukhtar's foot for NSC's second goal.

Mukhtar and Surridge capped off the first half by scoring within three minutes of each other, and Nashville led 4-0 at halftime, its highest-scoring half in nearly four months.

"Hany and Sam (had) the goals, but it's the dynamic movement of all the front players, and you could add some of the fullbacks and the way they get in and disorganize the opponent," Callaghan said. "That's our objective when we have the ball."

Added Mukhtar: "This game was one of the best games I've seen us after we win the ball. The last three games, we hadn't been good in decision making. When we won the ball, we tried to attack, we opened up the field, we tried to score, we lose the ball and it goes back and forth. That's not how we want to play . . . Tonight we played really good in all phases."

Aug 23, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge (9) celebrates his goal with midfielder Patrick Yazbek (8) and forward Jacob Shaffelburg (14) against the Orlando City during the first half at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Jacob Shaffelburg stays hot

After scoring Nashville's lone goal on Aug. 17 at New York City FC , Jacob Shaffelburg provided two assists in the first half — the first to Mukhtar in the 40th minute, and a second on a long, lofted cross to Surridge three minutes later.

Jonathan Perez , a loanee from the LA Galaxy who Nashville permanently acquired on Aug. 21, has recently appeared to supplant Shaffelburg on the wing. But Shaffelburg's latest performances show he's far from done being a factor, especially as Callaghan praised him for working on his game beyond the blazing speed he's most known for.

"Tonight we asked him to defend a little differently, and he rose to that occasion," Callaghan said. "Sometimes he had to hold the ball under pressure and was able to draw some fouls. At the end, you see his quality when he's 1-on-1."

Josh Bauer proving his value

Bauer had two assists, the last one coming in second-half stoppage time when he chipped a pass over the defense to Jeisson Palacios, who scored on a header.

A natural center back, Bauer saw playing time at right back early in the season, and has started Nashville's past two games on the left. His versatility and offensive development — he has four goal contributions in 2025 after having zero in his career — will continue to be crucial for Nashville, with left backs Daniel Lovitz and Wyatt Meyer dealing with foot injuries.

"Josh embodies what we're about here," Callaghan said. "He's completely selfless and puts the work in each and every day . . . He's called on to do a lot of things. It's kind of a blessing and a curse that he's so versatile, but you can see the way he impacted the game tonight."

Nashville SC vs. Orlando City score updates

94' — Jeisson Palacios scores to cap off Nashville romp

Make it 5-1 Nashville SC in one of its best performances of the season, as center back Jeisson Palacios puts away a header off a set piece. It's the second goal of Palacios' time in Nashville.

76' — Orlando City goal makes it 4-1 Nashville

Nashville will get the win but it won't get the shutout, as Luis Muriel scores to get Orlando City on the board.

43' — Another goal! Sam Surridge header makes it 4-0 Nashville SC

This has been one of Nashville's most dominant halves of the entire season. Sam Surridge scores his second goal of the game on a header off a cross from Jacob Shaffelburg. Surridge now has 20 goals and moves into the lead in the the MLS Golden Boot race again.

40' — Mukhtar goal makes it 3-0 Nashville

Hany Mukhtar scores off an assist from Jacob Shaffelburg for his second goal and Nashville leads Orlando 3-0. It's the former MVP's second multi-goal of the season, the first coming on April 26 against the Chicago Fire .

17' — Hany Mukhtar goal adds to Nashville's lead

It's all Nashville to start this one as Hany Mukhtar finds the net himself after assisting Sam Surridge on Nashville's first goal. A long throw-in from Josh Bauer goes all the way through the penalty box and finds the foot of Mukhtar to make it 2-0.

3' — Sam Surridge opens the scoring for Nashville

Hany Mukhtar threads a touch pass in between two Orlando City defenders to Sam Surridge, who stays onside and chips the ball around Pedro Gallese for a 1-0 Nashville lead. Surridge has his 19th goal of the season, tied with Lionel Messi for the MLS lead.

Nashville SC lineup

GK: Joe Willis ; DF: Josh Bauer, Jeisson Palacios, Walker Zimmerman (captain), Andy Najar ; MF: Gaston Brugman, Alex Muyl , Patrick Yazbek ; FW: Hany Mukhtar, Jacob Shaffelburg, Sam Surridge

Orlando lineup

GK: Pedro Gallese; DF: Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson (captain), Rodrigo Schlegel , Kyle Smith; MF: Dagur Thorhallsson, Cesar Araujo, Joran Gerbet , Nicolas Rodriguez; FW: Ramiro Enrique , Tyrese Spicer

Jul 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC Forward Sam Surridge celebrates the goal of midfielder Hany Mukhtar (10) Columbus Crew during the first period at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Nashville SC vs. Orlando City date, time, location

Date:Saturday, Aug. 23
Time:7:30 p.m. CT
Location:Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee

How to watch Nashville SC vs. Orlando City

Nashville SC vs. Orlando City can be streamed with MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. This is the third season of a 10-year partnership between MLS and Apple TV, which will carry every MLS regular-season and playoff game.

Nashville availability report

Out: Julian Gaines (thigh), Wyatt Meyer (foot), Taylor Washington (knee)
Questionable: Tyler Boyd (knee), Dan Lovitz (foot)

Orlando availability report

Out: Wilder Cartagena (season-ending injury), Duncan McGuire (shoulder), Yutaro Tsukada (season-ending injury)

Nashville SC vs. Orlando City betting odds

Odds via BetMGM

Odds:Nashville -110, Orlando City +260, tie +260
Over/under:2.5 goals (over -160, under +110)

Nashville SC schedule

All times Central

Feb. 22: T 0-0 vs. New England Revolution
March 1: L 2-0 at New York Red Bulls
March 8: W 2-0 vs. Portland Timbers
March 16: W 3-1 at Philadelphia Union
March 22: W 3-0 vs. CF Montreal
March 29: L 2-1 vs. FC Cincinnati
April 5: L 2-1 at Charlotte FC
April 12: W 2-1 vs. Real Salt Lake
April 19: L 3-0 at Seattle Sounders
April 26: W 7-2 vs. Chicago Fire
May 3: T 1-1 at Atlanta United
May 6: W 1-0 vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves*
May 10: W 2-1 vs. Charlotte FC
May 14: W 2-1 vs. New York Red Bulls
May 17: T 0-0 vs. D.C. United
May 21: W 3-2 at Orlando City*
May 24: W 2-1 at Toronto FC
May 28: T 2-2 at Columbus Crew
May 31: T 2-2 vs. New York City FC
June 14: W 2-0 at Chicago Fire
June 25: W 3-2 at New England Revolution
June 28: W 1-0 at D.C. United
July 5: W 1-0 vs. Philadelphia Union
July 9: W 5-2 vs. D.C. United*
July 12: L 2-1 at Inter Miami
July 16: W 3-0 vs. Columbus Crew
July 19: W 1-0 vs. Toronto FC
July 25: L 1-0 at San Diego FC
Aug. 9: L 3-1 at St. Louis City
Aug. 17: L 2-1 at New York City FC
Aug. 23: vs. Orlando City, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30: vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13: at FC Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 16: vs. Philadelphia Union, 7 p.m.*
Sept. 20: at Orlando City, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 27: vs. Houston Dynamo , 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4: at CF Montreal, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 18: vs. Inter Miami, 5 p.m.

*-U.S. Open Cup game

Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MLS: Nashville SC wallops Orlando City 5-1 to snap losing streak

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