Nashville SC thrash New England 4-1 in 2026 MLS season opener

FOXBOROUGH, MA– New England Revolution (0-1-0, 0 pts.) were defeated 4-1 versus Nashville SC (1-0-0, 3 pts.) on Saturday night.

The match kicked off at 8:30 p.m. ET at Geodis Park to a crowd of 20,000.

New England starting lineup: 4-3-3 | Matt Turner, Will Sands, Andrew Farrell, Keegan Hughes, Ethan Kohler, Matt Polster, Brooklyn Raines, Carles Gil (C), Griffin Yow, Dor Turgeman, Leo Campana

New England substitutes:| Donovan Parisian, Tanner Beason, Jackson Yueill, Malcolm Fry, Jayden Da, Luca Langoni, Alhassan Yusuf, Ilay Feingold

Nashville SC starting lineup: 4-4-2| Brian Schwake, Andy Najar, Jeisson Palacios, Maxwell Woledzi, Daniel Lovtiz, Edvard Tagseth, Warren Madrigal, Patrick Yazbek, Cristian Espinoza, Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge

Nashville SC substitutes:| Joe Willis, Bryan Acosta, Jack Maher, Josh Bauer, Alex Muyl, Reed Baker-Whiting, Woobens Pacius, Matthew Corcoran, Ahmed Qasem

The match kicked off with Nashville SC starting from the center circle as they elected to build through the midfield to begin the match.

Sam Surridge had the first chance of the match for Nashville in the 2nd minute when a cross into the area by winger Warren Madrigal was headed by forward Sam Surridge and met with a quick-save by goalkeeper Matt Turner

Entering the 5th minute, Nashville took the lead.

Following a corner kick delivery into the area, the ball bounced in the box, was kicked by Jeisson Palacios, ricocheted off of Warren Madrigal and then fell for forward Sam Surridge for the easy finish to make it 1-o to Nashville.

Nashville’s next chance came in the 11th minute when a long-throw in was sent into the area and was eventually cleared.

Entering the 16th minute, Nashville added to their lead.

Winger Warren Madrigal managed to find midfielder Edvard Tagseth in space, who then elected to send a ball toward the back post to find forward Sam Surridge for the left footed shot that was initial saved by Matt Turner, then came back to Surridge’s head for the finish to make it 2-0 to Nashville and to add to Surridge’s tally for his second goal of the match.

Nashville had multiple chances in the 21st minute when Warren Madrigal & Jeisson Palacios both had shots that were deflected and then were cleared.

Leo Campana had New England’s first chance of the match in the 26th minute when a cross into the area by midfielder found Campana inside the penalty area, however, he sent his shot high over the bar.

New England’s next chance came in the 30th minute when a free kick delivery into the area by midfielder Carles Gil bounced twice inside the area before it was headed by a Nashville defender back to goalkeeper Patrick Schwake.

Entering the 38th minute, Nashville added to their lead.

Defender Andy Najar’s pass was deflected by Griffin Yow, which then fell to winger Warren Madrigal who tapped it ahead for midfielder Hany Mukhtar to bury it past goalkeeper Matt Turner to make it 3-0.

In the 44th minute, Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović was forced to make his first change of the match by replacing defender Will Sands (concussion sub) with defender Tanner Beason.

After the initial 45+7 minutes, the match entered halftime with Nashville ahead at 3-0.

The second half kicked off with New England starting from the center circle as they elected to build out of the back to begin the second half

Entering the 48th minute, New England pulled one back.

Following a delivery into the area by midfielder Carles Gil, the ball fell for forward Leo Campana who chest-trapped the ball down and buried it into the bottom right corner to make it 3-1.

Less than a minute later, Revolution winger Griffin Yow was issued a yellow card for a foul on midfielder Patrick Yazbek.

Entering the 50th minute, Nashville added to their lead.

Following a cut-back cross into the area to forward Sam Surridge, he attempted a back-heel shot that was saved by Matt Turner that fell directly to winger Warren Madrigal for the finish to make it 4-1.

Sam Surridge had another chance in the 55th minute when his effort towards goal was thwarted by defender Ethan Kohler.

In the 61st minute, both teams made changes. Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović made his second change by replacing forward Dor Turgeman with winger Luca Langoni. Nashville head coach BJ Callaghan made his first change by replacing winger Warren Madrigal with winger Alex Muyl.

Nashville had the next chance in the 65th minute when an effort by winger Cristian Espinoza just missed the goal.

In the 67th minute, Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović made his third change of the match by replacing winger Griffin Yow with winger Malcolm Fry.

Hany Mukhtar had a chance just two minutes later when his effort was blocked by a sliding Ethan Kohler for a corner kick.

In the 72nd minute, Nashville head coach BJ Callaghan made his second & third changes of the match by replacing midfielder Patrick Yazbek & defender Andy Najar with midfielder Matthew Corcoran & defender Josh Bauer.

Ten minutes later, both teams made changes. Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović made his final two changes of the match by replacing defender Keegan Hughes & midfielder Matt Polster with defender Ilay Feingold & midfielder Alhassan Yusuf. Nashville head coach BJ Callaghan made his fourth change by replacing forward Sam Surridge with forward Woobens Pacius.

New England’s next chance came in the 84th minute when a free kick delivery into the area by midfielder Carles Gil was headed by forward Leo Campana and eventually went out for a goal kick.

Nashville’s next chance came in the 88th minute when a strike by winger Ahmed Qasem was saved by goalkeeper Matt Turner, deflected off the right post, and then was inevitably cleared.

In the 90th minute, Nashville head coach BJ Callaghan made his fifth and final change by replacing midfielder Edvard Tagseth with midfielder Bryan Acosta.

After the 90+4 minutes, the match concluded with Nashville SC holding on for the comfortable 4-1 win.

(Editor’s Note: For more of Burt Granofsky’s photos, click on the link)

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