Nashville SC 3-0 Chicago Fire: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
MLS · Sunday 20 September 2026 · GEODIS Park · referee L. Hernandez · full time
Full time: Nashville SC 3-0 Chicago Fire
Nashville SC beat Chicago Fire 3-0 in MLS on Sunday 20 September 2026 at GEODIS Park. The goals: Sam Surridge 33', Cristian Espinoza 78', Hany Mukhtar 87'.
How Nashville SC won it
The opening goal came in the 33rd minute: Sam Surridge for Nashville SC, set up by Reed Baker-Whiting. Cristian Espinoza made it 2-0 to Nashville SC in the 78th minute, set up by Andy Nájar. Hany Mukhtar made it 3-0 to Nashville SC in the 87th minute, set up by Cristian Espinoza.
It was 1-0 at half-time.
The referee, L. Hernandez, showed 2 yellow cards: 1 to Nashville SC and 1 to Chicago Fire.
Nashville SC: B. Callaghan II, 4-2-3-1 · Chicago Fire: G. Berhalter, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 0.85 for Nashville SC and 2.32 for Chicago Fire.
Nashville SC scored about 2.1 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
Chicago Fire left about 2.3 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.
Chicago Fire created the better chances, 2.32 xG to 0.85, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.
Nashville SC had 5 shots on target, Chicago Fire 1.
Nashville SC had 56% of the ball and turned it into the win.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Nashville SC came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 2.1 and conceding 0.7 a match, with 1.67 expected goals for and 1.23 against, and had won 68% of their matches.
Chicago Fire came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 1.8 and conceding 1.5 a match, with 1.80 expected goals for and 1.48 against, and had won 48% of their matches.
Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire: the match in numbers
| Nashville SC | Match statistics | Chicago Fire |
|---|---|---|
| 56% | Ball possession | 44% |
| 0.85 | Expected goals (xG) | 2.32 |
| 13 | Total shots | 9 |
| 5 | Shots on target | 1 |
| 3 | Big chances | 2 |
| 515 | Total passes | 416 |
| 89% | Pass accuracy | 85% |
| 5 | Corners | 2 |
| 12 | Fouls | 9 |
| 4 | Offsides | 2 |
| 19 | Tackles | 11 |
| 1 | Saves | 3 |
| 1 | Yellow cards | 1 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Cristian Espinoza (Nashville SC), rated 8.0 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal, 1 assist.
Nashville SC
- Cristian Espinoza 8.0 1 goal, 1 assist
- Sam Surridge 7.7 1 goal
- Reed Baker-Whiting 7.6 1 assist
- Jeison Palacios 7.5
- Matthew Corcoran 7.4
Chicago Fire
- Philip Zinckernagel 7.0
- Sergio Oregel 7.0
- Robin Lod 6.8
- Puso Dithejane 6.6
- Anzor Mekvabishvili 6.6
The lowest-rated starter was Andrew Gutman at 6.2. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Nashville SC: Nashville SC vs Philadelphia Union Thursday 29 October 2026 · MLS
- Chicago Fire: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City Thursday 29 October 2026 · MLS
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire
What was the score in Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire?
Nashville SC 3-0 Chicago Fire (half-time 1-0), MLS, Sunday 20 September 2026.
Who scored in Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire?
Sam Surridge 33', Cristian Espinoza 78', Hany Mukhtar 87'.
Did Moneyball predict Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire?
Cristian Espinoza, rated 8.0 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire?
L. Hernandez.
Every match, before and after
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