Final Notes: Nashville SC 2-0 CF Montréal

MLS’s best lives in Music City.

After one of the most dominant seasons in league history, Nashville SC is officially MLS’s new Supporters’ Shield holders. The Boys in Gold secured the regular season title with a nervy but ultimately well-deserved 2-0 win at CF Montréal Saturday afternoon, clinching the second trophy in club history and its first in MLS. Nashville’s 70 points and 21 wins through 31 matches are the best in its history by a distance, with the potential to eclipse all-time league records in its final three outings before the playoffs.

Here’s what we learned.

Surridge and Mukhtar secure more silverware

Those who watched last year’s U.S. Open Cup Final may have noticed some similarities with Saturday’s match. A superb Brian Schwake save to prevent the hosts from equalizing. An at-times clunky offensive performance by both teams, filled with near misses and last-ditch tackles. A rambunctious locker room celebration followed both, once to celebrate the club’s inaugural trophy and again to celebrate its biggest to date.

They may also have noticed a similar slate of goalscorers. Like in Austin, Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar provided the attacking spark for the Boys in Gold in Quebec. Just under thirteen months ago, the German struck first before the Englishman overcame the hosts’ equalizer in the second half. The order flipped Saturday in Montréal, with Surridge striking first before Mukhtar settled the match in the 76^th minute.

Neither of Nashville’s finishes in Montréal will earn a spot on the highlight reel. But that should take nothing away from the composure and instinct required to put those chances away, particularly given the stakes of the match. The movement that led to Surridge’s goal was spectacular even if the eventual finish was routine by his standards. Reed Baker-Whiting camped on the left flank to capitalize on a botched clearance before he curled a cross straight onto Surridge’s waiting head, which bounced off young goalkeeper Samsy Keita before the striker parried it into the goal. Mukhtar’s score was a direct product of his hustle and heads-up play, noticing an errant pass just outside Montréal’s box he was able to pounce upon before sliding a shot under Keita’s arm.

As two of Nashville’s three Designated Players, and two of its longest-tenured players, it seems almost poetic they’d be the ones to secure both of the club’s inaugural trophies. But to have their goals, and their goals alone, occupy the scoresheet in the two most important games the Boys in Gold have played is an immense testament to their ability under pressure. That’s not to mention Surridge’s brace at Inter Miami in September, Mukhtar’s winner at Estadio Azteca or his hat trick against LAFC, all games which will be remembered among Nashville’s greatest.

Now, as Nashville eyes a postseason run with home-field advantage and the No. 1 seed, eyes will be on them to headline another trophy-winning performance.

Overcoming the letdown spot

MLS has long been defined by its parity. Teams oscillate between Shield contenders and playoff bubble teams year on year and upsets run rampant, in large part due to roster construction rules and a salary cap which limit the construction of super teams. Just because a team is first in the league when it meets an opponent rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed a result, let alone a win.

Nashville knows this. Some of its most difficult games this season have come against opponents it may have expected to dominate, including Atlanta, D.C., Philadelphia — before its summer revival — and Montréal. The reverse fixture between Nashville and the team from Quebec was a hard-fought 1-0 victory at GEODIS Park in July, settled by a Surridge penalty. By contrast, many of the Boys in Gold’s most dominant victories have come against some of MLS’s most talented teams, including a 4-1 demolition of Miami at home, a 3-2 takedown of LAFC, a 3-0 dismantling of Chicago and a sweep of New England, all playoff contenders.

Saturday’s match could have been no different. Even with star striker Prince Owusu sidelined, Montréal still fielded two-time Copa America winner Alexis Sánchez up top. Young wingers Dante Sealy and Gennadiy Synchuk were tricky assignments with their speed and trickery, supported by MLS journeyman forward Daniel Ríos and former English Premier League midfielder Matty Longstaff. Even if league form said otherwise, there was plenty of talent to cause Nashville issues, a fact which bore out in a hotly contested, scoreless opening frame that saw several potent chances for the hosts.

With the stakes of the Supporters’ Shield and a chilly atmosphere at kickoff, combined with these factors, Nashville’s composure in seeing out a 2-0 victory on the road is as commendable as any win it’s earned all season. And because of it, it’s now guaranteed as favorable a route through the playoffs as possible. Well done, Boys in Gold.

A tailor-made team

It’s easy to forget amid the almost ritualistic nature of Nashville’s wins that what this team doing is not normal. Beyond unexpected, their form and consistency are unprecedented; the Boys in Gold sit just five points shy of MLS’s all-time points record, are unbeaten at home and can reach a smattering of other milestones, including the goals-allowed and clean sheet records.

We can speak — and have spoken —at length about the responsible individuals. Cristian Espinoza has been a revelation on the right wing since joining the club as a Designated Player from San Jose. Matthew Corcoran has taken an immense step up in his sophomore campaign at the base of Music City’s midfield. Maxwell Woledzi and Baker-Whiting have revolutionized Nashville’s defense at center back and left back, respectively, with their mix of technical quality and energy. Schwake is the best goalie in MLS, earning an All-Star nod and maiden USMNT call up in his first season as a starter. And then, of course, there’s B.J. Callaghan — the head coach directing his myriad actors to routinely thrilling performances.

But the broader reason for Nashville’s success transcends individuals. It’s all well and good to have a team full of talented individuals; it’s another to have a team full of talented individuals who complement one another. Twenty-one league wins and the regular-season title only arrive if the latter is true. Saturday’s triumph was as equal a testament to its defensive resilience and attacking instinct as its midfield control and the mentality instilled by its coach. This is a team that was constructed to play together and reinforce its own strengths. Saturday, and the shiny shield the Boys in Gold will lift at home on Nov. 1, prove as much.