Sam Surridge, Patrick Yazbek named to MLS Team of the Matchday

Forward Sam Surridge (starter) and midfielder Patrick Yazbek (bench) earned spots on this week’s MLS Team of the Matchday following Nashville’s 3-1 win against Minnesota United. Surridge scored a brace in the victory, twice assisted by his Australian teammate. 

The Boys in Gold have been one of the standout teams throughout the early stages of MLS play.  They sit joint-top of the Eastern Conference standings on seven points through three games, possess their conference’s joint-best defense and have scored the second-most goals in the league (seven). Their 4-0-1 start in all competitions, with a combined goal differential of plus-12, is the best in club history.

It’s been a team effort the whole way. Brian Schwake’s confident play in goal, Maxwell Woledzi and Jeisson Palacios’ composed defending, Eddi Tagseth’s endless running and Hany Mukhtar and Cristian Espinoza’s trickery in attack have all been vital. But, at least on Saturday, it was Surridge and Yazbek who thrust their team on, combining brilliantly for two of Nashville’s three goals. 

Few words remain to describe the English striker’s game, which has continued to improve since moving to Music City in 2023. His first goal, a well-timed deflection of a Yazbek curler, showed his lethal instinct and astute positioning, boosted by a ferocious hit from close range in the second half to put his team up 3-1. Surridge’s brace against Minnesota was his second in two MLS games in 2026 — he missed the FC Dallas match through illness — placing him tied with LA Galaxy’s Joao Klauss atop the Golden Boot charts.

Surridge has passed 50 goal contributions in MLS with his brace as well — the latest accolade for Nashville’s No. 9.

Yazbek, meanwhile, fueled Nashville’s engine all night against Minnesota. The Australian international affected every sphere of play across nearly every square inch of grass in a trademark box-to-box performance, accumulating 88 touches, 67 passes and a 92% completion rate from the center of midfield in addition to his stellar pair of assists.

The first assist came from a sublime curler on the edge of the box, which arced toward the far-left corner for Surridge to tap in. His second was equally brilliant, interchanging with Andy Najar and Espinoza on the right wing as he charged into the box to square a ball for his striker to rifle home.

Just three players have logged more MLS minutes for Nashville in 2026 than Yazbek, a testament to his coach’s faith and the high quality of his displays.

The Boys in Gold return to GEODIS Park on Wednesday evening for the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 against Inter Miami.