NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville SC got their second win of the 2025 preseason, cruising to a 3-0 win over Lexington SC at Geodis Park on Saturday afternoon.
The XI
BJ Callaghan rolled out the strongest lineup available. Hany Mukhtar partnered Sam Surridge up top, with Bryan Acosta and Patrick Yazbek in the middle. Presumed starters Dan Lovitz, Gastón Brugman and Tyler Boyd were all absent as they work back to fitness back to full fitness, as well as Julian Gaines out injured.
Nashville SC Starting XI vs Lexington SC Willis; Washington, Maher, Zimmerman, Najar; Acosta, Yazbek; Muyl, Tagseth; Surridge, Mukhtar
— SixOneFive Soccer (@sixonefivesoccer.com) 2025-02-01T20:09:39.625Z
The second half saw whole-sale changes, with Chris Applewhite getting the nod in the back, as well as unsigned trialists Wyatt Meyers, Matt Corcoran and Benji Michel. Goalkeeper Brian Schwake replaced Xavier Valdez midway through the second half, and Jeisson Palacios, Kevin Carmichael and Ethan O'Brien each played the final 15 minutes.
Nashville SC Second Half XI Valdez; Lovitz, Meyer, Applewhite, Bauer; Corcoran, Jones; Michel, Pérez; Shaffelburg, Sipić
— SixOneFive Soccer (@sixonefivesoccer.com) 2025-02-01T21:36:12.865Z
On the pitch
The match was split into four segments, with each group of starters playing a full half plus an additional 15 minutes.
Nashville ran rampant in the opening half, with Sam Surridge scoring a hat-trick to give Nashville a commanding lead. The first and third goals were nearly identical for the Englishman, getting on the end of a pair of Hany Mukhtar free kicks and heading back across goal to the far post.
Surridge's second was the best of the lot. After a lovely bit of possession play, Hany Mukhtar played a line-splitting pass in to Patrick Yazbek, who had space and time to pick out Surridge unmarked at the far post.
Getting your DP No. 9 in form before the season starts is encouraging. Surridge bagged 12 goals last year in a lethargic attack. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him score 17+ in 2025. pic.twitter.com/YHCoeOCqvv
— Ben Wright (@benwright) February 2, 2025
With both sides making full changes in the second half, Nashville continued to dominate the flow of the game but were unable to finish the final product. Jacob Shaffelburg and Benji Michel each had a half chance, but couldn't find their way past the goalkeeper.
Brian Schwake made a late penalty save to maintain the clean sheet after a sloppy challenge from Jacob Shaffelburg gave the visitors a spot kick. Overall, Nashville were clearly a level above the opposition with their full-strength lineup, and continued to dictate the game in the second half.
