Nashville SC Wins Their First U.S. Open Cup Title at Austin

Nashville SC edges Austin FC at the Q2 Stadium to hoist its first trophy

Austin, TX- A wonderful night for a Championship final as two sides battled hard for 90 minutes to earn their first Open Cup title. But at the end of the night, when the final whistle blew, it would be the club from Music City who came up big with timely goals and strong defense to take their first title of any kind by defeating Austin FC by a final score of two goals to one.

Mukhtar Strikes first

Nashville attacks Austin’s area, as Sam Surridge brought the ball up the far side. His long cross went into the middle of the area when Jacob Schaeffelburg chested the ball toward Hany Mukhtar at the near side, then he swung at the ball, bounced on the pitch, and went into the net it the 17th minute.

Penalty thwarted

Austin FC attacked the Nashville area when Owen Wolff sent Myrto Uzuni on an attacking run. He entered the area, took a touch on the ball, then was taken down by Brian Schwake for the penalty. In the 21st minute, Uzuni took the penalty and was stopped by Schwake at the far post.

On replay, it looked as if Schwake took a touch on the ball before taking down Uzuni, which meant that VAR should’ve intervened and asked referee Tori Penso to head for the monitor and wipe out the penalty call, but it never came as the call stood.

Uzuni’s redemption

As the opening half was reaching first half stoppage time, Austin FC finally scored its equalizer. Ille Sanchez dribbled the ball and saw Uzuni make a run down the near side. Crossed the ball perfectly into Uzuni’s path, forcing Schwake to come off his line, and Uzuni slots it home for the equalizer.

Surridge claims Open Cup Golden Boot for the lead

Nashville earned a corner at the far side. Some were pushing and shoving until Jelsson Palacios was hauled down with two hands by Dani Pereira inside the area when the ball was played. Penso pointed to the spot for the penalty. Sam Surridge took the spot kick and drilled it low to beat Brad Stuver for his sixth goal of the tournament at the hour mark.

Once again, questions arose as it looked like Pereira did have his arms on Palacios, but never made a grab or brought him down motion, which once again, VAR should’ve come into play to remove the penalty call. Also, Surridge, who placed the ball at the spot to take the penalty, went back to the spot to readjust the ball.

Schwake made a huge save

Osman Bukari is a dangerous player for Austin FC. He continued to handle the ball and put himself in dangerous positions. He threatened the near side frequently when he cut inside the area to drill a hard shot at the near post. Schwake was at the right place at the right time to punch the ball over the crossbar to prevent a second equalizer in the 73rd minute.

Nashville Celebrates

After six minutes of second half stoppage time was added, Tori Penso blew her whistle to end the final. Nashville SC won its first U.S. Open Cup Title. They went to the stage post-match at Q2 Stadium to receive their first-place medals and then hoisted the Lamar Hunt Cup over their heads, accompanied by fireworks and confetti.

Before the match ended, Sam Surridge, who received a yellow card at the third minute of six in second half stoppage time, got a second yellow, then red for kicking the ball away from Brad Stuver in the final minute of six to put his side down to ten men.

B.J. Callaghan adds to his short-term success

Since taking over as the interim head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team from Anthony Hudson during the Gregg Berhalter situation with Reyna’s before the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Semi-Finals, there were plenty of questions aimed at B.J. Callaghan, wondering why he was the one to take it over.

He quickly proved to everyone who doubted this move that he was ready to become a head coach. He needed to prove that at the club level, and did so right away this season in 2025 when he was hired by Nashville SC. Now he has a club title with the Open Cup and a Nations League title with US Soccer. He is the future for the National Team down the road. For now, he has an MLS Cup Playoffs situation next.

US Open Cup News:

• First Time Finalists Battle for the U.S. Open Cup
• Austin FC’s Late Winner in Extra Time puts them in Open Cup Final
• Sam Surridge Hat Trick Puts Nashville SC in Open Cup Finals

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