Nashville SC Beat Red Bulls 3-2 in Nashville, Tennessee, to Tie the MLS Points Record

Nashville SC gave their home crowd one more record on Sunday afternoon. Down two goals before halftime at GEODIS Park, Nashville scored three times without reply to beat the New York Red Bulls 3-2, and Sam Surridge headed in the winner in the first minute of stoppage time to complete the comeback.

The win lifted Nashville to 74 points and a 22-3-8 record, tying the MLS single season points record that Inter Miami set in 2024, with one regular season match still to play. Nashville had already clinched the Supporters' Shield, and Sunday's result closed the home schedule unbeaten at 15-0-2. The club said it is the first team in league history to win 15 home matches in a single regular season, and that this was the second unbeaten home season in club history.

Two goals down

New York started the better side. Nashville rookie goalkeeper Brian Schwake saved a penalty kick from 19 year old Cade Cowell in the 19th minute, his league leading third penalty save of the season, according to the club. The Red Bulls still struck first in the 34th minute, when teenager Julian Hall scored his 13th goal of the season from assists by 17 year old Adri Mehmeti and 19 year old Sekou Kone. Rafael Mosquera, who had entered the match a minute earlier, made it 2-0 in the 40th minute with his first MLS goal, set up by Cowell and Devin Padelford.

Nashville answered before the break. Andy Najar forced an own goal from New York defender Tim Parker in the 45th minute, and the home side kept pushing after halftime, striking the woodwork and seeing apparent goals ruled offside, according to match reports. The equalizer came in the 78th minute, when a Cristian Espinoza cross produced a second New York own goal, charged to defender Julian Bazan in the club scoring summary.

Surridge settles it

The winner came from a familiar connection. Espinoza swung in a corner in the first minute of stoppage time and Surridge rose at the top of the six yard box to head the ball inside the left post, past goalkeeper Ethan Horvath. It was Surridge's team leading 19th goal of the season. Espinoza's assist was his career high 15th of the season, and the club said it was his 100th career MLS assist across the regular season and playoffs. Horvath finished with seven saves for New York, and Schwake, named the man of the match by the club, made two saves.

The loss ended the Red Bulls' season at 11-16-6 and knocked them out of the playoff race. Their defeat, together with Toronto FC's 3-1 loss to Atlanta United, clinched an Eastern Conference playoff berth for the Columbus Crew, the Associated Press reported. Nashville also beat New York 1-0 on the road on August 19.

One match to set the record

Nashville can break the points record on Saturday, November 7, when it closes the regular season at FC Cincinnati on Decision Day, with kickoff at 3 p.m. CT, the club said. A win would take Nashville to 77 points and a draw to 75, either enough to hold the record alone. New York finishes its season at home against Atlanta United on Saturday. Sunday's match at GEODIS Park was played in rain, with the club box score listing 56 degrees.