Nashville SC Wins First U.S. Open Cup with 2-1 Victory Over Austin FC

Nashville, TN – Hany Mukhtar scored just 17 minutes into the match, leading Nashville SC to a 2-1 victory over Austin FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final on October 1, 2025.

Mukhtar’s early strike was later matched by Austin’s Myrto Uzuni just before halftime, making the score 1-1. However, Nashville regained the lead when Sam Surridge converted a penalty kick in the 60th minute, marking his sixth goal of the tournament.

Goalkeeper Brian Schwake played a crucial role in the victory, making seven saves, including stopping a penalty kick in the first half. Schwake has now started all five of Nashville SC’s matches in the Open Cup, maintaining an undefeated record.

“It’s an incredible feeling to win our first trophy in club history,” Schwake said after the match. “We worked hard as a team, and it showed today.”

To celebrate the triumph, Nashville SC plans to host a championship celebration for fans at GEODIS Park on Sunday, October 5, at 5 p.m. CT. The event marks a historic moment as it is the first major professional sports championship in Tennessee.

Winning the U.S. Open Cup also means Nashville SC qualifies for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, a prestigious tournament featuring clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Mukhtar and Surridge, both MVP candidates, highlighted the team’s performance throughout the tournament, with Mukhtar also notching an assist on Surridge’s penalty goal.

Nashville SC’s next match is a crucial MLS fixture against CF Montréal on October 4. Currently, the team sits in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, fighting for playoff positioning.