LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: Nashville SC overcomes early deficit with five unanswered goals to rally past D.C. United and reach semifinals

Jul 12, 2025 291 Views US OPEN CUP

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Talk about a comeback.

Nashville Soccer Club battled back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring five straight goals to defeat D.C. United 5-2 and advance to its first-ever Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal Wednesday night at GEODIS Park.

The win will set up Nashville in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals Sept. 16 against the winner of the Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls quarterfinals game, which will be made up on Aug. 13.

Nashville is now 11-0-4 overall in their last 15 competitions, including all competitions – extending their franchise record.

Jonathan Pérez opened the scoring for the Boys in Gold when he made it 2-1 in the 25th minute, followed by Major League Soccer Golden Boot leader and Most Valuable Player candidate Sam Surridge drawing Nashville even with a penalty kick in the 53rd minute.

Surridge put Nashville ahead for good with his second goal in the 72nd minute, and first-time 2025 MLS All-Star Andy Najar and defender Walker Zimmerman — making his first appearance since May 31 after representing the United States Men’s National Team in the Concacaf Gold Cup — added insurance tallies in the 81st and 87th minutes, respectively.

Nashville SC will learn its Open Cup semifinal opponent on Aug. 13, when the New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union make up their quarterfinal match that was postponed due to inclement weather. In a draw hosted after the Round of 16, it was determined that the Boys in Gold will host the Union or visit the Red Bulls, pending the outcome of their match.

Next up: Nashville SC will look to win its fifth straight MLS fixture and extend its regular-season unbeaten streak to 13 when it visits Inter Miami CF at Chase Stadium on Saturday, July 12, at 6:30 p.m. CT.

BOX SCORE

Nashville SC (3W-0L-0D in U.S. Open Cup) vs. D.C. United (1W-1L-1D in U.S. Open Cup)

July 9, 2025 – GEODIS Park

Final score:

NSH: 5

DC: 2

Scoring summary

DC: Gabriel Pirani 5’

DC: Jack Maher (Own Goal) 24’

NSH: Jonathan Pérez 25’

NSH: Sam Surridge (Penalty) 53’

NSH: Sam Surridge (A: Jonathan Pérez) 72’

NSH: Andy Najar 81’

NSH: Walker Zimmerman (A: Gastón Brugman) 87’

Discipline:

DC: David Schnegg (Caution) 49’

NSH: Eddi Tagseth (Caution) 56

Lineups:

NSH starters: Brian Schwake; Dan Lovitz, Jeisson Palacios (Walker Zimmerman 83’), Jack Maher, Andy Najar (Josh Bauer 90’); Gastón Brugman, Hany Mukhtar (C), Alex Muyl (Ahmed Qasem 73’), Eddi Tagseth (Patrick Yazbek 84’), Jonathan Pérez; Sam Surridge (Teal Bunbury 90’)

Substitutes: Xavier Valdez, Matthew Corcoran

D.C. starters: Joonhong Kim; Matti Peltola, Lucas Bartlett, Kye Rowles, Aaron Herrera; Boris Enow (Jackson Hopkins 82’), Brandon Servania, David Schnegg (Jared Stroud 79’), Gabriel Pirani (Randall Leal 79’), Joao Peglow; Christian Benteke (C) (Dominique Badji 67’)

Substitutes: Jordan Farr, Conner Antley, Hosei Kijima, Jared Stroud

Match officials:

Referee: Greg Dopka

AR1: Walt Heatherly

AR2: John Krill

4TH: JC Griggs

VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero

AVAR: Matthew Rodman