Latest news with #AndyNajar
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
D.C. United coughs up a two-goal lead and exits the U.S. Open Cup
D.C. United's deepest run in the U.S. Open Cup since 2013 — and its best hope of winning a trophy this year — ended Wednesday when it botched a two-goal lead and was blown away in the second half by Nashville SC, 5-2, at Geodis Park in Tennessee. Seeking a massive upset against MLS's hottest team, United went ahead in the fifth minute on Gabriel Pirani's sensational goal and welcomed an own goal in the 24th. But Nashville took advantage of a D.C. gaffe a minute later and tied it early in the second half on a penalty kick. Sam Surridge, MLS's scoring leader, then broke the tie in the 72nd minute with his second goal of the match. In the last 10 minutes, former D.C. star Andy Najar scored on a spectacular shot from long distance and substitute Walker Zimmerman added a close-range header as Nashville extended its club-record unbeaten streak in all competitions to 15. It will play the Philadelphia Union or New York Red Bulls in the semifinals Sept. 16 or 17. That quarterfinal Wednesday was postponed until Aug. 13 because of a thunderstorm in Chester, Pennsylvania. In the other semifinal, Minnesota will host Austin, with the winner hosting the Oct. 1 final. Founded in 1914 and modeled after the English FA Cup, the U.S. Open Cup involves teams from all levels of American soccer, from amateurs to the first-division pros in MLS. The winner will collect $600,000, the runner-up $250,000. United, a three-time tournament champion, was seeking to ease the pain of a 4-10-7 regular season by keeping alive its hopes of its first trophy since 2013. Coach Troy Lesesne stuck with Kim Joon Hong, the backup goalkeeper in league play, as his cup starter. Christian Benteke started for the second time in five days after recovering from a sprained ankle. United welcomed back right back Aaron Herrera, who last week returned from Guatemalan duty at the Concacaf Gold Cup. Pirani was also back in the lineup after serving an MLS suspension Saturday against Atlanta. It took him just five minutes to make an emphatic imprint on the match. After collecting Boris Enow's pass, Pirani seized on a central seam and ripped a 24-yard, left-footed shot that kissed the underside of the crossbar for his third goal in all competitions this year. It was a stunning shot by Pirani and a surprising goal by United, which has not scored in three consecutive league matches. The lead grew in the 24th minute. David Schnegg drove a low cross into the box. With Benteke lurking, defender Jack Maher's sliding block pushed the ball into the net for an own goal. As messy as that was, United topped it with a messy sequence a minute later. Under pressure, Herrera took a dangerous path into D.C.'s box before intending to whack the ball downfield. Instead, it struck teammate Lucas Bartlett on the back and caromed to Jonathan Pérez for a one-timer past Kim. Nashville drew even in the 53rd minute on Surridge's penalty kick — awarded when referee Greg Dopka ruled a sliding Herrera had blocked Daniel Lovitz's cross with his arm. Still building back his fitness, Benteke departed in the 67th minute. His replacement, Dominique Badji, almost broke the tie moments later with a clever shot that missed the top near corner. Surridge then scored his second goal on a tap-in after Pérez wheeled past Schnegg. Najar smashed a 28-yard one-timer on a bouncing ball and Zimmerman, who just returned from U.S. national team duty at the Gold Cup, added another goal.
Associated Press
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Nashville visits the New England Revolution on the heels of shutout win
Nashville SC (9-4-5, third in the Western Conference) vs. New England Revolution (6-5-5, 10th in the Eastern Conference) Foxborough, Massachusetts; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Nashville SC +136, New England +179, Draw +240; over/under is 2.5 goals BOTTOM LINE: A game after shutting out the Chicago Fire 2-0, Nashville plays the New England Revolution. The Revolution are 2-3-1 in home games. The Revolution lead the Eastern Conference with only 15 conceded goals. Nashville is 3-3-2 in road games. Nashville ranks fourth in the league drawing 100 corner kicks, averaging 5.6 per game. The teams meet Wednesday for the second time this season. The last meeting ended tied 0-0. TOP PERFORMERS: Carles Gil has six goals and two assists for the Revolution. Ilay Feingold has scored three goals over the past 10 games. Sam Surridge has scored 12 goals and added two assists for Nashville. Andy Najar has six assists over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Revolution: 5-1-4, averaging 1.6 goals, 4.3 shots on goal and 4.1 corner kicks per game while allowing 0.8 goals per game. Nashville: 5-1-4, averaging 2.0 goals, 5.5 shots on goal and 5.9 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.3 goals per game. NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: Revolution: Luca Daniel Langoni (injured), Will Sands (injured), Brayan Andres Ceballos Jimenez (injured), Leonardo Campana (injured). Nashville: Maximus Ekk (injured), Xavier Valdez (injured), Jacob Shaffelburg (injured), Taylor Washington (injured), Walker Zimmerman (injured), Tyler Boyd (injured). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Washington Post
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Sam Surridge scores twice in second half, leading Nashville past Toronto 2-1
TORONTO — Sam Surridge scored twice in the second half and Nashville SC held on for a 2-1 win over Toronto FC on Saturday, extending its unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions (6-0-2). Nashville (8-4-3, 27 points) took a 1-0 lead in the 57th minute with Andy Najar sending a long ball to Hany Mukhtar behind the Toronto defense. The former MLS MVP deftly redirected the ball across the goal for Surridge to knock home for his seventh of the season.
