Nashville vs Toronto: Overview

Nashville SC secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Toronto FC in a tense MLS encounter at GEODIS Park on a warm July evening. Sam Surridge's first-half strike proved the difference in a match that showcased Nashville's growing championship credentials.

The hosts dominated large portions of the game, with their organized defensive structure frustrating Toronto's attempts to find an equalizer. The atmosphere at GEODIS Park was electric throughout, with the 25,000 capacity crowd creating a wall of noise that helped carry Nashville to their record-breaking 14th regular season win.

Surridge's clinical finish in the 28th minute came after a brilliant attacking sequence, with Hany Mukhtar at the heart of the move. The German playmaker's initial shot was well saved by Sean Johnson, but Surridge reacted quickest to slot home the rebound for his 18th goal of the campaign, temporarily putting him at the top of the MLS Golden Boot race.

Nashville's defensive unit, marshaled by the experienced Walker Zimmerman, stood firm against Toronto's increasingly desperate attacks in the closing stages. Joe Willis earned his 9th clean sheet of the season with several crucial interventions, including a spectacular save from Deandre Kerr's long-range effort in the 75th minute.

The result sees Nashville SC temporarily move to the summit of the Supporters' Shield standings, extending their impressive home unbeaten run to 11 matches. For Toronto FC, the defeat leaves them languishing in 25th position in the overall standings, with coach Robin Fraser facing mounting pressure as their playoff hopes continue to fade.

This Nashville SC Toronto FC match perfectly illustrated the contrasting fortunes of these MLS sides, with the hosts showing the resilience and quality that has made them genuine contenders for silverware this season.

We showed our character today against a Toronto side that made things difficult for us. Sam took his goal brilliantly, and I thought our defensive organization was excellent throughout. Setting a new franchise record for regular season wins is special, but we're focused on bigger goals. The Supporters' Shield is within our grasp if we maintain this level of performance.

— BJ Callaghan, Nashville SC Head Coach

It's always special to score, but the three points are what matter most. We're building something special here in Nashville, and the support from our fans gives us that extra push, especially in tight games like today's. Hany deserves credit for creating the chance, and I was just in the right place to finish it off.

— Sam Surridge, Nashville SC Forward

We're disappointed with the result. I thought we competed well and had moments where we could have equalized, especially in the second half. The penalty decision that was overturned was crucial – those moments can change games. We need to be more clinical in the final third and cut out the small mistakes that are costing us points.

— Robin Fraser, Toronto FC Head Coach

Nashville is a well-organized team that doesn't give you much space to operate. We created some decent chances but couldn't find that final touch. We'll keep fighting – there's still plenty of matches left to turn our season around, but we need to start picking up points quickly.

— Sean Johnson, Toronto FC Goalkeeper

Nashville's defensive structure under Callaghan has become one of the most formidable in MLS. They've found the perfect balance between defensive solidity and attacking threat. With Surridge in this form and Willis continuing to perform heroics in goal, they have to be considered serious contenders for both the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup.

— Taylor Twellman, MLS Analyst

Possession "Nashville SC": 47% "Toronto FC": 53%

Shots (On Target) "Nashville SC": 14 (7) "Toronto FC": 11 (3)

Corners "Nashville SC": 6 "Toronto FC": 5

Fouls "Nashville SC": 11 "Toronto FC": 13

Yellow Cards "Nashville SC": 2 (Brugman 34', Muyl 67') "Toronto FC": 3 (Longstaff 42', Rosted 61', Laryea 89')

Red Cards "Nashville SC": 0 "Toronto FC": 0

Player Statistics

Sam Surridge (Nashville SC) Goals: 1 Shots: 4 Shots on Target: 3 Passes Completed: 17/22 (77%)

Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) Assists: 1 Key Passes: 4 Dribbles Completed: 3 Shots: 3

Joe Willis (Nashville SC) Saves: 3 Claim Success: 100% Pass Accuracy: 68% Clean Sheets: 9 (season)

Sean Johnson (Toronto FC) Saves: 6 Claim Success: 85% Pass Accuracy: 72%

Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) Clearances: 7 Interceptions: 3 Aerial Duels Won: 5/6 Pass Accuracy: 88%

Team Comparison "Nashville SC" demonstrated superior efficiency in attack with a 50% shot-on-target ratio compared to Toronto's 27%. Despite having less possession, Nashville created higher quality chances with an xG (Expected Goals) of 1.78 compared to Toronto's 0.92. Nashville's defensive solidity was evident in their successful tackle rate of 74%, while Toronto managed 68%. The Nashville SC Toronto FC statistics highlight the clinical nature of the home side, who maximized their opportunities while maintaining defensive discipline throughout the MLS encounter.

5' - Early chance for "Toronto FC" as Deandre Kerr's low drive from 20 yards forced Joe Willis into a diving save to his right.

19' - "Nashville SC" responded with a threatening attack when Hany Mukhtar slipped through Ahmed Qasem, whose shot was deflected wide by Kevin Long for a corner.

28' GOAL! - Sam Surridge opened the scoring for "Nashville SC". Mukhtar's initial shot from inside the box was parried by Sean Johnson, but Surridge reacted quickest to slot home the rebound. Nashville SC 1-0 Toronto FC.

37' - Controversial moment as "Toronto FC" appealed for a penalty when Richie Laryea went down under Daniel Lovitz's challenge. Initially awarded by the referee, the decision was overturned after VAR review showed the contact occurred just outside the box.

52' - Brilliant save by Sean Johnson to deny Mukhtar in a one-on-one situation after the German had been played through by Gastón Brugman's precise through ball.

63' - Tactical shift by "Toronto FC" as coach Robin Fraser introduced Theo Corbeanu and Maxime Dominguez to provide more attacking impetus, switching from a 4-4-2 to a more aggressive 4-3-3 formation.

75' - Spectacular save from Joe Willis, diving full-stretch to tip Deandre Kerr's powerful 25-yard strike onto the crossbar, preserving Nashville's lead.

88' - "Nashville SC" nearly doubled their advantage when substitute Teal Bunbury's header from Daniel Lovitz's cross struck the post with Johnson beaten.

90+4' - Final opportunity for "Toronto FC" as Sigurd Rosted's header from a corner was cleared off the line by Walker Zimmerman, securing Nashville's narrow victory in this intense MLS contest.

The "Nashville SC" vs "Toronto FC" rivalry has increasingly tilted in Nashville's favor, with this latest victory extending their unbeaten run against the Canadian side to six matches. Since their first MLS meeting in 2020, the head-to-head record now stands at 5 wins for Nashville, 2 for Toronto, and 3 draws.

Historical Meetings (Last 5) July 20, 2025: Nashville SC 1-0 Toronto FC (MLS) March 12, 2025: Toronto FC 1-1 Nashville SC (MLS) August 27, 2024: Nashville SC 2-1 Toronto FC (MLS) April 5, 2024: Toronto FC 0-2 Nashville SC (MLS) September 18, 2023: Nashville SC 2-1 Toronto FC (MLS)

Goal Record in the Fixture Nashville SC: 14 goals scored (1.4 per game) Toronto FC: 7 goals scored (0.7 per game)

Key Individual Performances

Sam Surridge has now scored 4 goals in 3 appearances against Toronto, making them his favorite MLS opponent. His movement consistently troubled Toronto's defensive pairing of Kevin Long and Sigurd Rosted, with the English striker winning 7 of his 11 duels against them.

Hany Mukhtar continues to be the creative fulcrum against Toronto with 3 goals and 5 assists in 8 appearances. His battle with Toronto's midfield anchor Matthew Longstaff was particularly fascinating, with Mukhtar completing 4 successful dribbles past the Englishman.

Joe Willis has kept 4 clean sheets in 10 matches against Toronto, with tonight's performance continuing his excellent record against the Canadian side. His positioning repeatedly frustrated Deandre Kerr, who has now failed to score in 5 attempts against Nashville.

The tactical matchup between BJ Callaghan and Robin Fraser has increasingly favored the Nashville coach, who has adapted his approach to consistently neutralize Toronto's strengths. Nashville's compact defensive structure has proven particularly effective against Toronto's possession-based approach, with the Canadian side averaging 55% possession but managing just 0.7 goals per game in this MLS confrontation.

This Nashville SC versus Toronto FC history demonstrates a growing gulf between the teams, with Nashville establishing psychological dominance in a fixture that has become increasingly one-sided over recent seasons.

MLS Overall Standings (As of July 20, 2025)

1. Nashville SC - 47 points (14W-5D-4L) Goals For: 42 Goals Against: 19 Goal Difference: +23 Recent Form: WWDWW

25. Toronto FC - 18 points (4W-6D-15L) Goals For: 24 Goals Against: 45 Goal Difference: -21 Recent Form: LLDLL

With this vital win, "Nashville SC" have temporarily climbed to the top of the MLS table, leapfrogging Columbus Crew and LAFC who both have games in hand. Their exceptional defensive record of just 19 goals conceded in 23 matches provides a solid foundation for their title challenge. Coach BJ Callaghan's side now hold a two-point advantage at the summit but have played one match more than their closest rivals.

Meanwhile, "Toronto FC" continue to struggle at the wrong end of the MLS table, sitting in 25th position overall and 13th in the Eastern Conference. They're now 12 points adrift of the final playoff spot with 11 matches remaining, making a late-season revival increasingly unlikely. Their poor goal difference of -21 is the second-worst in the competition, highlighting their difficulties at both ends of the pitch.

Nashville's impressive home record has been the cornerstone of their success this season, with 10 wins from 13 matches at GEODIS Park. Their remaining schedule includes seven home fixtures, giving them a favorable pathway to secure their first-ever Supporters' Shield.

The MLS table shows a stark contrast between these two franchises, with Nashville emerging as genuine title contenders while Toronto's rebuilding project under Robin Fraser continues to face significant hurdles.