Perfect Start : Three in Three for Nashville’s Sam Surridge

They say all the best things come in threes, and that applies especially to Nashville striker Sam Surridge who has scored in each of his first three matches for his new MLS club after joining from Premier League side Nottingham Forest. The Englishman is a late bloomer in this competition, with his debut appearing in the round of 16 stage of the tournament.

And what a debut it was. Surridge scored a last-gasp leveller for Nashville eight minutes deep into injury time against the mighty Club América - not a bad way to kick off your career and your Leagues Cup 2023 journey.

This was followed up in his sequel follow-up appearance for The Music City, scoring in the 53rd minute of Nashville’s 5-0 drubbing of Minnesota United. He helped the MLS side reach the semi-finals in style, where they faced another strong Mexican opponent in Monterrey last night. 

Whilst Surridge did not start against the LIGA MX outfit, he came onto the field shortly after half-time for Teal Bunbury. In the 67th minute Hany Mukthar’s pinpoint pass found the Englishman’s run into the box, and his first-time low strike propelled his side ahead in the semifinal.

Nashville SC has been in search of a reliable goal scorer in the number nine position since their entry into MLS in 2020. The journey to acquire Surridge was an extensive one, involving the collaboration of the entire coaching and technical staff well before the 2023 MLS season began. Yet, the wait for the former Nottingham Forest striker has been well-worth it.

Leagues Cup 2023 has witnessed players emerging as key figures for their respective teams, with Lionel Messi and his debut at Inter Miami CF standing out as the most significant instance of substantial changes in team dynamics throughout the tournament. The Argentine will now be Surridge’s opponent in the final of Leagues Cup taking place at GEODIS Park, where the Englishman hopes to bring a significant first international trophy to the Music City.