Nashville beats Cincinnati 4-0, continues best start in MLS history

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Sam Surridge scored his 13th goal this season and added an assist, Hany Mukhtar also had a goal and an assist, and Nashville SC beat FC Cincinnati 4-0 on Saturday night for its fourth consecutive win.

Nashville (16-2-4) leads all of MLS with 52 points, the most in MLS history through the first 22 games of a season, and has one loss in its last 16 games dating to a 1-0 defeat at Chicago on April 4.

Bryan Acosta and Ahmed Qasem each added a goal for Nashville. Brian Schwake had six saves and his 10 shutouts this season are tied with Jonathan Bond and Yohei Takaoka for second most (Hugo Lloris, 11) in MLS.

Surridge opened the scoring with a header in the 43rd minute. Cristian Espinoza played a cross, off a ball-ahead from Andy Najar, from near the right end line to Surridge, who went up high for the finish at the back post.

Mukhtar, who has scored in back-to-back games and has four goals in the last four matches, redirected a first-touch finish, off a cross by in the 54th.

Acosta, who subbed on in the 87th minute for Eddi Tagseth, skipped a first-touch shot, off a free kick played by Mukhtar, inside the left post in the 90th and Qasem capped the scoring in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Roman Celentano had three saves for Cincinnati (8-7-7), which is winless in four straight.

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