Sam Surridge was the man of the moment for Nashville SC on Tuesday night, as the newly-arrived English forward marked his debut with a 99th-minute equaliser against SC Club América in the Leagues Cup round of 16.
The MLS outfit had taken the lead on the hour mark through US international Walk Zimmerman, before Las Águilas eventually took the lead with a 94th-minute penalty. But there was more drama to come later in stoppage time, as the veteran Dax McCarty found Nashville’s star man Hany Mukhtar out wide for one final counter-attack. The German moved clear of his marker and found enough space to send in a cross, which Surridge would head home.
The leveler would send the match to a penalty shoot-out - the third tie of the night to be decided from the spot. The home side’s hopes of going through initially looked to be dashed as Mukhtar saw his opening penalty saved. Surridge, though, would once again step up straight afterwards to equalize, before the team clinched a 6-5 win in the shoot-out.
The former Bournemouth man now finds himself at the center of the action after his season playing in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest last year. Having signed a contract as a DP through the 2026 season - with an option for an additional year after that - his instant impact in Leagues Cup play is a promising start to his time in North American soccer.
The former England youth international will be hoping to find the net again soon in Nashville SC’s quarter-final tie on Friday against Minnesota FC. For the Tennessee outfit, this summer’s Leagues Cup could be a chance at winning a first piece of silverware in the franchise’s history - and a first career title for Surridge, as well.
