Analysis The numbers behind the result
Nashville dominate possession and chances but rely on penalty
Nashville SC's 1-0 win was deserved on the balance of play, with their 1.70 xG dwarfing Montreal's meagre 0.19, though the solitary penalty conversion (68', Surridge) masked their wastefulness from open play. Brian Callaghan's side monopolised possession (71%) and created significantly more chances (10 shots to Montreal's 2), but only tested the keeper once from open play — their 5 off-target efforts and 4 blocked shots highlighting profligacy in the final third.
Montreal's defensive approach — just 29% possession and 2 blocked shots — kept them in contention until the penalty, but their complete lack of attacking threat (0 shots on target, 0 off target) made a comeback improbable. Nashville's midfield trio of Tagseth, Corcoran and Muyl controlled the tempo (92% pass accuracy), but the decisive moment came from Surridge's clinical penalty conversion. The key stat: Nashville's 1.70 xG to Montreal's 0.19 — a chasm in chance quality that should have yielded a more comfortable margin.