Nashville SC blank lowly Chicago Fire to finish on a strong note

Alex Muyl, Sam Surridge and Jacob Shaffelburg scored second-half goals as Nashville SC defeated the host Chicago Fire 3-0 on MLS' Decision Day.

Anibal Godoy had a pair of assists and goalkeeper Elliot Joseph Panicco made six saves in posting the shutout for Nashville (9-16-9, 36 points), which missed the playoffs for the first time since joining the league in 2020.

Chris Brady made three saves for the Fire (7-20-9, 30 points), who finished last in the Eastern Conference.

The highlight for Chicago might have come when Gregg Berhalter, the former U.S. national team coach, sounded the fire alarm before the match. Berhalter has been hired as the club's coach and director of football, a role he'll assume in the offseason.

After a scoreless first half, Muyl tallied in the 54th minute. He took a pass from Godoy along the left sideline about 35 yards from the goal and dribbled into the penalty area before attempting a shot from about 12 yards out. The shot deflected off a pair of Chicago defenders and looped over a leaping Brady and into the far side netting.

Surridge made it 2-0 in the 87th minute, taking a pass near midfield and making a run through several defenders before poking a shot past a charging Brady from 10 yards out.

Shaffelburg capped the scoring in second-half stoppage time, his shot from the right side of the penalty area going through the legs of defender Jonathan Dean and off the near post on its way into the net.

Nashville's Hany Mukhtar, who needed two goals to become the first player in MLS history to record 10-plus goals and 10-plus assists in four consecutive seasons, had a pair of golden opportunities in the second half.

In the 52nd minute, Mukhtar took a pass in the middle of the penalty area with his back to the net, spun and found he was surrounded by Brady and a trio of defenders. Mukhtar maneuvered to get a shot off, but it went off the back of Chicago's Jonathan Dean and over the crossbar.

Ten minutes later, Mukhtar moved in on a two-on-one breakaway with Shaffelburg. Mukhtar got the ball back just outside the top of the 6-yard box with only Brady between him and the net. Mukhtar tried to chip the ball over the goalie but didn't get much power on the shot and the Fire's Kellyn Acosta was able to loop back and clear the ball just before it reached the goal line.

--Field Level Media