Nashville SC took a firm step in the CONCACAF Champions Cup with a 2-0 away win over Atlético Ottawa in the first leg of the first round of the continental tournament. The result leaves the MLS club in a favorable position to advance and potentially face Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in the round of 16.
The match was played at Hamilton Stadium, in Ontario, due to the fact that Atlético Ottawa’s usual stadium was under construction. The match was played in front of a low attendance and with temperatures close to 0 °C, conditions that marked the development of the match. During the first half, Nashville SC failed to break the scoreline despite having more possession. The Canadian team, champions of the Canadian Premier League, resisted defensively until halftime.
Decisive blows in the second half
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The Nashville SC coach moved his players in the second half, bringing in his attacking players.
These include Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge, key figures in MLS in recent seasons.
The first goal came in the 66th minute through Haitian-Canadian striker Woobens Pacius.
He solved inside the area after an individual action that dislodged the rival defense.
In added time (90+5), England’s Sam Surridge made it 2-0, finishing off a counter-attack initiated by Mukhtar and Cristian Espinoza.
The advantage allows Nashville SC to approach the second leg with greater peace of mind.
When is the second leg and what is at stake?
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The second leg is scheduled for February 24 in Nashville, Tenn.
If the club maintains its overall advantage, it will advance to the round of 16, where it could face Inter Miami, a team that did not play in the first round.
An eventual meeting with Messi’s team would generate enormous expectation in the United States, especially among the Hispanic community, which closely follows both MLS and the Concachampions.
It is worth remembering that Nashville SC already faced Inter Miami in this competition in 2024, being eliminated.
A new confrontation would represent an opportunity for sporting revenge.
Concachampions 2026 gains momentum towards the World Cup
The match was played in front of a low attendance
QuéOnnda.com
The 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup is key to the World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
In addition, Lionel Messi’s presence in MLS has raised interest in the tournament in cities with high Latino populations.
For fans, the matches can be viewed in the United States through the platforms with official broadcast rights to the tournament, depending on the market.
Nashville SC took the first step.
Now, the potential clash against Messi’s Inter Miami is keeping MLS and millions of fans on edge.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
