Philadelphia Union saw its 2025 run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament come to an end on Tuesday night, falling to Nashville SC by a 3-1 scoreline.
Playing an Eastern Conference foe for the third time this season, homegrown Quinn Sullivan scored his first goal of the U.S. Open Cup Tournament in the second half but a hat trick from Sam Surridge proved the difference as Nashville SC advanced to their first Open Cup Final.
After a lengthy two-game road trip, Philadelphia Union returns to Subaru Park for a special afternoon kick off against the New England Revolution. The match on Saturday sees the club honor its Fearless 43 on Kick Childhood Cancer Day and celebrate Phang's seventh birthday. Kick off from Chester, PA., is set for 2:30PM ET with limited tickets available for purchase by clicking here.
How The Match Unfolded
Lineup notes
Head Coach Bradley Carnell made multiple changes to his lineup for the semifinal showdown in Nashville, rotating in players who started on the bench on Saturday. Homegrown keeper Andrew Rick started in net again, but the backline in front of him was altered as Frankie Westfield started opposite Kai Wagner, and Olwethu Makhanya returned to the lineup, paired with Jakob Glesnes at centerback.
Jovan Lukic, Indiana Vassilev, Danley Jean Jacques, and Milan Iloski made up the midfield, while Tai Baribo and Bruno Damiani started as the attacking duo.
On the bench, George Marks was the backup keeper, sitting alongside Nathan Harriel, Alejandro Bedoya, Jeremy Rafanello, Quinn Sullivan, Sal Olivas, and Mikael Uhre.
5', Union yellow card | Bruno Damiani picked up for first discipline of the match, fouling xx near midfield.
21', Another Union yellow card | Another yellow was shown to Philly, this time to Frankie Westfield after he took down Ahmed Qasem near the left sideline after the midfielder found a quick pass from Hany Muhktar.
23', Andrew Rick save | Muhktar capitalized on a Philly turnover to find Sam Surridge in the box for a promising close-range shot, but Rick stopped the effort to keep the score level.
36’, Nashville open scoring | After a long scoreless stretch to open the match, the hosts opened scoring by way a throw-in headed from Palacios to Surridge, who knocked it in past Rick.
39’, Rick makes big free kick stop | Nashville sought to double their lead quickly after earning a dangerous free kick chance three minutes after getting on the scoreboard. The ever dangerous Muhktar took a quick step and ripped a curler for the top corner but the Union homegrown was positioned perfectly to punch it away.
50’, Nashville makes it 2-0 | The home side doubled their lead early in the second half with a second ball getting put home by Surridge. Andrew Rick made the initial save on a low shot from Shaffelburg but the ball bounced to Surriage who headed it past a leaping Rick on the second effort.
63’, Union make a pair of changes | Needing a pair of goals, Head Coach Bradley Carnell brought brought on two playmakers as Quinn Sullivan and Mikael Uhre entered for Damiani and Iloski with just under a half hour left.
70’, Quinn makes it 2-1! | The change paid for the Boys in Blue as Sullivan trimmed the deficit in half with a perfectly-weighted shot from long distance. Cutting to his right to find an inch of space from 25 yards out, the homegrown bagged his first goal of the tournament.
85’, Surriage secures his hat trick | With momentum at the backs of the visitors, Nashville's Sam Surridge sealed their trip to their first-ever U.S. Open Cup Final with a remarkable flick off a long volley from Daniel Lovitz that made it 3-1.
86’, Final changes for the Boys in Blue | A pair of homegrowns entered the game late as Sal Olivas earned his tournament debut in place of Tai Baribo while Jeremy Rafenello replaced Indiana Vassilev.
