Nashville SC prides itself on being a next-man-up team. If one player is unavailable, there's always someone ready to fill his shoes.
For some teams, it's cliché. But under coach B.J. Callaghan, Nashville has often proven it true. It's won with heavily rotated sides in MLS play this season, including a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew on March 14. When it became the first American club to ever win at the Estadio Azteca, it did so without forward Sam Surridge, who was out with a hamstring injury.
Nashville couldn't overcome another absence from Surridge in the first leg of its CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal series against Tigres UANL, losing 1-0 on April 28 at Geodis Park. The defeat puts NSC in a deep hole going into the second leg on May 5 in Mexico, where it will need to win to stave off elimination and advance to the final.
"We're not going to take anything away from Tigres," Callaghan said. "They were really well organized, had a good game plan, and they finished their chances. At the same time, we're probably a little bit frustrated that maybe we didn't play our best as a group."
Apr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Tigres UANL midfielder Juan Brunetta (11) shoots the ball during the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals game against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn ImagesApr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville SC goalkeeper Brian Schwake (99) makes a save as Tigres UANL forward Rodrigo Aguirre (17) attacks and Nashville SC defender Jeisson Palacios (4) defends during the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals game at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn ImagesApr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Tigres UANL celebrate after a goal by forward Angel Correa (7) during the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals game against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 28: Ángel Correa #7 of Tigres UANL celebrates with Francisco Reyes #2 after scoring a goal during the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 28: Rodrigo Aguirre #17 of Tigres UANL and Jeisson Palacios #4 of Nashville SC battle for position during the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 28: Maxwell Woledzi #3 and Brian Schwake #99 of Nashville SC react to a play during the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Tigres UANL at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 28: Ángel Correa #7 of Tigres UANL celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)Apr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Players and fans are cleared from the stands and field due to nearby lightning strikes in the area just before the start of the Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals between Nashville SC and Tigres UANL at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn ImagesApr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Players and fans are cleared from the stands and field due to nearby lightning strikes in the area just before the start of the Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals between Nashville SC and Tigres UANL at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images1 / 9Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photos in CONCACAF Champions CupApr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Tigres UANL midfielder Juan Brunetta (11) shoots the ball during the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals game against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images1 / 9Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photos in CONCACAF Champions CupApr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Tigres UANL midfielder Juan Brunetta (11) shoots the ball during the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals game against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images2 / 9Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photos in CONCACAF Champions CupApr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville SC goalkeeper Brian Schwake (99) makes a save as Tigres UANL forward Rodrigo Aguirre (17) attacks and Nashville SC defender Jeisson Palacios (4) defends during the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals game at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images3 / 9Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photos in CONCACAF Champions CupApr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Tigres UANL celebrate after a goal by forward Angel Correa (7) during the first half of their Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals game against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images4 / 9Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photos in CONCACAF Champions CupNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 28: Ángel Correa #7 of Tigres UANL celebrates with Francisco Reyes #2 after scoring a goal during the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)5 / 9Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photos in CONCACAF Champions CupNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 28: Rodrigo Aguirre #17 of Tigres UANL and Jeisson Palacios #4 of Nashville SC battle for position during the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)6 / 9Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photos in CONCACAF Champions CupNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 28: Maxwell Woledzi #3 and Brian Schwake #99 of Nashville SC react to a play during the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Tigres UANL at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)7 / 9Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photos in CONCACAF Champions CupNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 28: Ángel Correa #7 of Tigres UANL celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on April 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)8 / 9Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photos in CONCACAF Champions CupApr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Players and fans are cleared from the stands and field due to nearby lightning strikes in the area just before the start of the Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals between Nashville SC and Tigres UANL at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images9 / 9Nashville SC vs Tigres UANL photos in CONCACAF Champions CupApr 28, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Players and fans are cleared from the stands and field due to nearby lightning strikes in the area just before the start of the Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals between Nashville SC and Tigres UANL at GEODIS Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn ImagesHow Sam Surridge's absence affected Nashville SCSurridge, who is dealing with a back injury unrelated to his previous ailment, is week-to-week. In his place, Nashville started Warren Madrigal, who's had a solid first season in MLS with two goals and three assists.
But Madrigal was unable to make much of an impact in a game where Callaghan believed Nashville relied too heavily on passes from wide areas. Nashville attempted 27 crosses in the match, per FotMob, and only completed three (Tigres connected on 42% of their 12 crosses). Winger Cristian Espinoza tried 16 crosses by himself, none of which were successful.
"They defended the wide areas with numbers really well and had numbers inside the penalty box," Callaghan said. "We weren't sharp enough in the middle area to draw them out."
Surridge is more of a pure striker compared to Madrigal, whose best attribute might be his versatility. He's also listed as two inches taller than Madrigal, making him more of an aerial threat. The difference could be seen on a pair of crosses midway through the second half, where Madrigal was open but the ball arrived just a bit too high.
"I think the structure of our team is clear whether it's Sam, whether it's Warren, whether it's Woobens (Pacius)," said midfielder Matthew Corcoran. "We all know the roles and what the responsibilities are. Obviously, missing Sam is a big piece, because he always finds a way to put the ball in the back of the net. But that's what it is, and we've seen we can get results with Warren."
Callaghan brought Corcoran into the game well before he would have liked to. Eddi Tagseth drew the start, as Callaghan hoped his presence would serve well in what he expected to be a fast-paced affair. But Tagseth sustained what appeared to be a knee injury during a tackle and had to come out of the game in the 18th minute.
Callaghan didn't have an update on Tagseth after the game.
"It was a really good game for somebody like Eddi and the partnership of him and Patrick (Yazbek)," Callaghan said. "A game that we knew probably early on was going to have a lot of direct balls, second balls, transition moments, and that's where he thrives."
While Callaghan was happy with Corcoran's performance, the 20-year-old took some blame for not closing down fast enough when Ángel Correa scored the game's lone goal in the 33rd minute.
"It was kind of a broken play," Corcoran said. "The ball kind of bounced out late. Maybe if I just was a step or two quicker."
If it comes down to it, Nashville believes it can win at El Volcán without its leading scorer and one of its most important midfielders. It would prefer not to have to try.
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC feels Sam Surridge absence in loss to Tigres