In a 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One (Leg 1) matchup on February 17, 2026, Nashville SC secured a 2-0 victory over Atlético Ottawa at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa.
Match Highlights
- Late Surge: After a largely contested match, Nashville broke the deadlock late in the game.
- Winning Goal: Woobens Pacius, a Haitian-Canadian forward making his Nashville debut against his former regional rivals, scored the opening goal.
- The Clincher: Sam Surridge doubled the lead in the 95th minute (stoppage time), assisted by Cristian Espinoza following a fast break.
- Statistical Dominance: Nashville controlled much of the offensive play with 19 shots (6 on target) compared to Ottawa’s 5 shots (1 on target).
Match Context
- Competition: This was the first leg of the Round One series in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
- Aggregate Advantage: With two away goals and a clean sheet, Nashville enters the second leg at GEODIS Park with a significant advantage.
- Historic Note: This match marked Atlético Ottawa’s debut in international competition after their 2025 Canadian Premier League championship season.
Betting Review
Nashville SC’s 2-0 victory over Atlético Ottawa on February 17, 2026, was a favorable result for bettors who backed the MLS side, as they covered the most common handicaps and hit the “Under” on total goals.
Betting Market Results
| Market | Result | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Match Winner (1X2) | Nashville SC | Won (at odds of approx. -177 to -200) |
| Spread / Handicap | Nashville SC -1.5 | Won; Nashville cleared the 1.5-goal spread with a 95th-minute goal |
| Total Goals (O/U 2.5) | Under 2.5 | Won; The 0-2 final fell below the 2.5-goal line |
| Both Teams to Score | No | Won; Nashville kept a clean sheet |
| Correct Score | 0-2 Nashville | Won; Pre-match odds for this specific score were approx. +700 |
Key Betting Insights
- Late Cover: Nashville bettors who took the -1.5 handicap (predicted by some at +125) had to wait until the 95th minute for Sam Surridge to secure the cover with the second goal.
- Underdogs Fall Short: Atlético Ottawa entered as significant underdogs (approx. +441 to +541). Despite some data models suggesting a 38% chance of an Ottawa win, they failed to find the back of the net.
- Total Goals Trend: While some pre-match trends favored the Over 2.5 (citing Ottawa’s high-scoring domestic league history), the “Under” ultimately hit as Nashville’s defensive structure limited Ottawa to just one shot on target.
- Debutants’ Struggle: The match continued a trend of Canadian Premier League teams struggling against MLS opposition in early rounds of continental play.
The teams will meet for the second leg on February 24, 2026, where Nashville will be heavy favorites to advance at home.