New York City FC goals
Nashville SC Goals:
Quick Read
New York City FC battled Nashville SC to a 0-0 draw at Yankee Stadium. Matt Freese made several important saves to keep the visitors off the scoresheet, while the Boys in Blue created opportunities through Nico Fernández Mercau, Agustín Ojeda, Bénie Traoré and Malachi Jones. Neither side could find a decisive finish as both defenses held firm throughout Friday’
Match Recap
New York City FC were in the Bronx on Friday night as they hosted Nashville SC at Yankee Stadium.
Head Coach Pascal Jansen made three changes to the team that faced Toronto FC last time out, with Raul Gustavo, Kevin O’Toole and Tayvon Gray replacing Keaton Parks, Nico Cavallo and Mitja Ilenič.
A quiet start to the contest sparked into life in the ninth minute when both teams registered their first looks at goal.
Sam Surridge headed over for Nashville before Nico Fernández Mercau saw his effort blocked by Maxwell Woledzi a minute later. Bénie Traoré’s follow-up was then blocked by Patrick Yazbek.
Fernández Mercau saw another effort blocked in the 15th minute before Agustín Ojeda was found in space on the right. The winger drove toward goal and drew a comfortable save from Brian Schwatke.
Nashville responded through Elias Saad, whose effort from inside the area was well saved by Matt Freese.
The Boys in Blue’s best chance of the first half came just after the half-hour mark when two new arrivals combined. A clever run in behind from Traoré sent him through on goal down the right.
The winger tried to find Luighi at the back post, and while the Brazilian made contact with the ball, he could not turn his effort on target.
In the 41st minute, brilliant pressing from Fernández Mercau allowed the Boys in Blue to reclaim possession in Nashville’s defensive third.
Combination play between Traoré and Luighi allowed the latter to get a shot away, but his effort was unfortunately blocked.
Yazbek then fired over from distance before Hany Mukhtar was handed a golden opportunity to put Nashville ahead.
A defensive mix-up saw Freese’s short pass strike Gustavo’s heel. The loose ball was played inside to Mukhtar, but with the goal at his mercy, he side-footed his effort against the crossbar from 12 yards.
The start of the second half saw Freese called into early action from a corner. Sam Surridge tested him with a low volley toward his right, but the goalkeeper did well to save the initial effort before quickly pouncing on the rebound.
Nashville’s next chance came from a free kick just outside the penalty area, with Mukhtar standing over the ball. The playmaker took his time before seeing his effort strike the wall.
Just after the hour mark, Surridge got his head to a cross inside the box but could not keep his effort on target.
Jansen made his first change of the evening in the 70th minute, with Aiden O’Neill replacing James Sands. Six minutes later, Malachi Jones came on for Luighi.
Chances proved few and far between as the second half wore on, with the two sides largely canceling each other out.
In the 77th minute, wonderful play from front to back put Ojeda in on the right. He tried to find Jones with a cross, but his effort was blocked and cleared.
Whenever Nashville generated an opening, they found a dogged home side in their way. In the 84th minute, Mukhtar created space after wriggling away from two challenges, only for O’Neill to block his shot and allow the ball to trickle into Freese’s hands.
At the other end, Jones came within inches of breaking the deadlock when a low cross from Ojeda flashed across goal. Unfortunately, he could not get a toe to the ball to turn it home.
That proved to be the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock, with the contest ending in a 0-0 draw.
How We Lined Up
What's Next
Next up for New York City FC is a game against the New England Revolution on Wednesday, September 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30PM ET.
