Nashville SC 2 - 0 New York City Football Club
Saturday, February 25, 2023 | Kick-off Time: 4:55pm ET
2023 MLS Regular Season - Matchday 1
GEODIS Park | Nashville, Tennessee
Attendance: 28,051
· New York City Football Club kicks off this 2023 MLS Regular Season in Music City, playing against Nashville Soccer Club. This season Nashville SC rejoins the Eastern Conference after a brief period of playing in the Western Conference. This match marks only the third time these two sides have faced off, with the last two encounters being a month apart in September and October of 2021.
· With today’s start, midfielder Keaton Parks recorded his 100th match with NYCFC. Parks, who is entering his fifth season with the Club since coming to the Bronx from Portugal’s S.L. Benfica in 2019, has become a key part of the team’s midfield and an influential player on-and-off the pitch.
· Today’s match marked the debuts for two defensive newcomers: Braian Cufré, who started in the left-back position, and Mitja Ilenič who was substituted into the game during the second half. Cufré was signed this offseason from Spanish side RCD Mallorca, while Ilenič was transferred in from Slovenian side NK Domžale.
· Key Moment: Despite valiant offensive efforts in the second half from the Boys in Blue, the substitution of Hany Mukhtar, 2022 MVP and Golden Boot winner, caused a tangible and firm shift in the game in the home side's favor. Only minutes after his arrival, Mukhtar provided the assist for what would lead to Nashville’s second goal, scored by Jacob Shaffelburg in the 80th minute. Shaffelburg’s goal would be the final one of the evening, and the match would end 2-0 in favor of the home side.
· MOTM: Keaton Parks
o90 Minutes; 95.5% Pass Accuracy Rate; 22 Duels; 61.1% Duel Percentage Rate
· Up Next: New York City Football Club jets over to face fellow Eastern Conference side Chicago Fire Football Club on Saturday, March 4 at 8:30 p.m. ET at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.
· 34’ - NSC - Walker Zimmerman [25]
oShot with the right foot to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Fafà Picault [7].
· 80’ - NSC - Jacob Shaffelburg [14]
oShot with the left foot to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Hany Mukhtar [10]
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Team
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First Half
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Second Half
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Full Time
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New York City Football Club
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0
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0
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0
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Nashville SC
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1
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1
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2
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Team
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New York City FC
(0-1-0)
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Nashville SC
(1-0-0)
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Possession
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61.9
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38.1
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Shots
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9
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9
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Shots on Goal
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2
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4
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Pass Accuracy %
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85.2
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74.4
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Fouls
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13
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14
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Corner Kicks
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3
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8
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Saves
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2
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2
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New York City FC (4-2-3-1)
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Nashville SC (4-2-3-1)
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Head Coach: Nick Cushing
[1] Luis Barraza
[3] Braian Cufré (70’ - [22] Kevin O'Toole)
[4] Maxime Chanot (C)
[13] Thiago Martins
[24] Tayvon Gray (82’ - [35] Mitja Ilenič)
[80] Justin Haak
[8] Thiago
[11] Gabriel Pereira
[17] Matías Pellegrini
[55] Keaton Parks
[43] Talles Magno
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Head Coach: Gary Smith
[1] Joe Willis
[2] Daniel Lovitz
[5] Jack Maher
[18] Shaq Moore
[25] Walker Zimmerman (C)
[8] Randall Leal (75’ - [10] Hany Mukhtar)
[14] Jacob Shaffelburg (83’ - [26] Luke Haakenson)
[20] Aníbal Godoy
[54] Sean Davis
[7] Fafà Picault (72’ - [19] Alex Muyl)
[12] Teal Bunbury (82’ - [11] Ethan Zubak)
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Subs Unused
[7] Alfredo Morales
[12] Malte Amundsen
[19] Gabe Segal
[21] Andres Jasson
[33] Nicholas Benalcazar
[49] Matt Freese
[93] Tony Alfaro
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Subs Unused
[6] Dax McCarty
[22] Josh Bauer
[23] Taylor Washington
[26] Luke Haakenson
[27] Brian Anunga
[30] Elliot Panicco
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New York City Football Club
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Nashville SC
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N/A
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Defender - [4] Nick DePuy (Lower Leg)
Forward - [17] CJ Sapong (Thigh)
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DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
NYC
Fouls (13)
· 10’ - Gabriel Pereira [11], 16’ - Thiago Martins [13], 20’ - [55] Keaton Parks, 21’ - [3] Braian Cufré, 24’ - Matías Pellegrini [17], 28’ - [3] Braian Cufré, 34’ - Tayvon Gray [24], 57’ - Maxime Chanot [4], 74’ - [8] Thiago, 83’ - Matías Pellegrini [17], 89’ - [8] Thiago, 90’ - [43] Talles Magno, 90’+3’ - Maxime Chanot [4]
· 28’ - [3] Braian Cufré - Bad Foul
· 62’ - [43] Talles Magno - Other Reason
· 75’ - [8] Thiago - Bad Foul
· 90’+3’ – [4] Maxime Chanot - Bad Foul
Red Cards (0)
NSC
Fouls (14)
· 2’ - Fafà Picault [7], 9’ - Teal Bunbury [12], 14’ - Jack Maher [5], 25’ - Walker Zimmerman [25], 29’ - Aníbal Godoy [20], 40’ - Teal Bunbury [12], 55’ - Fafà Picault [7], 58’ - Jacob Shaffelburg [14], 62’ - Aníbal Godoy [20], 72’ - Teal Bunbury [12], 86’ - Ethan Zubak [11], 87’ - Luke Haakenson [26], 89’ - Ethan Zubak [11]
· 58’ - Jacob Shaffelburg [14] - Bad Foul
· Referee: Armando Villarreal
· Ast. Referee 1: Cory Richardson
· Ast. Referee 2: Brian Dunn
· Fourth official: Nima Saghafi
· VAR: Jair Marrufo
· Ast. VAR: Claudiu Badea
UPCOMING MATCH
Saturday, March 4, 2023 8:30 p.m. ET - MLS Regular Season Matchday 2 v. Chicago Fire FC | Soldier Field; Chicago, Illinois | Broadcast: Apple TV | Radio: nycfc.com/radio
MATCH RECAP
Quick Read
New York City Football Club suffered defeat on the opening day of the 2023 MLS season, falling to a 2-0 reverse at Nashville SC. Goals in either half for Walker Zimmerman and Jacob Shaffelburg handed the home side victory in City's first visit to GEODIS Park.
Match Recap
All nine of NYCFC’s MLS campaigns have begun on the road, with City unbeaten in four but winless since the 2018 opener. This encounter marked only third meeting between the two sides in competitive action.
Head Coach Nick Cushing employed a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Luis Barraza taking his place between the sticks. New recruit Braian Cufré was thrust straight into the starting XI for his first appearance, while Keaton Parks occupied the heart of midfield for his 100th league game for the Club.
The opening day drew a vocal and energetic crowd in Music City, and the home side responded, carving the game’s first chance on six minutes when Randall Leal played Shaffelburg through, only for Barraza to produce an excellent stop.
Sean Davies then volleyed over the bar, with the hosts riding the early momentum and City looking to threaten on the counter.
The visitors’ first purposeful venture almost broke the deadlock, as Talles Magno cut inside and curled a powerful effort goalward, which landed on the roof of the net.
Cufré then went in search of a debut goal, calling Joe Willis into action at his near post.
Nashville rallied on the half hour, drawing another smart save from Barraza, who pushed Teal Bunbury’s deflected strike over the crossbar.
The hosts would make their pressure count three minutes later though, when Fafa Picault kept Leal’s free-kick alive. Though Zimmerman’s initial shot was blocked by Barraza, the ball bounced back over the line with Anibal Godoy lurking to make sure.
In response, City pressed for a leveler before the break. Matías Pellegrini went closest, driving forward and firing over the bar, while Magno also skewed wide.
Cushing opted for a tactical switch at the break, shifting Thiago Andrade into the central attacking role, and the change almost bore fruit within minutes.
Adopting a more offensive approach, a free-flowing move from right to left saw Cufré release Andrade. The Brazilian nipped in before Willis and squared for Pellegrini, but the Argentine could not keep his effort down.
The forward went close again just after the hour mark, catching a snapshot well but drilling narrowly wide of the bottom corner, while Maxime Chanot tried his luck from range but smashed off-target.
Fresh legs were introduced in the second period with Mtija Ilenič earning his first minutes for the Club.
Kevin O'Toole looked to make an impact from the bench with an arrowing effort from distance, claimed by Willis at the second attempt, but it was a Nashville substitute that would mark a crucial contribution in the form of 2022 Golden Boot winner Hany Mukhtar.
Within minutes of coming on, last season's MVP drove at the City defense before playing into the path of Shaffelburg, who slotted in his side's second to effectively kill the contest with ten minutes left to play.
QUOTES
NYCFC HEAD COACH NICK CUSHING
On the first half…
“I don’t think we carried enough of the ball to control the game. We gave away far too many set plays because we didn’t carry the ball enough, which meant that they could throw the ball. We knew they were going to be a direct team, and we knew that they were going to run at the back line and put a lot of players up against us. The one way to control those moments from happening is to have the ball, and we didn’t carry the ball enough. If you give Nashville—who we know is a direct team and plays off set plays—that amount of set-plays in the first half, they’re going to score. Disappointed, but we’ll go to the training pitch and work on it.”
On Luis Barraza and Braian Cufré’s performances…
“I thought Luis [Barraza] was really good, made some really big saves. He looked confident in goal, and I was really pleased with his performance. Braian Cufré, he’s new, only been in six days, without so many training sessions, and only played a little bit in the Portland game. I was impressed by his performance; I think you can see his quality. It’s difficult for him because he hasn’t played for three, four weeks previous to coming here. But I thought that for a guy that hasn’t been here so long that he put in a performance where you can really see his quality.”
On substitutions and if he feels that the team has depth…
“Yeah, of course. I was considering bringing Andres Jasson on, and Gabe Segal has been really really good in preseason, and he will be disappointed that he didn’t get a shout when we carried so much of the ball. I think we had so much control in the second half that we just had to create the moment. When you have Gabriel Pereira, Talles Magno, and Thiago Andrade on the pitch, all we need to do is carry the ball and we should create the moments and we didn’t today. We need to be better at that, when we have so much possession and control that we make chances that hurt the opposition.”
On offensive shifts in the second half…
“We changed the shape in possession: we brought Tayvon [Gray] inside which gave us complete control of the first line, then we brought Keaton [Parks] down and Talles [Magno] inside. It was just because we were at one side with Cufré and the other side with Gabriel Pereira, and it gave us complete control in the game. It got Talles [Magno] on the ball more, and got him facing up and dribbling with the ball. I think we’re at our best when we’re involving Talles Magno. We just didn’t create the moment, and we need to be better when we’re carrying so much of the ball and have so much of the ball in the final third that we make sure that we’re hurting teams.”
On his half time message to the team when being down a goal…
“I think for us it’s about controlling the game with the ball, it’s our identity. If the game goes up and down, the opposition is battling us and it’s a simple game. If we control the game with the ball like we did in the second half, then we carry enough of the ball and pin them back and keep them away from our goal. We saw a direct team being able to be direct. Really disappointed with the second goal, because we had the game. We weren’t creating clean chances, but at one-nil the game is there for us when we’re carrying so much of the ball. Really disappointed with the counterattack. Ultimately, we came here and not played so well in the first half then played more like ourselves in the second half and lost the game to a set-play and a counterattack, which is really disappointing.”
On the team’s perception among analysts…
“I think every team will take time to get into rhythm, it’s the nature of our league. We lost our first game last year and the year before, and we went to a Conference Final and won the championship in 2021. So, we’re really disappointed that we’ve lost the game because we felt we had it at one-nil down away at difficult Nashville. We had control of the game, we just needed to make sure we scored the goal, and we didn’t. We gave away cheap counterattacks. As far as what the analysts feel, it’s their job to analyze where they feel we are. It’s our job to make sure we analyze this game and prepare for Chicago away.”
On Alfredo Morales not starting…
“He was out for a long time last year with the abductor, and he felt it a little bit yesterday morning. We did a short practice and he felt the abductor, it’s nothing serious but for a guy that was out for ten, eleven weeks (with that injusry last season) at this stage of the season it wasn’t worth risking it. He’s a real leader in the dressing room, and he had a real desire to come but he wasn’t ready to go into the game.”
On positives going into next week…
“For us, we know our identity and we have to be aggressive without the ball and we have to control the game with the ball. The more of the ball we have, the less moments we have to defend the game. Then we have to carry the ball enough to create chances, and the first half we didn’t get a chance to carry that. First game away from home at Nashville’s stadium, we didn’t expect to control the game from the start but the second half we controlled the whole game. We had the ball, the ball in the final third, and we had opportunities to create chances. We have to be so much better at defending set-plays, denying counterattacks, and then creating chances.”
NYCFC GOALKEEPER LUIS BARRAZA
On the chance to start and looking forward…
“I think getting the start in my first game of the season felt good. Obviously, not the result that we wanted in the end, but it feels good to be out there with the guys and battling. Again, not the result we wanted, but we’ll take a look back at the game and learn from what we could’ve possibly done better and get ready for Chicago.”
On if he felt the team was controlling the game in the second half…
“Certainly. I think that the feeling in the locker room at half time was ‘yeah, we’re one-zero down but we still had plenty of chances in the first half.’ I think that the guys were confident to step out in the second half, and it showed because we controlled majority of the possession, and we had chances here and there. I think after that second goal.. it was a little bit of an uphill battle from then on, but second half we definitely played the game that we want to play.”
On stepping in as a leader on the team…
“I think there’s a clear understanding that we’re going to need everybody to really step up, to be a leader in any given situation. Today we conversed in the locker room, guys like Alfredo [Morales], Maxime [Chanot] Thiago [Andrade], and myself, it’s kind of up to us to really talk and galvanize the younger guys. I also think guys like Keaton [Parks] and Justin [Haak] really stepped up today, and you could really see the willingness to do the work and to get out there in the second half and try to get a result.”
On if the Club’s expectations are a motivator…
“Yes, certainly. I think in the years that I’ve been here the bar and the standard has always been incredibly high. We lost this game, but we have a long season ahead of us. I think it wouldn't be smart for us to get down and feel sorry for ourselves after this result. It’s one game out of thirty-four, plus postseason, so this is definitely a strong motivator for us to really build this week, fix what we did wrong this game, and move on to Chicago and try to steal some points there.”
On if the energy from the second half can carry into the game against Chicago…
“I think a lot can carry over to the Chicago game in terms of the way we want to possess, the way we want to build. I think today wasn’t clean at times, but we have a whole week to really nail down what we want to work on. We always want to play our style, our brand, and we want to win doing so. We have a lot to look at this week, and put this behind us and focus on Chicago now.”
