So many with ties to NY within this Nashville team, from the GM, Mike Jacobs to past players of RBNY & Fafa Picault of upstate NY. Clearly an early test for the revamped NYCFC, so many faces gone, Heber & the captain, USMNT backstop Johnson both among the biggest of players gone. Now, a few years removed from their title run, NYCFC wants to hit the ground running. Energized by the announcement of their coming stadium and coach with a new deal, let’s see what this season holds for NYCFC.
The talking heads have just stated last year was the first in the long history Seattle where they did NOT make the playoffs. During their time in the original NASL, they missed no less than 3 times. Last year while defending their MLS Cup, they failed to make the second season. As Apple shows a tribute to Antione Walks, lost during the off season FOX is doing other things?
The first throw in is foul by Nashville, but not called. Nashville go end line it comes back out past the area, played in, then out for a throw in, NYCFC take it away. Shaq Moore, who featured for the US in the desert this winter is getting his name called often in the early goings. So many miscues and poor first touches here thus far as NY holds the ball well. Nashville gets off the first shot and a great saves stops this first time shot. Picault gets a lead ball, Gazelle plays it into the 6 and the GK comes up a bit to grab it. Chanot & Burbury collide, Chanot takes the brunt of it. Off the headed throw in Davis gets off an optimistic shot, just over the bar by a few feet. NYCFC right side defense is getting eaten up so many quality balls played in only to be cleared, but they will miss one if they keep coming in at this rate. Well beyond the area, Magno finally gets the ball so he let’s it rip, intended for the upper right corner, he did not miss by much. Chanot goes to ground to stop Moore leading to a Nashville throw. 27:50 first yellow issued for the foul on Moore by NYCFC defender Cufre. Chanot again on the ground as Godoy sends him to the floor and it goes the other way. Again NY with a very distant shot, but struck near post, at the GK. Burbury shows his range as well with another distance shot. Redirected over the bar and another corner. Nashville far more offensive but have not had the quality of chances as have NY. Burbury pulls the wool over the refs’ eyes, he was obstructing but NY called for a foul. The restart leads straight to a goal and Zimmerman talking to the corner flag after his goal. Chanot with a partial clearance, it was played back in by Picault and now the goal being reviewed for who actually put it over the line. Nashville gets it forward again and now, yet another corner. Gazelle goes forward, earns a corner, as his ball gets played over the end line by Chanot. First corner now for NY. We are seeing early season skills and midseason physicality. It is taken short, then played in on a big high arc, the ‘keeper is easily under it. Could hear the knock on the head of Chanot, Burbury gets away with yet another. The fans are booing Chanot, I hope that sharpened elbow of Burbury is ok. Pelligrini goes high from just beyond the arc. I am liking tthe distant shots, now they need to try taking a player on to get beyond him and a closer shot. Haak and Picault collide it’s a throw for the home team but Fafa is writhing in pain and waving for help as he holds his right knee. One of the nicer guys in MLS, hoping he is ok. He is up after a few minutes and awaiting restart of play to return to it. Finally a ball goes over the end line of NYCFC for a goal kick. In extra time Nashville make yet another run. Magno takes an awkward rising shot from beyond the area and is a bit hobbled. Talles is still walking gingerly as he leaves the field.
The 2nd stanza has started. Cufre a new player for NYCFC on the back line was tangled with Fafa and he is limping it off. Andrade over runs the goal with the ball, a first touch may have worked, he looks to feed Pellegrini who is meet by a pair of defenders and it was off the mark. Moore turns Chant around and wins corner #6 n the day. A hard shot literally off the face of the NYCFC defense starts as a break then pulled back as they move the ball about, it ends in a throw for the home team. Burbury making himself into quite the bee in the bonnet of NYCFC today. Picault a feew inches and many pounds less than Martins gets called for a foul in the area. Leal stepped on by Maxime gets the DFK. Looking for Fafa, It goes off another NY product Gray and over the end line. Andrade leading the break is fouled and a caution issued. Magno gets it just beyond the area, it gets laid back a pair of times as far forward? A left footed go on goal from Pelligrini also from beyond the area and puts his first time shot, just wide. Caution to Magno at 62’. Chanot from 40 yards is not even close. O‘Toole is in, Muyl waiting to enter for Fafa. Parks sprung on goal gets to it, has his cross blocked out over the end line. Nashville 3 v 4 lets go with a distant shot and it is distant from the goal. Andrade with a hard foul gets cautioned. Magno sent hard to the ground and his fellow Brasileiro took care of it. O’Toole hoping for some of the luck of the Irish lets go with a rocket from another zip code, the moving ball had to be knocked down by the GK. Shaffelburg buries the pass from MLS MVP Mukhtar, from an errant toe poke of NY, It quickly goes the other way with 10’ Nashville up 2-0. Mukhtar draws so much attention, his target could not have been more open and ooh so well positioned. Mukhtar looks to get himself on the score sheet but Chanot blocks it. Godoy down holding his shoulder and hurting, he was tangled with Pelligrini, who also hooked the arm of the Nashville player. First game, first stretcher on for the removal of a player. The player wants to return, but coach may have another point of view. Back but not looking so comfortable. Ferriera claiming a foul as he goes end line and winds up on the floor. Chanot with a hard foul in extra time gets carded for his efforts. Parks is now hobbling about, the wheels really fell off for NYCFC. Just after the game, Godoy still holding his shoulder with a pained face.