Playing just yards away from where their future home stadium will stand, New York City Football Club put in a performance to be proud of. The team NYCFC put on the pitch Saturday night was very different from the one they fielded in Nashville on opening day. The additions NYCFC made between the two matches made a difference as NYCFC exacted some revenge at home winning the contest 2-1.
There were four big changes in the line up since opening day and the results were dramatic. Richie Ledezma, James Sands, Mitja Ilenic, and Gabriel Segal transformed a team that was really over powered in Nashville and lost 2-0 into a streamlined and dangerous club. Ilenic was crucial in the opening goal in the eleventh minute. The eighteen year old sent a beautiful cross into a streaking Keaton Parks who rocketed a header into the back of the net.
Apr 15, 2023; Queens, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder Keaton Parks (55) celebrates his goal against Nashville SC with defender Braian Cufre (3) during the first half at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NYCFC would double the score fourteen minutes later off a corner when Maxime Chanot was wide open and able to volley a beautiful ball into the goal and set the home fans celebrating.
Nashville would get some chances in the half but Luis Barraza was up to the task and NYCFC kept stretching Nashville’s defense. Ledezma looked really promising as the number ten with Santi Rodriguez getting a rest. New York was quick, decisive and always threatening. It was quite possibly the best first half for the club all year. At half, it was all smile and 2-0 for the home side.
Apr 15, 2023; Queens, New York, USA; New York City FC defender Maxime Chanot (4) controls the ball against Nashville SC during the first half at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Cushing was really please with his team’s first half performance.
“We controlled the build-up. We didn’t allow them to control us by sitting 4-4-2 and controlling spaces. We made two little tactical changes which we felt would help us, compared to the first game. I thought we advanced the ball well and when you have the likes of Richy Ledezma and Gabriel Pereira on the ball, you know that you can create moments because that is the game they want. They want to get behind the midfield line and run at the backline. We get that type of game and the crowd feeds off it. That is when we are at our best.”
Nashville put up more of a fight in the second half and eventually found a goal in the last ten minutes of regulation. Hany Muktar gave the visitors some hope in the 81st minute but until then NYCFC had done a good job equalizing him.
Cushing went on about the Nashville goal.
“The only disappointment was that we should have been three or four up before we conceded the goal. The game should have been dead. It’s the same game as the D.C. [United] game. Teams start to go direct. We are a young team.We are probably in that phase of building chemistry and cohesion….You know what is really pleasing? That we showed that we have the strength to suffer.”
If NYCFC can continue to put in results like this as they “suffer”, then the future is bright. The club seems to grow each game and with new additions undoubtedly coming this summer the club may look more and more like what fans have come to expect from the team in the past few seasons. Tonight they jumped Nashville in the Eastern Conference standings. That revenge must feel sweet.
