NYCFC 2-1 Nashville SC
The ‘Boys in Blue’ defeated Nashville SC 2-1 in their second meeting of the 2023 MLS Regular Season. This marked New York City Football Club’s return to Citi Field for the first time since the 2022 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
New York City Football Club was welcomed home by supporters group ‘La Banda Loca’, in addition to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Queens Councilman Francisco Moya, and Councilwoman Sandra Ung. Before kick-off, Mayor Adams and Councilman Moya made some remarks about the NYCFC stadium project to the New York faithful in attendance. Meanwhile, Councilwoman Sandra Ung initiated the match by setting off the NYC smokestacks, a pre-game tradition at NYCFC matches.
Midfielder Keaton Parks scored his first goal of the season. This marks Parks’ first goal with the Club since the 2022 MLS Regular Season, in which Parks scored one goal in a 3-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes at Yankee Stadium on May 1st, 2022.
Defender Maxime Chanot got in on the action by scoring his first goal of the season. Chanot has found the back of the net for the first time since scoring a rocket from outside the area in a 3-1 defeat at home against Charlotte FC in the 2022 MLS Regular Season. Today, Chanot recorded one goal, 93% pass accuracy rate, four accurate long balls, one tackle won, and two ground duels won.
With today’s start, midfielder Richard Ledezma recorded his first start for New York City Football Club. In today’s start, Ledezma provided his first goal contribution for the Club in the form of an assist on the ‘Cityzens’ second goal scored by Maxime Chanot. Today, Ledezma recorded one assist, an 83% pass accuracy rate, and one shot on target.
Defender Mitja Ilenic has now recorded an assist in back-to-back matches for the first time in his NYCFC career notching an assist for Keaton Parks’ opening goal.
Key Moments: After a dominant opening ten minutes into the first half, Talles Magno found himself in between two defenders but skillfully made his way out of the sticky situation. The ball went a little too far for the Brazilian Maestro and found its way into the feet of defender Mitja Ilenic, who put in a well-timed cross towards the middle of the box, where Keaton Parks met it with his head to put it past Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis. The goal put the ‘Boys in Blue’ ahead 1-0 in the 11th minute of the match.
The ‘Cityzens’ continued putting pressure onto Nashville SC and found themselves winning a corner kick. Midfielder Richard Ledezma put in the cross from the corner towards the center of the penalty area, to which Maxime Chanot found the back of the net with a right-footed volley, making it 2-0 for New York City Football Club.
Prior to this game, Nashville SC had only allowed two goals all season and hadn’t allowed a goal in its last two matches. In today’s game, NYCFC scored two goals in the first half, breaking their two-game clean sheet record. Also, this is the first time Nashville SC has conceded more than one goal since they lost against Houston Dynamo FC 1-2 at home on October 2, 2022.
Goalkeeper Luis Barraza had a total of six shots against, and saved five, marking the most shots he faced and the most shots he saved this season.
Up Next: New York City Football Club finds themselves at home for the last of three straight home matches against Western Conference side FC Dallas on Saturday, April 22nd at 7:30 pm ET at Citi Field in Queens, New York.
New York City Football Club stormed back to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Nashville SC, thanks to first-half goals from Keaton Parks and Maxime Chanot. Hany Mukhtar reduced the deficit late on at Citi Field but despite late pressure from the visitors, Nick Cushing’s side held on to claim a first triumph over the Tennessee outfit, and extend our impressive run on home soil.
The two sides locked horns for the second time in 2023, having met in the season opener at GEODIS Park. February’s clash had marked only the third encounter between the pair, with The Music heading into this contest unbeaten.
Head Coach Cushing made two changes from the NYCFC side that drew 1-1 with Atlanta United last time out, as Richy Ledezma earned his first MLS start, while Gabriel Pereira returned to the XI, in place of Santiago Rodríguez and the suspended Matías Pellegrini.
Facing the league’s meanest defense with Nashville having recorded five clean sheets in 2023, the Boys in Blue knew they would have to be clinical with chances potentially at a premium.
The City Boys came flying out of the blocks in Queens, and broke the deadlock after just 11 minutes of play. The hosts had already found plenty of joy down the right, and unlocked the NSC defense through Parks’ first goal of the season, courtesy of Mitja Ilenič’s second assist in as many games.
The Slovenian latched onto Talles Magno’s cutback, and whipped in another pinpoint cross for Parks to power a header home – a moment fittingly celebrated with a heartwarming tribute to the recent news of he and wife Kat’s first baby.
The visitors responded well, rallying in search of an instant leveler. Last season’s Golden Boot winner Mukhtar stung the palms of Luis Barraza, while the City shot-stopper also denied Fafà Picault, and Aníbal Godoy fired wide.
Heeding the warning, the home side regained control, and doubled the advantage midway through the first half via a set-piece, as Ledezma celebrated his first start with an assist, swinging a corner to the six-yard box where Chanot adjusted well to smash a sweetly-struck volley past Joe Willis.
With the defender’s fine finish, the Boys in Blue became the first side to have netted two goals against Nashville this season.
Full of confidence, the City Boys went in search of a third. Gabe Segal and Ledezma fired straight at Willis, before Parks curled over, while Barraza produced an excellent low stop to thwart Mukhtar once more at the other end.
The early exchanges of the second period were played at an electric pace with chances for both sides – Sean Davies and Ledezma both aiming off-target within the first two minutes.
Talles Magno proved a constant threat, with Ilenič and Pereira also going close, while substitute Rodríguez came inches away from announcing his arrival with a goal, after Barraza had done well to gather a C.J. Sapong strike.
The City ‘keeper continued to impress, and was equal to Daniel Lovitz’s curling attempt. The rebound was converted by Shaq Moore, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Nashville would claw themselves back into the game however, with nine minutes of normal time left on the clock, when Mukhtar collected Lovitz’s pass, and drilled in low from the edge of the box to set up a tense finale.
Moore then blazed over, as the away side piled on the pressure, but NYCFC held firm for the points, maintaining our unbeaten home record in 2023.
QUOTES
NYCFC HEAD COACH NICK CUSHING
On the decision to start Richard Ledezma…
“It was forced. Santi [Rodríguez] had a small problem that he felt in the game against Atlanta [United]. We kept him off because Santi is basically in his pre-season at the moment because he wasn’t with us so we are trying to build him up and build those minutes and he just felt a little bit of hamstring pain so he didn’t train this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday, he [Santiago Rodríguez] did a little bit. Friday, he came out and did a small amount. He was okay but we just didn’t want to take the risk. We have a guy like Richy Ledezma that is really hungry to get the start. It just felt like, between myself and Santi [Rodríguez], like the right thing to do. Between Richy and I, go get yourself in the rhythm.”
On the atmosphere of Citi Field…
“I definitely feel the atmosphere. Like I said in the dressing room before [the match], we know our crowd here feeds off our attacking play, if we can get the ball in the box and we can start to play by getting Gabriel [Pereira], Richy [Ledezma], and Talles [Magno] playing together, we know we can get the atmosphere up. I don’t know what it is but we have had really exciting games here [Citi Field]. Even in the [FC] Cincinnati game where it ended 1-1. We had four, five, or six really good chances to win that game. I love the feel of it here. I love the energy and the atmosphere. My favorite part is when we win and we go celebrate with the fans. We just hope we can do it again next week. It is about rest and recovery now, as well as hard work. We’ll get the same feeling next week if we can put the performance in.”
On the team’s performance in this match…
“We know Nashville [SC] are a really disciplined defensive team. The stats back that up. They are the best in MLS at the moment. We knew that we would have to disorganize the two central defenders, the two midfield players, and that we would have to be at our best defensively. I thought we had done that really well in the first half. 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. 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.”
On James Sands wearing the captain’s armband…
“The team knows that we have a group of leaders that lead this team within the dressing room. It’s Thiago Martins, Maxime Chanot, James Sands, Keaton Parks, and Alfredo Morales. The longest serving players, the senior leaders, the Homegrown guy. Keaton [Parks] has many stories with him, which gives a real strength to the group. Those guys rely on their experience, rely on their opinions and their feel of the group, but also I put huge responsibility on those guys to lead the team on-and-off the field to make sure that we are building a cohesive group and to manage problems. I said it before, Maxime Chanot wore it alot, Thiago Martins wore it in Houston. Maybe next week Thiago Martins will wear the armband. Maybe Alfredo Morales. If we have guys that want to wear the captain’s armband for a status piece and an aesthetic reason then we are not building a real cohesive group. It’s about ‘yea, there is a responsibility to wear the captain’s armband’ but when I see James [Sands] wear it, I still see the same level of leadership and expectation. That is a real benefit of his character. Thiago Martins was excellent. Alfredo Morales knew he was coming into the game to be a real leader in the game to help us. For me, it’s about that group of guys being the real heartbeat of our group.”
On Gabriel Segal’s performance…
“Of course we want more. I want more out of everybody. My job is to put huge expectations on players and to continue to make sure that they work hard, review, reflect, and try to improve. This guy [Gabriel Segal] does this more than anybody. He’s a natural number nine that will occupy the central defenders. He will come off the front and set the ball. He presses like an animal for the ball. He gives us structure in the game. Does he have to improve? Yes, he had another chance tonight. He has had one chance in every game and he hasn’t scored yet. He knows that he has to score goals to continue to roll into the team. At the same time, I think it is unfair to put the same expectations on Gabe [Segal] as we have on ‘Taty’ Castellanos. This guy [Valentín Castellanos] is a goal scorer and Gabe Segal has only played three games. Of course we want to push him and we are going to put the expectations high, but we are also going to be realistic and understand that he doesn’t disappoint us when he misses the chances, it is just part of his journey of development.”
On who would get his vote for man of the match…
“I see why Richy Ledezma gets the star of the game here because it was his debut and he was a real impact player in the game but for me James Sands was ten out of ten in this game. I think my worry of James [Sands] lately has been his physical ability just based on the fact he hasn’t played so many games for Rangers. Tonight I thought he was excellent. I thought he physically looked good. He reads the game incredibly well. His decision making with the ball is top level and I think what he brings to our team is he gets the ball back. It sounds simple but he is so effective at being in the right spaces and being aggressive to get the ball back. He was playing against the MVP [Hany Mukhtar] and I thought he kept him quiet for the majority of the game, and of course we’re disappointed he scores the goal but this guy is always going to haunt every team. [Hany] Mukhtar is a top top level player, but for me I would vote James Sands because I thought… they don’t really get the credit, these guys that play in that midfield role, but he was ten out of ten for me.”
NYCFC MIDFIELDER RICHARD LEDEZMA
Thoughts on first career start with NYCFC…
“It felt amazing, getting to play with my teammates. You know I’m new to the team so it’s been tough weeks you know, but they’ve been welcoming to me and even the fans. The fans are amazing here at Citi Field and at Yankee stadium, but I’m enjoying my time here so far. It was an amazing feeling for sure.”
Thoughts on first assist…
“It was nice, yea it’s a nice assist. I should have scored a couple goals also, it would have made my night much better but now we keep going for next week against Dallas.”
On whether or not he had a set amount of minutes to be played…
“It wasn’t set. But I haven’t played a match in a very long time or started a match in a very long time, like 3 or 4 months, but I kind of knew in my mind to play for 60 or as much as I can. I came off in the 60th minute, the coach made a decision and I had to respect the decision.”
On whether he started based on what he’s done in training or because of squad rotation… “Santi [Rodriguez] has been playing every game. Santi and I get along really well even on the pitch so I think it was the coaches decision to rest Santi and for me to get my shot tonight. I take advantage of my opportunities and I hope Santi and I can play one day together.”
On what it’s been like coming into a new team and where does the confidence come from…
“The coach and the players give me confidence. My first two days or three days I didn’t have so much, I was a little iffy but after that I felt comfortable on the ball. My teammates trust me, they give me the ball in tight spaces where I could get out of and you know that’s what it’s all about, trusting in one another and we just keep building relationships.”
NYCFC MIDFIELDER KEATON PARKS
Thoughts on today’s win…
“It felt good. It felt good to get a goal and get the win, of course, and I was happy I finally got to do that celebration, which I was waiting to do.”
On today’s intensity compared to last game…
“Absolutely. I felt like we lost points last week, and we all did. It just feels great to get the three points. We performed from start to finish in this game. Whether we were suffering or playing well with the ball, everybody gave their all the whole time. We deserve these three points.”
On playing with Richard Ledezma….
“It was fantastic. I thought he played a hell of a game. He was a well-deserved man of the match and he did great. I wish he could have gotten a goal or another assist. He was in all the right spots today so I am happy for him.”
On Nashville’s late goal and protecting the lead…
“It always sucks to concede a goal that late in the game. Of course, they get all the momentum and energy out of that, but I think we did a great job in reacting to that and making sure we didn’t let another goal in. It was tough, we suffered for sure, and [Hany] Mukhtar is a fantastic player for sure he did his thing, but we finished it off strong.”
NYCFC MIDFIELDER SANTIAGO RODRIGUEZ
Sobre el sentido de salir con tres puntos en Citi Field…
“Muy contento con la victoria, la necesitábamos. Tuvimos unos partidos medio flojos que no podíamos encontrar pases de juego y bueno, salió todo muy bien. Encontramos todos los movimientos que entrenamos en la semana y creo que estamos todos muy contentos.”
On how it feels to leave Citi Field with the three points…
“We’re very happy with the victory, we needed it. We had a few matches that were not good enough where we couldn’t get into the rhythm of the game. Today everything went well. We executed all the movements we worked on in training during the week and I think that we’re all coming away from this match very happy.”
Sobre no empezar el partido en el once titular…
“Yo he sentido una molestia en el partido anterior en el posterior a los diez minutos del primer tiempo y estaba toda la semana recuperándome…casi que no entrene. Tomamos la decisión en conjunto de que lo mejor era que fuera al banco y jugar un compañero que estaba cien por ciento en forma.”
On not being named to the starting eleven for this match…
“I had felt something on my backside ten minutes before the half during the last match and I spent all week trying to recover… I almost couldn’t train. We made the decision together that it would be best if I started on the bench and let a teammate start who was one hundred percent fit.”
NYCFC MIDFIELDER ANDRES JASSON
Thoughts on getting minutes in New York City Football Club’s second team game…
“It’s great, anytime you don’t play a week or two in a row it’s nice to have a competitive level to play. The second team gives us that, lets you stay sharp and fit. It’s a really good resource for us and one that we’ve used pretty well.”
On having really good runs on the left wing to goal…
“I think anytime you come into a game like that where Nashville is pushing for goals, I think you’re going to have moments on the counter to get forward. We tried to take advantage of that, but at the end of the day just wanted to make sure we got the three points.”
NYCFC DEFENDER MITJA ILENIC
Thoughts on being in the Starting 11…
“I think it feels amazing. The group of players and environment are amazing. So far so good and I hope it will get even better.”
On playing with the national team and with NYCFC…
“It was really tough period. I played like four games in ten days when I came back from the New England Revolution game. I think the staff did a very good job with me and I got some days off, which I think was normal, but now I am feeling amazing.”
NYCFC GOALKEEPER LUIS BARRAZA
On his general thoughts on the game…
“I think it was one of our toughest games so far when it comes to trying to manage the game. They were a tough team to deal with physically. They are a really strong team, but we managed to keep our cool and try to play when we had to play and find the back of the net which is what we’ve been working on this week. I’m just happy we got the result.”
On the possible injury after making a big save right before the half…
“It was a minor tweak there on my neck but I’m all good.”
NYCFC MIDFIELDER JAMES SANDS
On getting called back to the U.S. National Team…
“It’s good, I’ve been out of the National Team for a little bit now. So it’s nice to have another opportunity. It’s just a couple days so I’m there. I just have to give it everything. I think I’ve worked really hard over the last couple months so I’m very excited.”
On how confident he felt being able to perform tonight after not training…
“It had bothered me throughout the week but it’s just a contact injury so it’s just a lot of swelling and fluid in my foot at the minute but it’s a pain tolerance thing really. Now that I’m the captain for these games I feel a bigger responsibility to push through that.”
On having that defensive responsibility against difficult attackers…
“I really look forward to those sorts of challenges and that’s something that I get here in MLS that I didn’t get at all really in Scotland, in the league there, so it’s a nice change. Those guys will get the better of me sometimes, but it’s all about learning. I’m still a young player and I’m trying to improve so those are night shifts I really look forward to.”
Thoughts on starting the midfield with Keaton [Parks] and Richy [Ledezma] and the potential of playing together at the National Team level…
“It’s definitely motivating for us. I thought especially Richy [Ledezma] coming in today. He’s had his injury struggles in the past but you see when he’s playing, he’s a top top player, so adding him to the group is going to be a big bonus and the fact that he’s a young American is nice and I think we could build chemistry a little bit easier as well.”
NYCFC FORWARD GABRIEL SEGAL
Thoughts on the game…
“The key thing is that we got the three points, that’s what we came out here to do and that’s our aspirations in every game. Feels good to get a win for the home supporters and they showed out great today. It was a great atmosphere, great team win and definitely something that we’re looking to build off and continue that momentum.”
On how he sees himself fitting in the team…
“I’ve tried to be a guy that combines with all those guys so when the ball comes into me, be an outlet when they’re in trouble. Get the ball, give it back to them and let them do their thing. Me personally, definitely being available for all those guys and I think I’ve been making runs and stretching the space, defensively obviously I’m working hard. Hopefully that goal is coming, I definitely was upset I didn’t hit that one a little better today. I’m getting good spots with players like Richy [Ledezma] being able to find me. I think the goal will come. First few games as a pro so I think with time the goal will come, that’s the goal.”
