Match Recap: Nashville SC end curse, defeat New York Red Bulls 2-1
They’ve finally done it! After seven meetings since beginning life in MLS since 2020, eighth time was the charm for Nashville SC as they finally, for the first time, defeated the New York Red Bulls at GEODIS Park 2-1.
Let’s take a look.
Lineup
It was an unchanged lineup from the side that beat Charlotte at the weekend, with Joe Willis in goal behind a back four of Andy Najar, Jack Maher, Jeisson Palacios and Dan Lovitz.
The double pivot was once again Eddi Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek, who were supporting a front four of Alex Muyl, Hany Mukhtar, Jacob Shaffelburg and Sam Surridge.
Off the bench, Bryan Acosta, Ahmed Qasem, Chris Applewhite and Josh Bauer made cameo appearances to see out the match.
Between the Whistles
Early in this one, as both teams looked to grab control of the game, Nashville thought they’d found the opener in the 8th minute, though a good header from Sam Surridge was disallowed for a clear offside.
This would be the clearest chance of the opening half hour, but in the 34th minute, Nashville pressed a mistake out of the Red Bulls, and Surridge headed the ball into the path of Patrick Yazbek, who found himself in a 4v2 situation, with Alex Muyl on his left and the likes of Hany Mukhtar and Jacob Shaffelburg on his right.
In the end, Yazbek went himself, and sent a ballistic missile into the back of the net, hitting it so hard that after it struck the tripod holding the net cam, it rolled out the far side touchline, for what would’ve been a throw in.
It could’ve been two in the 41st, as Surridge thought he’d rounded Carlos Coronel, only for the Red Bulls’ keeper to make an impressive save.
The first chance of the second half fell to Nashville as well, though Shaffelburg misplayed his hand, as he went himself instead of passing to Surridge for what would’ve been a tap in.
The second goal would come, but from the visitors in the 56th as a back post cross from Cameron Harper was met with an equally brilliant header from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
However, as has become a theme with this team, that scoreline wouldn’t last long. Just seven minutes later in the 63rd, after one of the most impressive team attacking sequences this club has EVER put on, Muyl teed up Mukhtar to leather the ball past Coronel and restore the lead for the Boys in Gold.
Though there were some nervy sequences after, Nashville’s lead remained stable through the rest of the game, propelling them to 4th in the Eastern Conference, though Inter Miami does have a game in hand in 5th.
The Numbers
Nashville SC
Shots: 13
Shots on goal: 6
Possession: 45.0%
Corners: 5
xG: 1.8
Yellow Cards: 3 (Sam Surridge, Dan Lovitz, Ahmed Qasem)
New York Red Bulls
Shots: 7
Shots on goal: 2
Possession: 55.0%
Corners: 6
xG: 0.6
Yellow Cards: 3 (Raheem Edwards, Cameron Harper, Omar Valencia)
Analysis
Demons begone, ye have been exorcised from this day forth. The list of clubs Nashville SC has never beaten shrinks by one, and it comes off yet another impressive display.
The top of the East is a very crowded bunch, with the top 6 separated by just seven points, but Nashville is right there amongst it. Even if Inter Miami were to win their game in hand, Nashville would still sit two points clear of Orlando in fifth.
Things continue to trend upwards for the Boys in Gold, and with 12th place D.C. United coming to town at the weekend, likely without Christian Benteke, Nashville’s record as the very best team at home in all of Major League Soccer looks very promising indeed.