NYCFC & Nashville Share the Spoils at Yankee Stadium
New York City FC and Nashville SC played out a goalless draw at Yankee Stadium on Friday night, with both sides left to rue missed opportunities in a game where the goalkeepers and defensive units ultimately came out on top.
Clear cut chances were at a premium during the opening half, but NYCFC finally gave the home support something to get off their seats for in the 31st minute.
Bénie Traorè produced one of his trademark blistering runs in behind the Nashville defence before spotting Luighi arriving at the back post. Traorè picked out the Brazilian striker, but Luighi was unable to direct his effort on target as a promising opportunity went begging.
Twelve minutes later, NYCFC almost gifted Nashville the opening goal in disastrous fashion.
Matt Freese and Raul Gustavo were attempting to play out from the back when a miscommunication between the pair resulted in Freese kicking the ball off the back of his centre-back's ankles. Cristian Espinoza was alert to pounce on the mistake, flicking the loose ball into the path of Nashville captain Hany Mukhtar.
With the goal seemingly at his mercy from eight yards out, Mukhtar rattled the crossbar as the Yankee Stadium crowd watched on in disbelief.
Nashville continued to threaten immediately after the restart and came within inches of breaking the deadlock in the 47th minute.
A corner from the left travelled all the way towards the back post, where Sam Surridge connected with a first-time volley and forced Freese into a sharp save. The goalkeeper could only parry the initial effort into the path of Maxwell Woledzi, but the Nashville centre-back was not quick enough to beat the USMNT's number one to the rebound as Freese recovered superbly to make a crucial double save.
Mukhtar remained Nashville's biggest attacking threat as the second half progressed. The captain continued to find himself in dangerous positions but was unable to generate enough power on his efforts to find a way past Freese.
The visitors increasingly took control of possession, enjoying 71 per cent of the ball by the 73rd minute, but NYCFC's defensive shape continued to frustrate the Eastern Conference leaders.
NYCFC had an opportunity to snatch the game late on. In the 85th minute, Nico Fernández fired a blistering ball across the Nashville penalty area, but the delivery proved just too powerful for Malachi Jones to get the decisive touch.
Neither side could find the breakthrough in the closing minutes as the contest ended in stalemate at Yankee Stadium.
Both defensive units could leave satisfied with their night's work, but the attackers on either side will be left rueing the opportunities that could have turned one point into three.
For Pascal Jansen's NYCFC, the draw extends their winless run to seven matches and leaves them seventh in the Eastern Conference. Nashville remain top of the East, with Inter Miami occupying second place.
Full-time: New York City FC 0-0 Nashville SC
