NYCFC beats Nashville SC in the final home game of the regular season

Before the final home game of the regular season at Red Bull Arena, New York City FC fans could not get into the stadium.  The club posted on social media that it was due to a security concern, but did not provide any other details.  Eventually, all was declared safe, the gates were opened, and those who went to their rival’s home to support the Pigeons made their way in.  This delayed the start time to 4:25 PM as well.

Playing in New Jersey is never ideal, but NYCFC hoped there would be enough fans to support the players on a day that typically celebrates the supporters.  It was a decent amount, but it was not crowded or near the usual numbers.  The team could not worry about that since it was vital to secure a win against Nashville SC.  The Music City squad was confirmed to be out of playoff contention the night before, but it was expected they would play to win, as every team does.  In addition, the Bronx side wanted revenge after the loss in Nashville earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, Nick Cushing put out one of his stronger Starting XIs.  James Sands was out due to yellow card accumulation, so Justin Haak moved into the midfield and Birk Risa was back in the lineup.  Otherwise, the lineup from the FC Cincinnati game was mostly unchanged.

It was not a pretty match, but NYCFC held on to win 3-1 against Nashville SC.  This moved the Pigeons back in fifth place but still two points out of fourth.

NYCFC beats Nashville SC in the final home game

NYCFC started the match quickly, scoring a team goal within the first 20 seconds.  Matt Freese started it off while Santiago Rodríguez scored the goal.  The midfielder initially had his shot blocked but managed to score on the rebound as he ran toward the goal.

This was exactly what the home team needed.  While Nashville SC made the match a battle, the Pigeons were more threatening in the attack at the start.  Maxi Moralez was a big factor in moving the ball near or into the box, so it was not shocking the team continued to find the back of the net.

As such, Rodríguez added another in the 18th after a beautiful pass in front of the goal from Hannes Wolf.  The winger found the Designated Player as the ball curled right to him.  With one touch, the Uruguayan scored his brace as he snuck the ball into the left corner.

Then, a few minutes later, Rodríguez sent the ball into a box via a corner kick.  Haak and Thiago Martins missed their chances in front of the goal, but NYCFC’s leading scorer, Alonso Martínez, was in the right place at the right time.  He tapped the ball into the back of the net to give NYCFC a 3-0 lead.

Nashville would not give up though, and they became more threatening as the match progressed.  After the Pigeons’ third goal, it felt like everyone was just waiting for the visitors to find the back of the net.  By the time the second half came around, they were dominating the possession and offensive effort.

Of course, it was their star Hany Mukhtar who scored Music City’s goal in the 58th minute.  He took his shot from outside the center of the box and watched it go through everybody and past Freese.

From that point on, the New York City side had no choice but to spend most of the remainder of the game on the defensive end.  They had some opportunities, including a beautiful curler from Rodríguez in the 85th minute, but the Pigeons could not find another.

Thankfully, the defense was able to hold Nashville’s attack at bay, and Freese was a huge reason why.  He had four saves by the end of the fixture but also was aware enough when to come off his line and grab the ball.  He even put his body on the line when making a save late in the second half.  He required treatment but stayed in the match.

As mentioned, this was not a pretty game.  NYCFC gave Nashville too much room to attack and could not find a fourth.  This cannot happen on Decision Day when they face CF Montréal.  They are still chasing Orlando City SC for fourth place.  Montréal will also be driven to win to confirm a playoff spot.  This will be a dramatic last match of the regular season.

At the very least, NYCFC can celebrate their last home win before the playoffs.  Three points are in the bag, as well as a three-game winning streak that started in the Hudson River Derby.  Nobody likes to play at Red Bull Arena, but the stadium has been good to the Pigeons.