Nashville SC late comeback stalls against New York City FC, loses 2-1

Nashville SC conceded just two goals in its first seven games in 2023, allowing the least amount of goals in Major League Soccer through the first seven games. That title is gone after a 2-1 loss Saturday to New York City FC on a shrunken, makeshift soccer surface at Citi Field in Queens.

"In all honesty, the first 20 minutes and the two goals were a travesty for us," Nashville coach Gary Smith said. "An absolute travesty."

NYCFC midfielder Keaton Parks' header in the 11th minute was the earliest goal Nashville had given up since March 2022 against Real Salt Lake in the second minute. Maxime Chanot doubled New York's lead in the 25th minute. Though Hany Mukhtar's second goal of the season in the 81st minute initiated a comeback, Nashville could only muster just one additional shot, fullback Shaq Moore's wide right attempt in the 84th minute.

NYCFC secured its payback nearly two months after its 2-0 loss to Nashville in the season opener at Geodis Park.

"Normally, we start the games pretty decent," Hany Mukhtar said after the game. "Today, we couldn't start good. And it's tough. You're 2-0 down after 20 minutes. That's a difficult start."

NYCFC (3-2-3, 12 points) leaped past Nashville (3-3-2, 11 points) in the Eastern Conference standings, into sixth place. Nashville dropped to seventh.

NYCFC goals uncharacteristic

For Smith, Nashville's performance wasn't just a travesty, but "very disappointing, very uncharacteristic start."

Defensively, alertness was absent and a gritty mentality — for the first time all season, and a rarity in club history — was softened. Both apparent in New York's goal sequences.

On the first goal, Parks leaped over Nashville right back Shaq Moore to head in Mitja Ilenič's cross. Ilenič had yards to run up to the ball, after forward Talles Magno split the ball through a Jack Maher-Alex Muyl double team near the right-side corner.

"Honestly, it should be dealt with," Smith said. "Shaq, I'm not sure what he's thinking, but he should seriously be thinking about attacking the ball. And in the end, it becomes a free header for somebody of Keaton Parks' quality, and he's dispatched it very, very well."

For NYCFC's second goal, Chanot connected with Richie Ledezma's corner kick, without much contest from Anibal Godoy, smashing the ball with a half volley while standing a mere seven yards from goal.

Strikers need help

Nashville has a scoring problem.

Mukhtar, Fafa Picault and Jacob Shaffelburg have scored five of the seven goals in eight games. Strikers Teal Bunbury and CJ Sapong's omission from that doesn't derive from ability, but service from teammates.

"They're not getting that service at the moment," Smith said. "They're getting some. It's erratic. It's not as clean and clear cut as we've seen in the past… but ultimately, they're experienced enough to know that somehow, someway, they've gotta force the ball over the line for their own sakes and their own confidence."

Needing results vs. LAFC, Atlanta

Nashville's next two games are against Los Angles FC on Saturday and Atlanta United on April 29 — both third-place teams in each conference, who have scored twice as many goals than Nashville respectively.

"We have to do better," Mukhtar said. "We have to analyze it on Monday and need to have a clear game plan for LAFC. We know how strong they are and we have to be ready. We can't sleep again in the first 20 minutes because they will be ready too."

For stories about Nashville SC or Soccer in Tennessee, contact Drake Hills at DHills@gannett.com. Follow Drake on Twitter at @LiveLifeDrake. Connect with Drake on Instagram at @drakehillssoccer and on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC loses 2-1 to New York City FC at Citi Field on April 15