Major League Soccer Regular Season - 16
Nashville SC 2 - 1 FT New York City FC
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
16' J. Palacios (C. Espinoza)
N. Mercau 23'
K. Trewin 25'
New York City FC 35'
HT
49' M. Woledzi (B. Acosta)
65' A. Qasem
↓ M. Jones ↑H. Wolf 66'
↓ A. Farnos ↑J. Shore 66'
72' ↓ A. Qasem ↑S. Surridge
↓ A. Perea ↑M. Carrizo 78'
79' ↓ B. Acosta ↑C. Brunet
79' ↓ W. Madrigal ↑A. Muyl
↓ N. Cavallo ↑S. Reid 85'
↓ K. Trewin ↑K. Pierre 85'
86' C. Espinoza
89' ↓ C. Espinoza ↑J. Bauer
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Nashville SC
Goalkeepers
Brian Schwake 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Reed Baker-Whiting 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.7
Rating
Jeisson Palacios 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Maxwell Woledzi
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Daniel Lovitz 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
Bryan Acosta 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
Matthew Corcoran 
ENFORCER
5
Tackles
5
Tackles
8
Duels Won
100%
Win %
Ahmed Qasem
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
72
Entry
Forwards
Cristian Espinoza
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
3
Key Passes
6.3
Rating
Hany Mukhtar
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Warren Madrigal 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Joe Willis 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jack Maher
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Josh Bauer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jordan Knight
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alex Muyl
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Charles-Emile Brunet
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shakur Mohammed
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sam Surridge
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Woobens Pacius
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
New York City FC
Goalkeepers
Matthew Freese
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Tayvon Gray 
MAGNET
87
Activity
87
Activity
79
Passes
8
Duels
Thiago Martins
MAGNET
100
Activity
100
Activity
98
Passes
2
Duels
Raul Gustavo
MAGNET
86
Activity
86
Activity
80
Passes
6
Duels
Nico Cavallo
LATE SHIFT
5
Late Mins
5
Late Mins
85
Total Mins
85
Entry
Midfielders
Kai Trewin
LATE SHIFT
5
Late Mins
5
Late Mins
85
Total Mins
85
Entry
Andrés Perea
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
Agustin Ojeda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Arnau Farnos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Malachi Jones
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Forwards
Nicolás Fernández 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
5
Shots
7
Rating
BENCH
Tomás Romero
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Strahinja Tanasijević
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kamran Acito
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Máximo Carrizo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kevin Pierre
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Peter Molinari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jonathan Shore
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hannes Wolf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Seymour Garfield-Reid
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/17/2025 | New York City FC | 2 - 1 | Nashville SC | Major League Soccer | Yankee Stadium |
| 05/31/2025 | Nashville SC | 2 - 2 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | Geodis Park |
| 10/06/2024 | New York City FC | 3 - 1 | Nashville SC | Major League Soccer | Red Bull Arena |
| 06/23/2024 | Nashville SC | 1 - 0 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | GEODIS Park |
| 04/15/2023 | New York City FC | 2 - 1 | Nashville SC | Major League Soccer | Citi Field |
| 02/25/2023 | Nashville SC | 2 - 0 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | GEODIS Park |
| 10/03/2021 | New York City FC | 0 - 0 | Nashville SC | Major League Soccer | Red Bull Arena |
| 09/03/2021 | Nashville SC | 3 - 1 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | Nissan Stadium |
08/17/2025
05/31/2025
10/06/2024
06/23/2024
04/15/2023
02/25/2023
10/03/2021
09/03/2021
Nashville SC Win
New York City FC Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 11 GD: +17
P: 12 GD: +7
P: 12 GD: +5
P: 10 GD: +9
P: 13 GD: 0
P: 13 GD: -6
P: 12 GD: +2
P: 12 GD: +1
P: 11 GD: +4
P: 13 GD: -14
P: 12 GD: -4
P: 11 GD: -1
P: 11 GD: -5
P: 9 GD: -4
P: 14 GD: -11
League Standings
P: 14 GD: +20
P: 15 GD: +11
P: 14 GD: +11
P: 14 GD: +4
P: 15 GD: -7
P: 15 GD: +1
P: 15 GD: -1
P: 15 GD: +4
P: 15 GD: -4
P: 15 GD: -2
P: 14 GD: -9
P: 15 GD: -21
P: 14 GD: -7
P: 14 GD: -9
P: 15 GD: -12
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Nashville Consolidate Summit Status in Geodis Park Thriller
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 66/100. A chaotic first half of penalties and VAR drama ultimately gave way to Nashville's ruthless efficiency, proving exactly why they lead the league.
Fast Start, Faster Answers
The Intensity at Geodis Park spiked immediately as Nashville SC came out swinging with genuine intent. It took just 16 minutes for the home side to find the breakthrough. J. Palacios found the back of the net, capitalising on a sharp, defense-splitting feed from C. Espinoza to give the league leaders the perfect start to the evening. However, New York City FC refused to roll over and accept their fate. They edged possession early on, building rhythm, and were ultimately rewarded when N. Mercau buried a 23rd-minute penalty to level the tie. The visitors were suddenly in the ascendancy, silencing the famously vocal home crowd and threatening to completely derail the hosts' impressive run of recent form.
The VAR Lifeline
The true Balance of this contest shifted wildly during a chaotic spell in the 35th minute. New York City FC thought they had snatched the lead and completed a rapid turnaround, only for the video assistant referee to disallow the goal after a tense review. That crucial reprieve breathed new life into the hosts. Emerging from the halftime interval, Nashville looked completely transformed and full of attacking vigour. In the 49th minute, M. Woledzi rose to the occasion, connecting brilliantly with a B. Acosta delivery to restore the crucial advantage. Despite boasting a higher expected goals tally of 1.36 compared to Nashville's 0.75, the visitors lacked the cutting edge in the final third required to make their attacking metrics count when it mattered most.
Shutting Up Shop
With the Stakes incredibly high for a Nashville side desperate to maintain their spot at the summit of the table, they intelligently opted to dig in and protect their lead. The final half-hour became an absolute masterclass in defensive game management and discipline. On the rare occasions the visitors did manage to break through the rigid defensive lines, Brian Schwake was perfectly positioned, producing three crucial saves to preserve the narrow margin. New York City FC controlled the tempo in the dying embers, finishing with 52% possession, but simply could not find a second equaliser. This gritty 2-1 home victory extends Nashville's stellar start to the campaign, leaving their opponents to rue missed opportunities.
Key Questions
What does this mean for Nashville SC's season?
This vital victory solidifies their position at the very top of the MLS standings, extending their impressive points tally to 23 from just ten matches.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Nashville SC's Title Credentials Under Fire Against NYCFC
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 74/100. A high-stakes clash at Geodis Park will prove whether Nashville has the defensive steel to turn their current momentum into a genuine championship charge.
The Setup
Nashville SC are breathing down the necks of the league leaders, boasting an unbeaten streak that pushes their Form rating off the charts. Sitting comfortably in second place with 27 points, their title race ambitions are entirely genuine heading into this May 24, 2026 fixture. Conversely, New York City FC arrive sitting fifth, bringing a tactical Balance that can disrupt any front line, even if their recent away results have been patchy. The soaring Stakes mean this matchup is guaranteed drama, especially with the sheer concentration of attacking Stars on display.
Key Battle
The midfield collision course centers entirely on Hany Mukhtar and Nicolás Fernández. Mukhtar is orchestrating the home side's ruthless attack, dictating the tempo and finishing with lethal precision in the final third. For the visitors to survive the onslaught, Fernández must cut off the central supply lines while launching quick counter-transitions to exploit any gaps left by the aggressive home setup.
Our Prediction
Expect the hosts to dominate possession and force the issue early. NYCFC will struggle to contain the sheer volume of chances created by a rampant home midfield. Our take is a decisive victory for Nashville SC, securing a 3-1 win to keep their title dreams very much alive.