New York City Football Club’s 2023 MLS season kicks-off with a trip to Nashville SC on Saturday.
The Boys in Blue travel to Tennessee, looking to start the new campaign on a positive note, in a 4:30pm ET kick-off at GEODIS Park.
Here are the Keys to the Match, presented by Ford…
Bright Start
‘Start as you mean to go on.’
As Nick Cushing and co. ready themselves for another quest for silverware, the Boys in Blue would love nothing more than to ignite the new campaign with a bang.
Our previous seven seasons have yielded mixed results on opening day. Though City were unbeaten in four of our first five season openers, our last win arrived in 2018: a 2-0 triumph over Sporting Kansas City.
Though it can take time to brush off the rust and build up to peak performance, Head Coach Cushing – taking charge of his first full campaign – will be looking to end the winless opening day run with a positive result, eager to build momentum and improve the chances of a strong finish.
If NYCFC are to start brightly, they will have to overcome a tough start with two road games – against Nashville SC and Chicago Fire – as well as the visit of Inter Miami CF, but fresh off the back of a six-game preseason, and with renewed optimism and motivation, the team will do all they can to ensure they are ready.
Refreshed And Ready To Go
Who will line-up in NYCFC’s first starting XI of 2023…?
It’s been a busy off-season for the Boys in Blue with both departures and arrivals – long-serving stars replaced by exciting new blood, with a total of five new recruits: Matt Freese, Tony Alfaro, Braian Cufré, Mitja Ilenic and Gabe Segal.
City’s month-long, six-game preseason schedule has provided the team the opportunity to stake their claim for a starting spot in Nashville, and Cushing says he has been impressed with both the mindset and motivation of his players, especially those returning from injury, or looking to hit new heights with increased gametime and impact.
Though gametime has been rotated around the roster throughout preseason, with some players arriving later and valuable First Team experience handed to Academy and NYCFC II stars, Cushing’s most recent line-ups give some indication of his thoughts for Saturday’s trip.
Luis Barraza has started every game between the sticks, while senior leaders Thiago Martins, Maxime Chanot and Alfredo Morales, plus Tayvon Gray and Keaton Parks, have also been ever-presents in the XI.
Talles Magno has occupied the #9 role, and there has been plenty of gametime for Thiago Andrade, Kevin O’Toole, Justin Haak, Andres Jasson and Matías Pellegrini. Gabriel Pereira also marked his return with a friendly goal, and Cufré slotted straight for a start on his debut, giving Cushing plenty of options to choose from.
Meet In Music City
NYCFC vs. Nashville SC: a brief history.
Saturday’s clash marks just the third encounter between NYCFC and Nashville. Two sides met twice back in 2021, with the Tennessee outfit claiming four points before returning to the Western Conference.
Nashville are back in the Eastern division for 2023 however, following St. Louis City SC’s introduction to MLS, and the Boys in Blue will be looking to pick up our first win over Gary Smith’s side.
While our home fixture ended in a goalless draw, our last visit to Music City proved a feisty affair with two red cards, as Maxi Moralez and Dax McCarty were dismissed for either side. Nashville number 10 Hany Mukhtar bagged a brace in a 3-1 win for the hosts, and City will certainly be wary of the threat posed by the 2022 MLS Golden Boot winner, should he feature.
The clash also sees two British coaches go head-to-head in Cushing and former midfielder Smith, in another intriguing subplot. Will either mastermind an opening day win…?
NYCFC will kick off the 2023 MLS season on Feb. 25 when we visit Nashville SC at GEODIS Park (4:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).
