New York City FC made a dreary start to their 2023 MLS regular season, falling to Nashville SC 2-0 at GEODIS Park in the league’s very first game. Goals in each half, from Walker Zimmerman and Jacob Shaffelburg respectively, sunk NYCFC and helped the hosts cruise to a comfortable win.
Nick Cushing’s side looked disjointed and unfinished despite enjoying 62% of the possession on the day, with NYCFC’s group of promising young attackers—Talles Magno, Gabriel Pereira, and Thiago Andrade—producing just two shots on target. Luis Barraza made a few key saves to deny Nashville in the early stages of the match, but Walker Zimmerman opened the scoring via set piece in the 34th minute and the home side never looked back from there.