NYCFC vs Nashville SC preview: Can the Pigeons grab a second road win? | OneFootball

Entering Wednesday’s game, not many people thought New York City FC would lose to Houston Dynamo FC, let alone 3-0.  The Pigeons struggled to produce that clinical finish, but there were also a few defensive errors.  It was a poor loss, and losing at home does not help them as they head out on the road.

NYCFC will face Nashville SC, who has four more points compared to the Boys in Blue.  It will be a challenging task to beat the Music City side since the visitors have not won in Nashville.  In addition, the road woes tend to stay close to the Pigeons, for they tend to struggle away from home.  So far, they have just the one road win, and that was against Toronto FC.

So, can NYCFC grab a second road win?  Based on their history, it is hard to believe that they can.  At the same time, they have competed with some of the top sides in Major League Soccer.  The problem is the lack of consistency, which is what the team needs to be successful.

Ending May on a high would be great, but the Boys in Blue have a lot of work to do.  Here is a preview of NYCFC’s game against Nashville SC.

NYCFC vs Nashville SC preview

Date

NYCFC will face Nashville SC on Saturday, May 31.

Time

The match will start at 4:30 PM ET.

Location

The fixture will be played at Geodis Park in Nashville, TN.

How to watch

Fans can watch the game on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Weather

New York will be rainy again, but in Nashville, it will be a beautiful afternoon.  It will be around 82 degrees and sunny, without a chance of rain.  The humidity will be low at 38%, and there will be a slight breeze.

Injury report

Jacob Arroyave (leg), Malachi Jones (leg), and Kevin O’Toole (leg) are unavailable for the game against Nashville SC.

Players to watch

After giving up an own goal against Houston, Justin Haak is the NYCFC player to watch.  Can he rebound and play a stellar match in Nashville?  The dreadful mistake might drive him to play at his very best.  It also might haunt him and lead to more mistakes.  How he plays could influence the rest of the backline or midfield, depending on where Pascal Jansen plays him.

Hany Mukhtar is the player to watch on Nashville SC.  The midfielder has seven goals and four assists thus far, making him one of the more threatening players on the Music City team.  His ability to make key passes, especially his long balls, can cause problems for the Pigeons.  If he is shut down, then the Bronx side will give themselves a chance to compete for all three points.

With NYCFC back on the road, it is hard to believe the team will beat a solid Nashville SC team.  That is why they will lose 1-0 and will have to wait to grab their second road win of 2025.