Red Bulls blank Nashville SC, extend strong home start
Brazilian forward Fabioscored his first MLS goal, Kyle Duncan added his first of the season and the New York Red Bulls continued their excellent home form with a 2-0 victory over Nashville SC on Friday in Harrison, N.J.
Teenage attacker Caden Clark added his first MLS assist for the Red Bulls (4-4-0, 12 points), who have won four in a row at Red Bull Arena after taking a season-opening home loss to Sporting Kansas City.
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After previously earning three draws after trailing by two goals, Nashville (2-1-5, 11 points) succumbed one match after Orlando City also fell to its first loss of the season at Red Bull Arena.
The visitors were clearly second-best Friday, trailing 13-8 in shots overall and 6-1 in efforts on target.
New York moved above Nashville into a tie with Orlando City for third in the Eastern Conference with the victory. Orlando and most of the rest of the league play on Saturday.
Fabio's inaugural MLS goal came only eight days after his loan from Oeste FC was officially extended through the remainder of the MLS season.
Despite not scoring until Friday, he had proven a key piece of New York's attack with his holdup play, contributing four assists.
His first goal, in the 37th minute, was worth waiting for.
Sean Nealis sent a free kick from his own half into the left side of the 18-yard-box. New York's Patryk Klimala outmuscled Walker Zimmerman to reach it first, and he flicked a pass back toward Fabio.
The striker struck a thunderous half-volley with his first touch that left Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis little chance as it nestled inside the right post.
Duncan's goal was equally pleasing to the eye when it came 11 minutes after halftime.
Clark trapped a throw-in on the left side of midfield and quickly spotted Duncan on the right.
With space in front of him, Duncan surged forward, cut back across defender Dax McCarty, and then unleashed a low, 25-yard strike that dipped between the diving Willis and the left post.
