Mohammed Sofo and Emil Forsberg scored in the first half as the New York Red Bulls enjoyed a successful home opener with a 2-0 victory over Nashville SC Saturday night in Harrison, N.J.
After honoring last season’s team for winning the second Eastern Conference title in team history, the Red Bulls (1-1-0, 3 points) withstood the absence of Lewis Morgan thanks to Sofo and Forsberg’s opportunistic goals in the opening 30 minutes.
Morgan, who scored 13 goals and won the MLS Comeback Player of the Year award, was injured during practice earlier this week. The Red Bulls lost Cameron Harper to a knee injury during Saturday’s match.
Sofo replaced Morgan and the 20-year-old netted his first career MLS goal in his second career game on a rebound in the seventh minute.
Following a misplay by Nashville defender Jack Maher in the middle of the box, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting saw his shot clang off the crossbar. The rebound popped out to Sofo, who used his right foot to put the rebound into the middle of the net past goalkeeper Joe Willis.
Forsberg scored in the 30th minute with a nifty move after his shot was inadvertently blocked by Sofo seconds earlier.
Omar Valencia gained possession along the lower right side of the field and dished to Forsberg. Forsberg made a stutter step against Nashville defender Andy Najar and hooked a right-footed shot that easily found the top left corner of the net.
Nashville had a goal by Ahmed Qasem disallowed in the 64th minute when officials ruled he was offside. Nashville’s first shot was a header by Walker Zimmerman towards the end of first-half stoppage time and the visitors did get another shot on target until the 86th when Sam Surridge’s shot was easily stopped.
New York goalkeeper Carlos Coronel made two saves. Willis stopped three shots.
Nashville (0-1-1, 1 point) was blanked for the second straight week and did little while holding possession for 54.4 percent of the contest. Nashville had 12 shots but six were blocked and four other attempts missed the net.
–Field Level Media
