Recap: Surridge scores twice but NYCFC fight back to draw with Nashville

NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville SC started their match against New York City brightly, but couldn't hold onto a two-goal lead after Sam Surridge's first-half brace, splitting the points in a frustrating and controversial 2-2 draw.

The XI

Head coach BJ Callaghan gave Walker Zimmerman his first start in nearly two months after the club captain suffered a concussion against Charlotte FC. Callaghan also brought 19-year-old US youth international into the midfield, his first start in MLS since the second match of the season.

On the pitch

Sam Surridge continued his exceptional form. The English striker put the Coyotes ahead with a first-half brace, linking up with fellow Designated Player Hany Mukhtar in a gorgeous passage of play for the opener.

New York City FC responded quickly. Hannes Wolf pulled a goal back for the visitors less than 10 minutes into the second half after a quick exchange at the top of the box, rolling a low shot with his weaker right foot past Joe Willis.

It looked like Mukhtar had extended Nashville's lead midway through the second period. He followed up a rebound from Surridge that rattled the post, and it appeared initially that his shot had crossed the line before Matt Freese blocked it. However, no conclusive angle was available to overturn the call on the field, with referee Jon Freemon not even sent to the monitor to review.

With a single-goal late, Callaghan opted to hold onto the led, taking off a visibly unhappy Hany Mukhtar for Bryan Acosta, and bringing on Wyatt Meyer to set up in a back five. The move didn't pay off. A late corner was conceded sloppily, with the set piece allowed to bounce in the box before Wolf made it a brace, grabbing a point on the road for New York.

The big picture

At a macro level, things are going exceptionally well for Nashville this season. They're unbeaten in 10, matching their best-ever streak in the MLS era, and are firmly implanting themselves in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.

On a micro level, though, this match will haunt them as a massive missed opportunity. Nashville failed to carry any momentum into the second half, with New York looking by far the more dangerous and energetic team after the break. While the late substitutions from Callaghan were certainly more defensive, the real issue was the team-wide inability to match New York's energy.

It was a rare slip for Nashville this season, and a very uncharacteristic second half from a side that has developed more of a killer instinct under BJ Callaghan. While a frustrating end to a strong run of games, for now it seems like a blip on an otherwise strong campaign.

Up next

After nine matches in the month of May, Nashville finally get a break. They won't play next weekend, with the team getting a needed four days off. They'll return to action on Saturday with a road trip against the Chicago Fire, before yet another weekend off.

Stats

Possession: NSH 51% – 49% NYC
Passes completed: NSH 432 – 420 NYC
Shots: NSH 17 – 13 NYC
Shots on goal: NSH 5 – 4 NYC
Penalty kicks: NSH 0 – 0 NYC
Goals: NSH 2 – 2 NYC
Expected goals:
Fouls: NSH 9 – 68NYC
Yellow cards: NSH 1 – 3 NYC
Red cards: NSH 0 – 0 NYC
Announced attendance: 28,351