Huge Win For NYCFC To Go Into The Break

Photo courtesy of Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

 

Article by Scott Churchson IG: @schurchson

Columnist and Host Spanglish World Networks, Spanglish Sports World

 

New York. - After the past two MLS weekends, if there was a team that needed a win to go into the break it was NYCFC. The last two games saw disappointment for the gents in blue as they lost the lead in the second half not once but both games, turning a possible 6 points down to a measly single point. Against LA FC not only got that much needed win, but this time with a comeback win of their own, scoring a tiebreaker late while in fact being a man down.

 

The first half failed to show many scoring chances but Corey Baird of LAFC got the scoring going at the 56th minute by taking a solid pass from Mark-Anthony Kaye for an easy score and causing the cynic in me to start to assume they were going to limp into the break with a two losses and a tie in the last three. However 14 minutes later NYCFC returned the favor with a pass & shot from Anton Tinnerholm to Medina for the equalizer. The play was gorgeous from both gents; Tinnerholm picking up the loose ball from the right side LA's penalty area to an open Medina for his team leading 5th goal of the season. Anton Tinnerholm is quietly having himself a good season on both sides of the ball; as not only is he one of the stronger defenders in the league but currently sits at 3 assists in 5 games compared to 4 all last season.

4 minutes into being a man down due to midfielder Nicolas Acevedo getting his second yellow card Ismael Tajouri-Shradi found himself breaking the tie in the 90th minute; taking a header from Alfredo Morales at the far post and giving NYC the lead for the first time in the game. However LAFC still made it interesting; as 4 minutes into the added 7 minutes Goalie/Captain Sean Johnson had to make a quick save from a bad angle off Danny Musovski to preserve the lead and secure the much needed win.

Couple added notes:

NYCFC currently sits at 13 goals and a +6 goal differential, both best in the East.

Jesus Medina's 5 goals this season is good for best in the East. Valentin Castellanos currently sits tied for second with 4 and sits at 3rd in the east with 12 shots on target.

This match also meant the premiere of Brazilian import Talles Magno; the 18 year old Young Designated Player who saw his first action for the team in the 67th minute as part of a 4 player substitution pattern.

 

Next up after the break the gents in blue return “home” to Red Bull Arena to take on New England on June 19. Home gets put in quotes because being at Yankee Stadium the lose out when the Yankees are home, much to the annoyance of fans that have to traverse to New Jersey. I plan to do an article on this in the near future, as NYCFC's home turf situation is bizarre to say the least.