NYCFC Drops Another One, Despite Doing Nearly Everything Right

Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

 

Article by Scott Churchson IG: @schurchson

Columnist and Host Spanglish World Networks, Spanglish Sports World

 

New York. - So I just finished the press conference for the Gents In Blue and the single word I would use it is Bewilderment. Coach Ronny Delia and Anton Tinnerholm handled a press conference that should by all accounts should have been a celebratory one. New York out shoots Columbus on the road by a whopping 21-6. 7-3 on goal, 7-1 corner kicks and over 60% possession. Yet in the end the only number that matters is their 2-1 loss to Columbus. This was one of those games where NY should have scored 4, 5 goals or more; a theme I've mentioned for more than one game this season. But credit where it's due, Columbus Goalkeeper Eloy Room and his defenders all had a tremendous game tonight. Fits aplenty for all Gents In Blue. However I really thought tonight might been the night where Taty Castellanos might FINALLY get that goal he's been due for. Since scoring four goals in his first four games he's been largely silent; raising questions as to whether the weight of that contract might be part of the reason he's been pressing. Tonight Taty had a full three brilliant opportunities to end that streak; including a point blank header with half the goal available; only to knock it wide. As Heber is recovering from his ACL injury one has to wonder if and how much playing time that might take from Taty if he can't find the back of the net.

 

One HUGE reason for the loss was once again came from the foot of Lucas Zelarayan. What did Ronny say in the pre-game press conference on Thursday? Don't let Zelarayan kick a free kick towards the goal; he burned you that way last match. What did the fans say leading up that NYCFC shouldn't do? Don't let Zelarayan kick a free kick towards the goal; he burned you that way last match. So....want to guess HOW NYCFC gave up the game losing goal? Yep. This came 15 minutes after a game tying goal by Jesus Medina with a left footed strike from 18 yards out for his team leading 6th goal of the season.

 

So what now for the team? They're back “home” on Wednesday at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey against Montreal. They'll be looking to avenge their 2-1 loss 10 days again in what can only be described as one of the worst games they've played all season. With this latest loss they're hanging onto 7th place in the east at 5-5-2 with the Red Bulls only trailing them in goal differential. Two steps forward, two steps back defines this team. Montreal sits in 4th in the East. What came off odd to many, Montreal scored 5 goals tonight against Cincinnati after only scoring 14 in 12 games so at this point I'm not quite sure what kind of offensive output to expect from this team on Wednesday. But one thing is certain; this is 100% must win if NYCFC wants to stay in the playoff hunt. We'll see