NYRB at FCC
Playoffs for a record 14 years in a row, by far the top mark in US pro sports with NYRB struggling to get out of the first round today is a big lift, the Supporters Shield winning FCC. Many NY ties in this organization with NJ’s Hunter Freeman a past NY Cosmos player in the front office along with Massapequa native Larry Sunderland, the son of Brentwood’s Hassan Pinto is on the roster for FCC as is a son of Larry. One team that lead almost from the opening kick to another with a mid season coaching change looking to reverse their recent history of this team and finally get their first title. A player just left for Europe, and 2 others out with injury as the younger Bulls take the lead, this will be interesting as this team knows no quit. Acosta an MVP candidate for the home team with a number of NT players on the visitor’s roster. This game is being called by a nearby Kearny native and past NYRB & USMNT backstop, Tony Meola as the camera goes to another NJ guy and past RBNY player Matt Miazga. In a unique twist to this the first of a decade with Apple TV, the game is on 3 different places locally in two languages.
Before we get 2’ in, Reyes gets physical with another player, should make for an interesting game. Amaya and another get into it, Frankie a first round draft pick by FCC. Again Troy is being referred to as an interim coach, management was clear at the time, adamant about that not being the case. Luquhninas beats 2 only to pass it off to the home team. Duncan with a deep foul redeems himself a bit as he plays a deep ball out of play. A quick shot is over the net by NY. Corner for FCC Acosta taking it, looking for an Olympico or his player in front of the net minder, but it is floated and grabbed by Coronel. Acosta who slipped near midfield on the shot is still stepping heavy. Following a corner, Tolken runs down Acosta and draws a foul. Tolken called for a foul as he runs away simulating a dive. A near post run is thwarted by the onrushing Sean Nealis of Massapequa. A deep turnover by FCC gets a ball played in but defended, recovered and Tolken is fouled as Acosta is again appealing to the ref. Tolken into the area headed down not cleared then a foul on Manuel. Two in on a break and Barreal goes near post, 1-0 a 24’. What great ball movement, a few one touch passes and they are in on goal and the lead. Tolken down for a bit is now up. Barlow with the turnover and has a run gets it to Fernandez, he goes far to nobody, goal kick FCC. Amaya put to the ground again and is up livid as he was taken down from behind. Amaya even after a number of years is getting booed in Cincy. Acosta plays it forward as Tolken closes, Nealis with a sliding tackle sends it the other way. Miazga sends a player flying and is cautioned, not happy as it was his first foul, if it is bad enough the number foul it is makes no never mind. Long kick from Tolken goes across the field and out. Nealis plays it across the are to Nealis and it’s headed but goes nowhere for Tolken. Going the other way, sweeper keeper does not work out, the Brazilian with great foot skills, comes off his line, wins the tackle yet Acosta sends it back, into the back of the net. A poor header to the GK by Reyes, put this in motion, 2-0 36’ in. Tolken with a long shot that goes out for a corner. Amaya, not Tolken takes the corner it leads to another one as it deflects off a defender just wide of the goal. Nealis draws the ire of Badji and he knows he baited him, Badji sill heated. Maybe not a red, but at least a yellow, numerous hits on the way down a little push by the Hofstra grad with NYRB, then more, FCC dodged one here.
New York with more shots, has to get one and early, FCC won’t park the bus but NY must get one. The emotion at the end may fire up NY and have FCC hold back with the fast yellow to Miazga and the other caution at least dodged in the end.
Harper for Hernandez, Dylan in for Sean Nealis, Stroud relieves Yearwood, lots of subs that coach does not typically make. Harper the top goal getter in the past and Sean I am sure is out to not get tossed. Miazga down, an issue with his leg, was tangled with another player. NY holding the ball well in their offensive third then foul? Players down on both Barreal got NY back for one and got called, Duncan had taken Badji out with cleats, but no call. Holding the ball, moving it forward but not getting to goal NY must do a better job, not a few yard passes. One Red Bull passes up a shot, Stroud takes one as does Luqui off the rebound and back pass from Dylan. Acosta still carrying on with the ref. No movement off the ball as Duncan is stuck on the touchline, wins a foul, DFK by Tolken over the top FCC gets to it and control it Vasquez into the 6, Coronel gets it, then a foul as NY gets forward. A trio of players get the ball, not a soul moving off the ball for NY, the 4th has a player move and it is passed behind him. Manoel can’t quite get the shot off but wins a corner the sixth for NY. A steal and Barreal is well high of the net. Stroud and Duncan having words with Badj. Luqui with a run beats a few and it comes back to him and a side volley does not work. Tolken threads the needle to Manoel, he goes across the 6 or shoots, wins a corner. A FCC player is down, Badji. NY not really pressing, FCC string together passes and eat up the clock. Badji out at 72’. Long corner well beyond the 6 miss headed by FCC and Coronel grabs it up. Harper hacked. Tolken fouled and a yellow for the one who subbed in for Badji, Acosta again in the ref’s ear. 15’ to go NY needs to press the issue big time now, get another offensive player in, there is no aggregate, last ditch effort to win, go to pks? Manoel cautioned, first one for the away team. Barlow out for Carmona. Amaya partially blocks a ball in, Vasquez sends it goal ward, Amaya with the sliding stop. Over the top for Manoel and at 78’ a free kick similar to a corner coming. Harper unable to get to it as it rolls out for a goal kick. Carmona from a bad angle just beyond the area is blocked out for a throw. Amaya with too many touches as he went more forward, his angle on goal worsened. Nubo for Moreno at 82’. Luqi holds too long running past a few open players is dispossessed of the ball. Acosta and Nealis collide, Acosta stays down and NY goes forward, goal kick for FCC as he is still down. Pinto putting on a vest. Ngoma in for Duncan at 86’. Amaya to send one in NY fouls and it’s FCC ball as Reyes is hobbling. Reyes with a poor pass and Barreal has a brace, Reyes is the MVP, the clear Man of the Match for FCC. 3-0 at 90’. Amaya with a caution at 89:55. The foul just beyond the area with 5’ to play in extra time. From the top of the arc it’s out for a goal kick. Pinto for Acosta and Vasquez gives way to Santos. With three points Acosta adds to his MVP resume on the year. Santos fouls in the NY area to slow the game.
Each and every goal for FCC was off an error by NY, to win, you must punish each and every mistake by the opposition. NY does need to do more than just clean up their game, 16 shots, 5 on goal, others not taken that should have been. What is the answer for NY, press all game and hard, use subs if you must to keep the energy up, longer passes not just extended dribbles, shoot when you have even the slightest of windows, not looking for the perfect shot, not deferring. Did Edelman being out hurt the team?, the errors that lead to goals had nothing to do with his position, so I say, no. Lack of movement off the ball was not a good thing as what is the difference if one has the ball or the one 3 yards away, no imbalances created, no one on ones came about as the next defender is also ten feet away.