NYCFC 2-1 Toronto
Lori Lindsey on the pregame who I was unable to catch up with last night at the NWSL Challenge Cup as you see a pair of teams at opposite ends at this early season, as the pointless NYCFC are home facing the 2 win TFC, their organization headed by William Manning of Massapequa.
The counterpart of Lori has just stated Sean Johnson is in goal, he is NOT. Sands with a key block at 2’ in the area. Freese caught a bit out of position last time out is tested, off the line a bit. Insigne from inside the center circle had Freese out of the 6. Given he was beat with a very well taken shot last week, he should be saying home. O’Toole all but got his St. Paddy’s day gift in the area with a sliding effort snuffed by the sliding defender. This was very similar to the first goal conceded by NYCFC last time out. His name came up his week on a call with the North American Irish Soccer Coaches as being a player they would like to see on the Ireland MNT. Freese now beyond the arc? TFC GK a good ten yards out of his area and plays a square ball out of touch. Keaton with a hard foul well in his offensive third, not good. Marshall-Rutty at just 19 beats the GK again out of position as being so far up field as in the 6 but too far up at the edge of it, an angle took him right out of play. His first goal netted in the house that Ruth built at 27’. How it was NOT drilled down upon the GK to stay in proper position is beyond me, use him as another defender, maybe take a pass on that this week to make the point of last week, a 1-0 lead to 2-1 loss, both on goals that were preventable. The other, similar to the O’Toole attempt, down the line into the 6, only NYCFC had a pair of defenders on that ball. Back come NYCFC, lead ball from the center circle is played into the area another tackle with the FC player remaining down, Kevin Long out of Birmingham of the English Championship League is now up. Again the GK, well beyond his area and getting the ball at his feet twice from it being at half field and then losing it in their own defensive third. Along with expected goals, another thing I do not understand is now being shown. At kickoff it was 55% NY wins, now just 32.7, the tie is about the same at 25? Given the disparity in the records, do they give the smaller dimensions of Yankee Stadium that much of an edge, are TFC unable since their last game to re paint a field to match that of this field, at kickoff TFC had a 20.9% chance of winning? Marshal-Rutty, now mentioned as the crown jewel of the FC system, expected to go for 8 figures, with this being his first goal of the season at 19, ok then. Though he just now has equaled the offensive output of NYCFC to this point. Rosted, Rostered for the first time on the year called for a foul at 12’. Sands calls for the ball, carries over the half, a long ball in this must be a thing NYCFC scouted, let’s see their approach on a corner now. Wolf to take it, he goes short then into the area played to Keaton and way too much on the ball it’s a goal kick. Last week, our video personality , Catherine Lapey spoke with him in his native German, find that on the Facebook page of Soccer Long Island Magazine 2, and @soccerlimag. From a muffed set piece to a pair of corners in no time as the first by FC is headed out by NY, now activity in the 6 has caught the eye of a few players, nobody did anything of course. Headed out partially, recovered by TFC a curving ball finds its way to the feet of Flores, as past US International player, Lindsey states, his leaning back on the ball, caused it to sail high. NY with 70% of possession at 17’, another useless stat. The ball is lost, then recovered at midfield back to the very much forward GK. NY then goes forward as a long lead ball to goal getting Santi, a through ball to him and his go n goal is just wide, receives It well, gets a bit forward then it’s under him and that effects the shot. Flores with a deep give away gets to Wolf he lays it off to Bakrar, it may have been a bit behind him, go for power over placement here, a striker must do better with that chance in the area. The goal scorer has a foul called deep in his defensive third, Santi over the ball at 25 maybe 10 yards into the field, O’Toole, stopped by Gavran. Coming out played into the field beyond the area, a bit forward then saved, great play on both sides, the corner is in the air a bit and out for a corner. The replay shows that the shot was in fact on frame, well to the far post. Wolf suffers a hard tackle, studs up but it Is stated as he got the ball, It’s play on? Longstaff with a go on goal off a header, going beyond him, there was an open player just beyond him, was it called for? Yellow to Long of Ireland at 23’ as his leg gets Santi, over the ball from less than 30 yards as Santi buries it to the upper 90, 1-2 at 24’. When the opponent makes an error, a deep foul, they must be punished, the NYCFC hopeful are loud in support of it. A camera in the goal shows the spin on the ball deceiving for the net minder. NO back line players opening up for the ball so it goes back to the GK, being feet from the ball not going wide the other just a few yards neither getting further away to create space. Santi fouled after a steal and the DFK is from just beyond the area, caution to Bernardeschi at 28’. Fernandez & Santi over the ball the hot foot is Santi, short to Santi who in a crowd tried to get a ball on the ground through the crowd, now to the NY area for the GK, who with pressure barely lays it off, O’Neil with a foul near mid field. NY gives away a good 20 yards laying it back? Sands and Longstaff are up for a ball and both down, Sands was held down by the hands on his shoulders, both are up. NY has the kick from the center circle as Longstaff is out due to injury as is Sands, both are now back on. Freese fed as he was out of his area, his clear is blocked by Prince, what is the thinking of staff and player? The dimensions of the field are mentioned, they are not a secret. Again 20+ yards given away to the GK by NY. Into the area go NY lost recovered and again then lost by Wolf, long ball with some pace to their GK, he sends it well out of touch the throw is lost by NY and recovered just inside their half and again played back a good 10 yards. Right back into their half of the field, over the top and lost as Santi does not make the overlap of Bakra. A few one time balls springs Bakara, side netting off for a corner by Santi. Keaton run through by Longstaff DFK from 30. Chest trapped to the FC GK, Longstaff losses it GK again to many touches by defender did not challenge I have no idea. NY with numbers for Fernandez, a toe poke takes it away and Keaton with a foul. Santi down the wing then inside it finds it and his shot well saved one handed. Sands can’t reel it in, it’s off TFC for a throw. From the bottom of the circle NY has a kick now with 66% of possession but the sole goal to show for it. Over the top to Bakara, lost off the chest of his mark, NY recovers and are fouled. 41’ it will be played into the area by Santi and a white shirts sends it out, Illlenic sends it in and over the end line. Defensive error and Risa is getting cautioned as he pushed the player from behind as the last man and fouling just beyond the area, that ball was good for the GK to take, might this have been another lack of communication? From the top of the arc but well right of it this should be on goal. Going Bernardeschi upper right near post it is too high. NY with a throw a 44’ well in the half of TFC. Corner for NY with about a minute left, but there il be a few minutes of injury time, with the Sands and Longstaff injuries. It bounces around the area not a player to send it home as it is off the leg of a defender, Martins sends it goal ward, off a defender for another corner. This one sails high Bakrar has it glance off his head for a goal kick. A trio of minutes more to go here from the Bronx. Another corner won by Santi1’ into exra time. Headed up to him, Bakrar sends it past the near post. Santi leads Wolf who feeds the trailing Parks , from in the area it is right at the feet of the GK as he is thwarted. An exchange of words with Santi and Insigne has lots of talk, Cushing pushed by a player, that is a major no. Let’s see how that player fares in the 2nd half with the NYCFC players on the first few possessions by him.
Franklin in for Longstaff. Just 8 seconds in and NYCFC trips a player at midfield, that was not the payback, different player and nothing to the foul in comparison. High ball lost by NY and Bernardeschi takes a weak distant shot, it goes well wide. Freese with a poor distribution as a player at the top of the 6 causes him to play it out. Freese with a long ball, reeled in by his counterpart, he sends it into the chest of NYCFC. Santi for O’Toole and it goes back a good 40 yards, Santi getting forward fouled as the player who pushed coach tries to grasp at him. DFK again from in close, over the top for a short kick for Risa but It would have been high had the GK not grabbed it. Sands with a great stop, no a foot chase and NYCFC wants the PK but Bakrar is off side as he is grabbed down in the area. A throw gives up 30 yards to the GK, he gets it forward, back to him and another 20 yards and TFC builds some pressure on the ball in the NY defensive third. That movement gets one open for Bakrar, saved at 10 yards, Keaton gets it in again Bakrar with another chance and it is away from danger for TFC. Thompson on for Prince who has been in on a few hard fouls. The camera misses NY getting forward as Ilenic can’t get the ball into a dangerous area. Again, the camera is slow to the action, following the sub, how many cameras do you have here, Apple? As Gavran is pressured in the 6 as the goal kick is played back to him. NY gets it deep in the FC end, DFK jus atop the area as Fernandez is put to the ground, very dangerous territory here with a few sharp shooters on NYCFC. Fernandez, Wolf & Santi on the ball, my money is on Tati, Wolf is right next to him. All is set over the ball and the goal by Santi. TFC loses it again and Fernandez tries to paint the upper corner from the top of the area well high and wide. The tide has turned in this game even more so in this 2nd stanza. Bakrar, the target of a long ball not near is the intended target. Then a foul by Keaton as TFC has the ball at midfield. Keaton grabs a guy and Keaton is cautioned, that as fast and foolish there is a good half hour to go. A mishit by TFC has Fernandez to Santi and it is blocked at the top of the area. Bakrar gets it and it’s a throw, deep in FC territory. 20 yards then 15 lost as NY plays it back, now in their half. Fernandez with a ball in the air, a bang bang play headed home by O’Toole off he cultured left foot of Fernandez, 2-1 NY at 65’. The ball was at the top of the TFC area, played out, then recovered at the half, played and in again. Again the cam in the net shows his shot. off the underneath of the bar and in. Keaton gets Franklin high on the shin and he is limping, this may go to VAR, as noted by the announcer, it could only be as a straight red, not for a 2nd caution, it fits, studs up and got him hard on a late play n h ball, looks much worse in slo mo, see ya’ Keaton, no 2nd yellow issued. Now it gets interesting. Perea for Fernandez to add to the defensive play at midfield. A hard foul on NY who have possession going forward, the newly installed Perea is back on his feet, no call. TFC fouls just over the half by Flores who also pushed coach, how he has no faced any retribution is beyond me. O’Neil of TFC is given a card for dissent. Santi has it taken away at the top of the area. A man up but unable to find an open man, TFC & NYCFC trade possession in small spaces near midfield. Spicer, the #1 MLS Super Draft selection is in for Rosted of TFC as well as. A corner is played short to an open player but NY takes it and then lose it at the center circle. Just wide as Ilinic barely partially blocks a bit of a Bernardeschi effort, now a corner. Played well across the area, the ball went in and out of play in the air. A ball in headed out by Martins and he was rocked staying down despite the offside call. Way back by TFC to Garvan. No pressure in the TFC half and they are again offside. A ball to the 6, the TFC player slides into the legs taking out Freese, he slid at the end, off the ball of Spicer, changing his approach to get the GK. Akiinola clearly with a bad foul, where is the VAR in this. It is being said he lost his footing, explain then the change in direction, no grass comes up, nothing in his cleats, even the goal cam shows this. NYC subs again Gray with red hair, for Wolf then off to Dem Reggea Boyz and the USA this coming week. Marshall-Rutty makes no attempt at the ball and Bakrar is down holding his face, the opponent, his arm, injured as he put it into the skull of the NYCFC player. Then a throw for TFC? 5’ to go but should be an equal or more in injury time. Spicer in the area, his heavy touch taken away by NY at the edge of the area. Last man, O’Toole struggling with the ball is fouled now to Bakrar, don’t do that, beat him and 1 v 1 on goal. FC now on goal, a high ball into the arms of the GK. The punt goes out as it is shielded by Garvan, he puts it into play, rolling and costs more time to TFC. Bernardeschi with a ball in the area misses a side full volley and a hard foul on O’Toole upfield. NY kills more time with their last sub, sends Bakrar out for Haak as another homegrown is on the field for the home team. Stoppage time of 11’ coming. NY still has 59% of the ball over the first 91+’. Freese steps up just beyond the 6, into Gray and makes the stop, he will, I’m sure eat up more than his allowed 5 seconds. Haak with the professional foul as he grabs and holds a jersey to delay the forward progress with numbers in favor of TFC. Sands gets in a strong tackle but it is ruled a throw in as it goes sailing out of play. Sands with a hard foul, cautioned, not mentioned at first, and more time passes still not even 5’ into stoppage time. Freese off the restart and lead ball to Kerr goes to ground and smothers the ball. His punt away not played by the defense and goes to the GK, again seeks Kerr but out to the half and Flores. NY decides to clear the ball similar to icing yet advantage is called and Insigne is carded for dissent. You give advantage, team gives it away then they get the kick? From the half of the NY GK as another is booked, looks like Vegas with 9 bookings and 1 ejection. Spicer goes in but has the ball taken away by Freese with just under 3’ to go. From 25 yards TFC does get it to the area, stolen and NY has a run lead by Santi who finds Sands, he crosses to Ilenic, now this is a corner and 3 are down, a TFC player yells out holding his ankle. It is truly end to end now. Thompson and Risa clash heads, both are up as the crowd reaches a new crescendo in anticiapation of the win, taking some of the appreciable heat on HC Cushing off for this week at least.. NY with a throw beyond the 11’ mark. Game over.