Cold rain mixed with snow blew through Yankee Stadium before New York City Football Club’s home opener. The temperature was cold but the play was hot and spicy as NYCFC scored four goals to beat Montreal 4-1.
Before the match, NYCFC honored last year’s championship team with a presentation of the MLS Cup and the hanging of a champion banner in Yankee Stadium. The ceremony was overshadowed by the weather for the most part, but spirits were high in the stands as the players took the field.
It did not take NYCFC long to capitalize scoring just seven minutes in as Talles Magno headed the ball over to an on rushing Alexander Callens to slot home on a one touch volley. They would add to their total again thirteen minutes later when Santiago Rodriguez would intercept a ball just outside the box and then chip a shot over a helpless Sebastian Breza who coupld only stand and watch the ball fly over his head and into the back of the net.
Montreal came out swinging after halftime however and looked dangerous overloading the right flank. An impressive run by Djordje Mihailovic ended with him crossing the ball past the NYC goal to an onrushing Zachary Brault-Guillard, who only hat to tap the ball into the back of the net. In fact, for the first seven or so minutes of the second half it seemed Montreal’s halftime substitutions would be a real difference maker.
That is until the sixty-foruth minute when Andres Jasson served up a beautiful cross to a streaking Magno. The young Brazilian slammed the ball into the back of the net with his head and left two Montreal defenders on the ground wondering what had just happened. The added goal allowed Ronny Deila to bring on some substitutes and give some players a rest in advance of the Tuesday CONCACAF Championship game in Guatemala.
Thiago came on as a sub but made his presence felt as his good work in the high press allowed him to poke the ball away from a Montreal defender and score the fourth and final goal of the game.
The game statistically seemed more even than it was. Both teams had thirteen shots and two big chances created with NYCFC enjoying two percent more possession, but the result never really seemed in doubt from the start. NYCFC seemed dominant at times and showed some real flashes of brilliance. The top four are really starting to gel and play off each other. While Taty Castellanos did not score, his team mates stepped up bigtime.
Deila talked after the game about the importance of having secondary scorers.
“We expect goals of course from Thiago, Talles (Magno), Santi (Rodriguez), and Heber as well. They are good finishers, so as I said we have very good strength on the team. We can score from different positions, we scored four today without Taty (Castellanos) and Maxi (Moralez) scoring and we already know what they can do so that’s a strength of the team.”
Mar 12, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC forward Talles Magno (43) controls the ball against CF Montreal midfielder Rida Zouhir (18) during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Magno had himself a day today and was named the Man of the Match. With a goal and an assist on the scoresheet, he showed why it is so important that he develop this year and take the next step. Rodriguez was brilliant as well before he tired in the second half and Thiago came of the bench to make an impact.
If these players can keep stepping up, it will not allow teams to just key in on Maxi Morales and Castellanos. It gives NYCFC a complexity in the attack that no team will want to face. Next up, NYCFC travel to Guatemala on Tuesday for the second leg of their CONCACAF match up with Comunicaciones FC. Then, NYCFC return home to face Philadelphia on Saturday.
