In August, pundits were talking about New York City Football Club as one of the most dangerous teams in Major League Soccer, but their form has fallen off of late, leaving people scratching their heads and wondering what happened. On Saturday night, with the playoffs in sight, the dangerous team showed up and came up big in a must win game for both sides. NYCFC vanquished DC United 6-0 in a game that honestly could have been more lopsided.
Thiago Andrade scored the second-fastest goal in team history with a thirty-six second strike and the team never looked back. Valentine Castellanos would capitalize a few minutes later off a Bill Hamid error and then again on a one on one with Hamid. By just eleven minutes in, NYCFC led 3-0. Maxi Morales would clean up the after save off a bicycle strike by Castellanos in the 44th minute to make sure there was no doubt about the outcome.
Oct 23, 2021; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC forward Thiago Andrade (8) celebrates after scoring a goal against D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid (24) during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
In the second half Alexander Callen and Jesus Medina would add to the tally and give NYCFC its first 6-0 game in club history. Heber came in for the last 30 minutes and was very dangerous, but Hamid stopped the Brazilian’s strikes to keep him off the scoresheet. It seems odd to say it in a game this lopsided, but if it was not for Hamid, the game could have been much worse.
This was the perfect game at the perfect time for New York City. They have been struggling with confidence lately and with scoring goals. This game gave them plenty of both and vaulted them from eighth to fifth in the playoff hunt. It also increased their goal differential over other teams in the Eastern Conference. That very well could come in to play in the final days of the season to determine a tie breaker for who gets into the playoffs.
After the game, Ronny Deila was pleased but practical. “They are human beings, so they know exactly what kind of situation we are in. We have to enjoy the moment now. It was a great match with good individual performances and as a team. We scored a lot of goals, and we have to take that confidence with us to the game in Chicago, but everybody knows that it’s all even now, so we have to just keep on performing, and if we do that we know what we are capable of doing as you can see today.”
Oct 23, 2021; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder Valentin Castellanos (11) celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal of the game against D.C. United during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Castellanos summed up the day focusing on his performance and the team going forward. “I am very happy for the goals; the most important thing is the team. We are playing well and luckily, I am scoring and helping the team a lot. It’s very positive because it gives you a lot of confidence and on the personal level, I’m trying to get the most goals as possible to finish the season and then to focus on the playoffs.”
The focus is very much on the playoffs as only three games remain in the regular season and several teams are vying for the final spots. If NYCFC can keep up this form, they could possibly even reach as high as fourth and earn a home game in the playoffs. That situation that would benefit the team as they seemingly have turned Yankee Stadium into a fortress. They face Chicago on Wednesday night, again at home and Will look to repeat Saturday’s dominant performance.
Ronny Deila summed it up nicely post game.
“Very happy. It’s in our DNA, we want to attack all the time and we want to give the fans entertainment and something to remember. As we said before, this is the first time in Club history we win by six goals so that’s something we have to take with us. At our best we can do big things and at our lowest level it’s too low. Today we showed our best side.”
They did indeed show their best side and it is a side no team in MLS wants to be on the receiving end of. Now the question is can they do it again on Wednesday?
