It was an odd setting for a home game for New York City Football Club, but LA was just the place for the team to dominate the second leg of the first round of CONCACAF Champions League and send Santos de Guapiles packing. It was a mismatch from the start with NYCFC enjoying above sixty percent of possession and scoring four goals in the process of a game that probably could have been more lopsided
NYCFC will move on now to play Comunicaciones FC, from Guatemala, who won their game in Colorado on a bizarre set of penalties. It is a favorable match up for the quarterfinals and one that should see New York moving on, barring any unexpected upset.
In a game of many highlights one player that shone for NYCFC was their young DP, Talles Magno. He scored a brace on the night and probably should have had more that just two goals to his credit. Ronny Deila said after the game that his had challenged Magno to be more assertive and create more chances and was pleased with how he responded.
“He’s a talented boy, everyone knows that. It always takes some time to get going and to adapt to a new team and a new style of play. I think he’s ready now to be really important to the team this season. I think him and Thiago were both really good today. They start to understand the way we want to play. Today he had five chances and scored on two, he also had two big chances in Costa Rica. So, he just has to keep working on his finishing and getting into position and we are going to have a top player.”Magno was not the only star on the team, however. Alfredo Morales, freshly back after a bout with COVID, got the team started on the scoresheet in the thirty second minute slotting home a header assisted by Maxi Moralez. It was the first goal for the midfielder since joining the club last year and Morales added to that goal with a very good performance on the pitch overall.
Next up it was another unlikely goal-scorer as center back, Maxim Chanot would tally up after a deflection off a defender who was dealing with Valentin Castellanos’s tricky rabona attempt from the top of the box. The Pigeons would go into half time with a safe 2- lead and an ability to rest some players for the MLS season opener this Sunday against LA Galaxy.
The second half was the Magno show as the young attacker sliced up the Costa Rican side’s defensive set up and continually found himself in dangerous positions. His countryman, Thiago Andrade, also had a very good half and with just ten minutes to go in regulation, Thiago used his pace to speed by a Santos defender and find Magno in front of the net. Magno then used his left foot to slot the ball cleanly home.
Magno would double his goals just six minutes later on a break away in the box. Instead of passing to an open Castellanos, Magno elected for the shot himself and found good results, beating both a Santos defender and the keeper in the process. This was the first game since winning MLS cup that Castellanos did not get on the score sheet, but it was not for lack of effort. Last year’s Golden Boot winner consistently looked dangerous throughout the game and rattled a free kick off the post in the second half. If NYCFC can get Magno and Castellanos scoring in bunches then this first part of the season is going to be very scary for opposing teams.
After the game, Deila seemed pleased with the team’s over all performance and did not seem daunted by the task of playing so many extra games in CCL.
“We love to play games so that is no problem. Last year, we played a game every three days and we are used to it. Now, it’s actually boring to train so much so we just keep on playing, we want to win. If we get through in the Champions League, we will have a lot of games this spring and there is nothing better than that. We will prepare, we are fit, we have a good consistency in the team, in the staff and everything. We want to continue where we ended. Two good games now against Santos and another tough fun game on Sunday.”
Maxim Chanot would add after the game that ” Having two games under our belt will help us more than hurt us on Sunday.”
Now NYCFC opens their MLS campaign on Sunday and will move on to the quarter finals of CCL the following weeks. Plans are being laid for travel to Guatemala and to set up a suitable home venue again (as Yankee Stadium is not deemed CONCACAF worthy). One thing is certain. This team believes and they showed what the can do on Wednesday.
columns]
