Going into Monday night, last year’s runners up for the supporter’s shield found themselves asking lots of questions. New York City Football Club had the worst record in the 2020 MLS standings. What was wrong? Why could they not score goals? why were they on the wrong end of so many 0-1 defeats? They found some answers as they defeated the league leaders, Columbus Crew, avenging a loss from the first game of the season.
Going into the game Gyasi Zardes had scored more goals in MLS regular season play than the entire NYCFC team. He and fellow USMNT threat, Darlington Nadbe were held in check by James Sands and Alex Ring.
Indeed, it was the NYCFC defense and pressing style that won this game for New York City. In the 59th minute Heber intercepted an errant pass by Aboubacar in Columbus’s half and set up Ring for a sitter of a goal that would put City in the lead for good. Until that point NYCFC had had some chances but none found the back of the net. Columbus made it interesting down the stretch but City would hold on and keep the clean sheet. The goal and the win were much deserved and welcomed by fans who were still reeling from a horrible showing last Thursday against the NY Red Bulls. Monday night was more positive and the team hopes to use the game as a building block going forward.
Head coach Ronny Deila had this to say about the victory. “It is vital, of course, but like I said before the game – we can beat anybody and everybody. We have beaten Columbus and Toronto, the two best teams so far. We had a tough start of it because it has been stop and start, we have played away all the time. So now, we need to do something to turn it around. As I said, the performance today was amazing, really good. I think this will be momentum for us. Something we can build on for the Chicago game on Saturday. The dressing room was happy, tired of course…It is important to really enjoy the win and then get ourselves ready for Saturday.”
Questions still linger, however, and NYCFC do not look like the offensive powerhouse from a year ago. Until Maxi Moralez returns from injury the team must find a way to create in the final third, something that was lacking in both games this week. NYCFC did not have a shot on target for the entire second half of the Red Bull Game and the entire first half of their game against Columbus. Part of the reason for this has been a lack of creativity in the final third and the other could be attributed to the strangeness of the whole experience. Alex Ring had this to say about the environment of the team’s first “home” game. “It’s not home without our fans. It doesn’t matter where we play, playing without fans is hard. Fans push you to go harder. Every player in the league, around the world, misses performing in front of fans. It’s what makes the game special…I miss the fans. [They] give the game a bit more intensity, and they can lift you up when you need it…I just want to say I appreciate all the support we’ve been getting and hope to get back to normal soon.”
For NYCFC, normal means scoring goals and winning games. the team now looks to Saturday’s match up with the Chicago Fire to establish a bit more normalcy by winning two games in a row.
