New York City Football Club moved within a point of clinching a playoff spot on Saturday night defeating the Montreal Impact 3-1. For a club depleted because of injury, COVID tests, and yellow card accumulation it was about as good of a result as could be hoped for.
NYCFC was already hampered in their roster coming into the game but the club learned that one of their players received a positive COVID test on Saturday morning and could not be in consideration. Because the rest of the team had tested negative twice the game was played as scheduled but with out the player in question.
With Maxi Moralez back in the line up but without a true striker on their roster the team started Jesus Medina at the number nine. The move seemed to pay off in the first half with both NYCFC and Montreal playing fairly evenly. NYCFC had more possession and more shots on target but at times Montreal seemed the more dangerous side.
Persistence paid off for NYCFC in the 68th minute as a solid counter attack ended up with Medina slotting a goal home and giving his club the lead.
Photo: New York City FC
Montreal almost immediately made changes subbing on Maxmiliano Urruti for Rudy Camacho. Urruti had a chance soon after to level the score but hit his strike right to Sean Johnson.
With Montreal chasing the equalize they were left open to the counter and some fine combination play by Anton Tinnerholm and Maxi Moralez created the second goal of the evening with Moralez scoring from a few yards out in the 83rd minute. NYC substitute, Tony Rocha, who had come on to defensively maintain the lead NYC had, added another goal in the 88th minute to put the nail in the coffin for Montreal.
Romell Quioto would gain one back for the Impact just a minute later exposing Johnson in goal but it was too little and too late for the visiting club.
Ronny Deila was delighted with the way his club overcame the roster challenges and the events of the last few weeks. “It says a lot of the group. It was an amazing performance. Really, really good. We were solid from the first minute to the last minute. The first goal was important. We get the first by a great attack and we just kept on pressing and running and playing and we got [goals]two and three. That was a really, really good performance. Just very impressed by the boys.”
The team now need just one point in the remaining three games to clinch a playoff spot. They can even overtake Orlando for the fourth home playoff spot with some work. NYCFC will get a chance to prove the metal again on Wednesday against a Toronto squad who were drubbed by the Union on Saturday night. If they can get a result there then the club, coach and fans will be all smiles.
New York City FC
Montreal Impact
