It has been a tough week for New York City Football club. The team has been searching their souls and answering questions about their toughness after their lopsided loss to New York Red Bulls last weekend. After starting the year red hot, NYCFC have cooled a bit and must find a way to atone for the sins committed on the road in Portland and Harrison, NJ. For Patrick Vieira and his men, the road to redemption runs right through LAFC.
It is hard to point to many fingers at a team that has only lost two games in the season so far, but when NYCFC lose they do so in dramatic style. In their two losses they have given up seven goal and scored none. They played against teams with a high press and a potent offense and those teams exposed NYCFC’s chinks in their armor. Another test lies in wait against a strong LAFC side lead by a smart coach who will plan for NYCFC’s style of play.
Carlos Vela, Deigo Rossi, and Benny Feilhaber combine for a impressive attack. Marco Urena is injured but recent transfer, Lee Nguyen, offers a new level of creativity in the midfield. Bob Bradly will have his team press high and hope for NYCFC to make the kind of sloppy mistakes they did against Red Bulls. If that happens it will be a long day for NYCFC. LAFC have a strong back line anchored by Laurent Ciman and Walker Zimmerman. NYCFC will have to be creative and ruthless in attack to break though.
The battle may be won or lost in the central midfield. Alexander Ring, Maxi Moralez and Yangel Herrera will have their hand full with Feilhaber and Mark Anthony Kaye. NYCFC must win the aerial battles and control possession against a side that will be looking very much to do the same. It is no easy task and especially on the road. LAFC have not lost at Banc of California stadium and NYCFC will have a tough task against them.
The will be goals… lots of goals. The NYCFC and LAFC are the two highest scoring teams in the league with 19 and 20 goals each. Both teams have top level front lines and will be looking to capitalize from the start. David Villa will likely start up front with Jo Inge Berget and Jesus Medina. Ismael Tajouri-Shradi was given a clean bill of health and will be looking to rekindle his impressive scoring streak. He will most likely come off the bench and play the super sub role if NYCFC find themselves down late. His return to the team comes at a crucial time. NYCFC’s two losses have been without Shradi on the team and his pace and creativity will test LAFC and take the pressure off of Villa. For LAFC Vela and Rossi are possibly the most dangerous tandem in MLS. They will constantly be making runs looking for that perfect feed from Feilhaber and testing Maxime Chanot and Alexander Callens’ resolve.
Has NYCFC got the grit to win against a tough west coast team on the road? For Vieria the answer lies in the effort. “I think when you play against a team like LAFC you are really really excited first of all and you are going to play against a good team with some really good individual players but I think it’s going to be a different test, a tough one for us and it’s going to be important for us to prepare our week well so we can go over there and give our best.”
NYCFC are looking for redemption. A win this weekend quiets the doubters and can possibly vault NYCFC back to the top of the Eastern Conference. A win against LAFC would certainly have the home fans cheering again when NYCFC return home to the Bronx on May 19. A loss and NYCFC have more soul searching and answers to find. Redemption would be so sweet on the road.
