NYCFC Win…AGAIN

For the first time since July of 2018 New York City Football Club have recorded back to back victories. Wednesday’s win against The Chicago Fire renewed hope in the fan base and confidence in the team in general.
What has changed? Well, one big addition to the club seems to be making a huge impact. The team are now undefeated when their new striker, Heber, plays, recording two wins and a draw. The two games he has started the team have been victories and he has either scored or assisted on all three goals scored in those games. He is not the only difference but he has been a big one. NYCFC finally have a striker that can hold up the ball and put the ball in the back of the net. his presence makes everyone around him better. The wingers now can exploit the space on the sides ans make the runs required to be successful in this system. Heber’s ability to hold up with the ball until the run down the wing can be made is a big reason why NYCFC have been more dangerous in the past two matches. H may be lining up on paper on the wing but he has freedom to roam into the center of the pitch, hold the ball up and then feed the wing back making the run. This is essential in Dome Torrent’s 3-4-3 system.
Another huge difference maker for the team is eighteen year old James Sands. The past two game he has dropped back and played the center of the three back system Torrent has instituted. The solid back line play of Maxime Chanot, Sands, and Alex Callens has allowed Anton Tinnerholm and Ronald Matarrita to exploit their wing back roles and stretch the opposing defense. On Wednesday, Torrent shut the game down by subbing on Ibeagha and pushing Sands up into midfield late in the game. The move made it near to impossible for Chicago to penetrate and it is only possible to do something like that when you have a player like Sands. He is one to watch.
Wednesday’s game was not a clean or as dominant as when NYCFC played against DC last weekend but it was an important sign of good things to come. Torrent’s system may be working. Heber is the real deal as a striker and the coach is finally putting players in their best positions. The lone goal against DC was a perfectly played counter attack but their could have been one or two more goals for NYCFC in that game easily. Maxi Morales hit the bottom part of the crossbar on a shot that somehow did not go into the goal and he had a penalty kick saved in the ninetieth minute. In two game now he has missed PKs and perhaps it is time to start thinking about someone else taking them.
Saturday NYCFC have a quick turn around to play Orlando at home and the game will be a real test to see if this current run of form is a fluke or a trend. The played Orlando to a draw earlier this season and the game is a perfect test of progress for the team. If the weather is a beautiful as it was Wednesday night then it will be a real treat indeed.