NYCFC loss over Vancouver Whitecaps
It was unstoppable record of fifth-successive victory, that NYCFC falls off to the worst possible start at BC Place, finding themselves a goal down inside two minutes.
Alex Ring lost possession in the middle third and Freddy Montero strode clear, giving Eirik Johansen no chance with his slot into the bottom corner.
This was familiar territory for Patrick Vieira’s men, considering they’d been down in three of the four games in this four-match winning streak, and they almost drew level immediately through Tommy McNamara’s rasping drive which had to be tipped over the bar by David Outsted.
The equalizer nearly came from the resulting corner but Alexander Callens’ header deflected inches wide of the target as NYCFC gave the perfect reaction to going down early.
Despite the deficit, there was nothing wrong with the way NYC were approaching the game as they continued to pass through the lines of the field fluently and they perhaps should have had a penalty on 15’ when Andrea Pirlo appeared to be tripped entering the area but the referee waved away the protests.
Finally, the levy did break on 33’ and it was Chanot who showed his predatory instincts to latch onto RJ Allen’s clever ball back across goal from Pirlo’s corner, racing in behind Outsted to power home from close range.
Back on level terms, Vieira’s men pushed on for the turnaround goal and they would get it from the penalty spot on 41’.
Vancouver felt aggrieved with the call when Kendall Waston was adjudged to have put an arm to McNamara’s face but Villa channeled out the catcalls from the stands to slot home the spot-kick coolly for his 12th goal of the campaign.
Following the interval, there were two blows for the boys in blue in as many minutes as, first, Herrera was withdrawn through injury just before Harvey levelled for the home side, ghosting in at the back post and firing a cross into the roof of the net.
Vancouver were having their best spell of the game and looked the likeliest to score the decisive fifth goal until the 75thminute when Maxi Moralez made his comeback from injury in place of Pirlo.
The Argentine playmaker breathed new life into NYCFC as an attacking force, creating chances for McNamara and Harrison who both went close with ten minutes remaining.
Both Ousted and Johansen came to their teams’ rescues in a breathless, dramatic finale but it was Yordy Reyna who came up with the late suckerpunch – a resounding header which gave Vancouver a first-ever win over NYCFC.
HEAD COACH PATRICK VIEIRA:
Thoughts on the match:
“When I look at the game, I think both teams had their own half. I think even if we conceded the first goal in the first half, we managed to get back and winning 2-1. I think in the first half we created a lot of chances, and we only score two goals. Then we came back in the second half, they were more aggressive, put us under a lot of pressure. And the chances or the situations that they created, they scored the goals. I think both teams had their own half, and the difference was that they took their chances and we didn’t in the first half.”
On late chances not hitting the target:
“I think you’re always disappointed when you’re winning 2-1 at halftime and lose the game 3-2 and created the number of chances that we created away from home. But when I look at the performance of my players, the way they worked, it’s difficult for me to ask them to do more than they did today. I’m really happy with their performances, and I believe that if we keep playing like that, if we keep working the way we’ve been working in the last few weeks, we will win more games than we’re going to lose. But today you have to give credit to Vancouver, because the first half was tough for them because I think we played well. But they managed to find the energy to bounce back and to score these two goals in the second half to give them the three points. So we have to give them a lot of credit as well, because they played some good football that time.”
On Andrea Pirlo’s play:
“I think Andrea had a really good game today. I think when you look at the first half, the way he worked with Alex [Ring] and Yangel [Herrera], the way we build up, the vision that he had in the game, he opened up our game. Switching the game from one side to the other side, it was a really good performance from Andrea.”
DEFENDER MAXIME CHANOT
On the halftime message:
“That’s why I think we are disappointed because we are leading at the half 2-1, and unfortunately you cannot lose the game like that. 2-1 away with 45 minutes left, we should be more clever and play differently. As players, we made a big, big fault. We have to think about this and try not to do the same mistakes in the next games.”
On starting Andrea Pirlo in the middle:
“Andrea was one of the best players in the world. With all his experience every time he is on the pitch he gives us a very good ball, he gives us confidence when we need it and that’s what he did tonight. Despite the result, he played a good game. Let me tell you again, we’re not happy about the result and I would like to forget this game and look forward to the next one.”
On his goal:
“As soon as I saw the ball go to the far post I’m trying to get in front of the keeper. That’s what I’ve done and I’ve been really lucky to have the ball come back on my foot. It was the equalizer but in the end, it doesn’t mean anything, we lost the game. I’d prefer to not score and win the game, but this is football. Like I said, we have to learn from our mistakes and tonight we didn’t.”
MIDFIELDER ALEX RING
On the intensity between both clubs:
“I think we dominated the game and then we lose the three points. We should be very disappointed.”
On the first Whitecaps FC goal:
“The ball goes over me and I try to get a foot on it, and it gets stuck in the turf. But yeah, it happens.”
On the team’s standing thus far:
“You can always be better. You have to have that goal, but all-in-all I think that we can be quite happy with the way we are playing in the season until now, and I think we are getting better and better. Today was an off day from us in the second half, but that happens. We had four wins before that. You win, you lose, but the most important thing is how you come back after a loss, and that’s what we’ll be focusing on when we come back.”
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