NYCFC Perfect start with win
The NYCFC kept up their perfect start to 2018 with a comfortable 2-0 win over Orlando City at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Unfortunately, this game came too soon for Anton Tinnerholm and David Villa, who both sat out with mild injuries, while Jo Inge Berget will have to remain patient in waiting for his NYCFC debut after he was taken ill with the flu on the night before the match.
That gave Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Saad Abdul-Salaam their first City starts, while Maxime Chanot returned from suspension to partner up with Alexander Callens at the back.
Orlando arrived late due to the St Patrick’s Day parade traffic so it was an understandably low-key opening to the match with both sides taking some time to settle into their flow on a sunny March day in the Bronx.
The first sight of goal arrived on 32’ when the visitors broke from a turnover but Sean Johnson was there to make a comfortable save down to his right from Justin Meram.
A minute later, City were a lick of paint away from taking the lead themselves courtesy of Rodney Wallace’s towering header from a Maxi Moralez serve, but the ball came back off the inside of the post with Joe Bendik beaten all ends up.
Those were the two spikes in an otherwise strangely subdued opening 45’ in the BX but the second half promised to be more dramatic with three points on the line.
Meram once again had the first chance of the half after wriggling clear down the right channel but, although Johnson was scrambling, the former Columbus man dragged his effort wide.
A minute later, NYCFC had their best chance of the afternoon so far, when Medina played in Moralez but, like Meram before him, the Argentine failed to pick out the far corner of the net, pulling his shot a foot past the far post.
When the first goal arrived on 62’, it came courtesy of a moment of indecision from the Orlando backline as Bendik passed the ball straight to Tajouri-Shradi.
A less composed forward may shot straightaway, but the Libyan had the presence of mind to take a touch to improve his angle, before slotting it clinically past the goalkeeper.
Just ten minutes on, it got even better for City, as Moralez bagged his second of the campaign after some delightful interplay.
Wallace carried the charge into the area and found Medina who touched it back to Moralez who struck first time into the bottom corner, capping a devastating three-point move.
Orlando did have one chance to hit back late in the game but Johnson hit the underside of the bar with his powerful effort, summing up their afternoon.
The only downside on an otherwise perfect day for the home side was the sight of Ronald Matarrita leaving the field with an injury on 72′.
Now it’s on to New England where NYCFC hope to make it four from four to further improve the team’s best-ever MLS start.
Onwards!
NOTES
- New York City FC has started the season 3-0-0 for the first time in Club history. This is the longest unbeaten run to begin a campaign since 2015. This year’s Boys in Blue have gained all nine points at stake, as opposed to the five the 2015 squad earned.
- In his first start in City colors, Ismael Tajorui scored his first goal for the club in the 62nd minute.
- NYCFC showed its squad depth while missing forward David Villa and right back Anton Tinnerholm. The two goal scorers from last week unfortunately did not reach full fitness for today’s match, however Tajorui and Saad Abdul-Salaam filled in just fine. Tajouri found the back of the net and Abdul-Salaam helped anchor the NYCFC defense to its second clean sheet in three weeks.
- Jesus Medina has either assisted or scored in each of his three NYCFC appearances.
QUOTES
ORLANDO CITY COACH JASON KREIS
His thoughts on having so many new players on the field. “I think they were doing pretty well until we gave them the goal. Unfortunately for me that is three matches that I think we are giving things away. The first match we gave up a goal from a throw in, then we end up with an ejection that was a poor decision. The second game we did the same thing, we couldn’t achieve a goal, and this game we smashed the ball to our goalkeeper and gave away our first goal. If we correct those small errors I think we will be okay.”
On how close he thinks the team is to getting the first win of the season. “We just really need something to go our way, one result, one bounce to go our way early in the game and we will move forward very quickly from that.”
On the fact that he has not seen his full team yet. Does that provide confidence to him? “What gives me comfort is that I still see a lot of positive things and I still believe that we will be a good team when we put it all together. We are still missing as you have noted two very important players but it doesn’t change the fact that the players that are out there and who have been out there in the last three games could have and should have gotten more points.”
On his thoughts of dropping points out of home “It’s still early in the season, third game really early, but what is particularly concerning is the points struck at home. You know that when you come to play in New York City is going to be very difficult but those first two matches… those are the points that really can hurt you, we gotta continue to look forward, we gotta continue to believe and be positive on ourselves.”
ORLANDO CITY SC MIDFIELDER SACHA KLJESTAN
On if he felt up to speed during today’s match… “Physically I felt pretty good I was able to last 90 minutes so that’s pretty important. Maybe didn’t make enough plays tonight in the final third to help the guys out but we still had a few chances, especially when the game was still 0-0. I feel OK, wish the debut would have gone better, but such is life.”
On the game being for the taking for Orlando… “The longer the game stayed 0-0, we were in it and had a chance. The chance for Meram at 0-0 was a big one. Could have swung the game. With David Villa out and the way we tried to push the game it would have been a great opportunity to steal three points but unfortunately we couldn’t make it happen.”
On the defensive errors that led to NYCFC’s goals tonight… “Well you know, the first I think we just gave our goalkeeper a bad ball, it’s difficult to deal with. The second one, I tried to turn at out of pressure when I should’ve just played the way I faced. We put our goalie under pressure tonight two times and they capitalized on both, so that was poor from us.”
On NYCFC’s defense… “NYCFC defends very well. I think the way that their midfield three, really just Herrera and Ring, they way they come back and close the ball when the ball gets past them, they did a very good job. The thing for us, I don’t think we were able to get enough numbers into the attack, we were defending pretty deep so when we did get into the attack, it felt like Justin Meram, Chris Mueller and myself were the only three up there, it wasn’t until later when we got more numbers into the attack that we were able to carve out a few chances.”
ORLANDO CITY MIDFIELDER WILL JOHNSON
On how both goals were preventable… “Of course they could have been prevented, it’s a high level it’s a game where you got to understand where you are on the field and what you are doing with the ball. In a way it’s inexcusable mistake but mistakes we all unfortunately make.”
On feeling the pressure to finally get those 3 points… “I think we are feeling it we wanted to come in here and get three points, we felt like it was the game to do that. We will get Dom back and now we have a international break to digest these first three games and go forward, but the pressure is on.”
On how Sacha Kljestan changes things from a midfielder prospective… “He helps he’s comfortable on the ball he wants the ball all the time. I think it’s slightly difficult first game for him to come on the road here on a field that wasn’t great. To get his first minutes of year was tough for him and I feel for him. He gave away the ball for that second goal but he’s a man, he’s a big time player in this league, he won’t shy away from anything and he works hard, he makes this team much much better. We are happy to have him.”
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PATRICK VIEIRA
On why he wanted Ismael Tajouri on the team… “I think when you identify players that you want to bring to the football club you look at the quality and if they’re a good fit for the system you want to play. I think Ismael is a really good player one against one, and he’s really good in tight, small space. He’s really comfortable with the ball and he’s got pace. He’s really calm and composed and he’s a goal scorer, so this element goes really good with the way we want to play the game and I think today was good. He played a position where he wasn’t used to it, but he worked hard for the team and he managed to score a goal, so it was a really good day for him and for the team.”
On if attacking players expressed themselves more in the second half… “I think Orlando made it difficult for us. I think it was really difficult for us to play between the lines because they were really compact, but I think we kept our organization and of course the mistakes that they made, we finished, but it was really difficult and it was difficult for us to find the space to play and express themselves. That’s why I think this game made me more happy than the other games we’ve played so far because in this one we kept our organization, we kept our discipline on the field and we waited for the right time. When they made their mistakes we took our chances and I don’t think it was our fault, I thought it was Orlando making it really difficult for us.”
On a new rotation and different players earning chances… “When we talk about last season, part of the game that really needed to improve was the goals that we conceded. I think last year we conceded too many goals and we changed some way that we defend against. So far it’s good, but it’s still only three games and there’s so many games in front of us, but I think having Salaam play today, it just showed how much good work goes into training where everybody understands their role and responsibilities. This is good.”
NEW YORK CITY FC FORWARD RODNEY WALLACE
On winning all three games so far this season… “That’s what we’re looking for – consistency. Being three games that we’ve now won and we’ve put up good results, good performances, it’s good for us.”
On breaking Orlando down and how it was emphasized in training… “I think that’s the DNA right now and that’s going to be our DNA going forward, hard work and the press from the front, which is going to allow us to have the ball more and ultimately create chances and put the ball in the net.”
On his connection with Jesus Medina… “I think it’s just understanding each other’s movements and being hungry. I mean, everybody is going to have to be ready on the field just because of the quality that we have, as soon as we get the ball back, we’re looking to go to the goal and combine, so it’s just understanding each other, understanding each other’s movements and knowing that the main goal is to work hard for the team and that’s going to give us a better chance of winning games.”
NEW YORK CITY FC GOALKEEPER SEAN JOHNSON
On NYCFC winning tonight’s match with many key players out… “Yeah I think if you’ve looked at the three games we’ve played so far, that’s been the story of our games. Maxi was out the first game, Seb [Ibeagha] steps in, Seb [Ibeagha] steps into the second game, David [Villa]’s out, Ismael’s in – pretty much anybody that steps in is doing their job and that’s what we need. I know the focus in the offseason was bringing in players to really sure up the depth of the team, and now we’ve got that and everybody’s really stepping up when they get the opportunity and as teammates, that’s the only way we’re going to be successful this year.”
On the defensive effort from NYCFC… “I think if you look, not only at the guys in front of me, but all the players on the pitch, I think it’s a total effort the way we play, the way we press, the way we defend, the way we cover for each other when we’re in bad spots when we turn the ball over, I think it’s the one thing that we really needed to get better from last year, the reaction when a ball turns over, the reaction when a guy’s out of position – it’s all about fighting for the next man, having each other’s back and that’s what really propelled us to a really fantastic defensive start and three wins in three games.”
On Abdul-Salaam’s effort today vs. OCSC’s Justin Meram… “I was really proud of Saad. Stepped in, did an unbelievable job on both sides of the ball. We got in a couple of situations 1v1, that’s Meram’s bread and butter, cutting inside, shaping, going far post or cutting back near post and I think Saad used his experience today and defended really really well. Obviously as a wing back, your first ask is to defend well, but he also got forward and created a goal through his ambition to get forward and be in good spots. He’s just another one on the list of players that’s stepped in and done an unbelievable job this season and we have to keep building and getting better.”
NEW YORK CITY FC MIDFIELDER MAXI MORALEZ
On winning at home… “It is important to win. You want to have positive results. It is important to start of the season on a positive note. We want to enjoy this moment.”
On chemistry with Jesus Medina… “Jesus has adapted well to the team. He is a good player and we want to enjoy him. I would personally want him to continue to play well because it will help the team.”
On his feelings towards his former professional team in Mexico… “I have various friends from my time there. I made some good relationships. Besides that I have not had much contact with anyone else from there. I follow them when I can because I had friends there who treated me well.”
On playing without Villa today… “It is difficult because we know what that means. We have a very competitive team. Our coach can count on us that whoever is on the pitch will play hard. It is hard without Villa but today we did very well.”
On being with NYCFC over a year… “Feels good. I am happy because of the way we are playing. We are winning. During the last three games we have done well. The season has just begun and we have to keep up the results.”
On MLS vs other professional football leagues… “This league has a specific way of playing. It is a league that is growing with young players with much precision. Every year is getting better. I am happy to be part of this growth. This club is also growing.”
NEW YORK CITY FC FORWARD ISMAEL TAJOURI
On starting his first game and scoring his first goal with NYCFC… “It was a great feeling…first goal was a really great feeling, but it is more important that we take the three points at home.Three [wins] in a row is really important.”
On calm reaction of getting the ball from the [Orlando] goalkeeper… “Yeah, I think this was a gift from the goalkeeper but the first time I think I didn’t shoot directly…I stayed calm and I took it with my right foot. I don’t score with my right foot but this was a good choice.”
On match fitness…”Yes, I am healthy, it was my first game after a long time. But, I am healthy and feeling very good. I think we will continue.”
