New York City FC defeat San Jose
New York City FC defeat San Jose looking to preserve unbeaten start of this year.
Following three wins and a draw, confidence was high but City’s preparations were dealt a pre-match blow when David Villa reported discomfort after the warm-ups and withdrew from the XI, paving the way for Jo Inge Berget to make his second consecutive start.
The hosts quickly capitalized on the late disruption, opening the scoring with the first opportunity of the game: Yefferson Quintana’s stooped near-post header which left Sean Johnson with no chance.
A week earlier, NYCFC had twice recovered from losing positions at New England and they set about doing it again, gaining a foothold in the match with measured build-up play.
Although the ground underfoot wasn’t always conducive to free-flowing football, the away side grew in confidence and began asking questions of the Earthquakes backline with dangerous balls in from wide areas.
The Boys in Blue finally caught a clear sight of Andrew Tarbell’s goal when Herrera won a free-kick in presentable range on 26′.
Ismael Tajouri-Shradi stepped up and ended his streak of his every shot for NYCFC resulting in a goal, although his wicked, dipping effort showed excellent technique and only just fizzed over the bar.
The momentum had definitively shifted and City carved out their best chance of the half two minutes before the interval following delightful interplay between Maxi Moralez and Jesus Medina which gave Berget the chance to open his account.
Unfortunately for the away side, the Norwegian’s shot was blocked but Head Coach Patrick Vieira will have been encouraged by the sight of the Earthquakes defense being prised open for the first time.
After the break, Vieira switched Berget and Medina to bring the Paraguayan into a more central role but it was Tinnerholm who marked his return with the equalizer on 49′
A near-replica of his Home Opener strike vs. LA Galaxy, the Swede raced onto a loose ball and thundered a volley in off the crossbar in similarly explosive style.
10 minutes later, they’d turned it around.
This time, Tajouri-Shradi was the architect with some delightful footwork to find the space to play in Maxi Moralez for his third goal of the season, a deflected strike over the goalkeeper.
Sean Johnson came to his side’s rescue on a number of occasions in the final 20 minutes with some big saves but City deserved their three points for another committed, resolute display on the road.
Anton Tinnerholm returned to the XI for the first time since the Home Opener
Tinnerholm scored his second NYCFC goal in as many games
Maxi Moralez scored his third goal of the season
NYCFC have rescued 34 points from trailing positions since 2016
City have still never lost to San Jose Earthquakes (W3 D1 L0)
QUOTES
NYCFC HEAD COACH PATRICK VIEIRA
On the match against San Jose
“It was a difficult one. It was really tough, especially in the last 10 or 15 minutes. I think in the first half after we conceded the first goal, we played at times some really good football. In the second half when we came back, we were a bit more aggressive closing them down. I think it was a really good game of football, not just because we won the game, but because it was two good teams that wanted to win the game. Of course, I’m quite pleased and happy to go back to New York with a win.”
On the team’s reaction with two starters being late scratches
“It’s a lot of credit to the players because that wasn’t our plan in the beginning of the week. Ben Sweat traveled with us, but he wasn’t feeling well and has the flu, so we made a decision not to play him this morning. David Villa was feeling good, but after the warmup he was feeling something that couldn’t allow him to be on the field. I think the players that weren’t supposed to start the game prepared well mentally, and it’s a credit to them.”
On why David Villa did not play
“It’s too early to talk about it. We need a bit more time to go back to New York and do more exams before getting any kind of conclusion.”
On goalkeeper Sean Johnson’s performance
“Sean had a really good game like the rest of the team. You don’t come into this place and create chances, play well and win the game without the 11 players on the field doing really well. Of course Sean made some really important saves, but our team spirit and philosophy was really good today.”
On his message at halftime
“I was really pleased with the reaction we had. The message at halftime was that we had to keep playing. The last 25 minutes of the first half we controlled the game quite well. They were running quite well in the first half, so the message with the team was simple. It was that we have to keep playing. Keep playing and then we will create chances. We were really calm, we were composed and at the end we got the result we wanted.”
On Jo Inge Berget starting the game on short notice
“It’s not easy at all. He took a few minutes to get into the game, and after he was warm enough he worked hard and worked well. As a number 9 he was a really good target for us. After I put him as a winger he worked really well for the team. All the credit to him because mentally players when they don’t start they switch off a little bit. I’m really proud about this group of players in that they all support each other and they all want to play. An opportunity can come at any time during the game, so it’s good for me to have players that are really concerned.”
NYCFC DEFENDER SAAD ABDUL-SALAAM
On where he would rank this win compared to other wins in the season
“I would rank them the same along with all the other wins. It’s good to get a win on the road to stay undefeated. Our biggest goal is to keep getting better every game.”
NYCFC GOALKEEPER SEAN JOHNSON
On the team’s performance
“Everyone who came out contributed. At the end there, they had about five guys across the line and we needed everybody to step up tonight and contribute whether it was aerially, keeping possession, springing a counter or just holding on defensively. Depth has been the name of the game for us and a lot of people stepped up today.”
On if the team has played well on the road because of their aggressive attacking style
“We go out and we try and win every game that we play. I think that’s why we play the game. That’s why we’re professionals you know, we wouldn’t play if we didn’t want to win. Just the mentality on the game whether we’re home or if we’re away, sticking to our principles, respecting the game and sticking to what we need to do to be successful is the most important thing.”
On how the younger players on the team have performed
“The depth that we have on the team is unbelievable. The additions that we added this past offseason with Ismael, Jesus, Cedric… Those guys are talented, and they made a really big impact and we will need those guys to step up over the course of the season. “
NEW YORK CITY DEFENDER ANTON TINNERHOLM
On having back to back comeback wins
“The main thing today is that we keep fighting together. It was a similar game in the end due to the game in Kansas in the opening game. It was a tough game and they put the pressure pretty hard on us especially in the end of the game. They put a lot of long balls in the box but we kept on fighting as a team and it was a really tough one especially after the second goal. I’m really proud of the team today.”
On playing out of his preferred position
“I played in this position in about seven or eight games last season so I know what to do but it’s different especially in the build-up but I do what the coach tells me to do and I think it worked out pretty well. As I said before, I have played there before so it is no problem. I do whatever is best for the team.”
On his goal
“We talked about it in half-time actually. One of our guys is going to block their guy, we tried it in the first half as well. The ball game to me and I got a great hit. I haven’t scored any goals like that in 25 years but now it’s a new tradition. I was inspired by Zlatan earlier today so I don’t want to get worse than him. I think my goal was harder.
