NYCFC loss to Atlanta Union

BALKAN PRESS | 11/05/2018 | SOCCER | No Comments

Bronx, — The City’s first-ever Knockout Round win vs. Philadelphia sent them into their third-successive Eastern Conference semifinal with positive momentum but Atlanta United promised to offer a sterner examination of City’s playoff credentials.

Dome Torrent stuck with the same XI which bested the Union 3-1 in the Bronx on Wednesday.

The 180’ of soccer offered up in the Regular Season by these two teams were among the most riveting served up by MLS in 2018 but the first 45’ here was much more attritional than captivating, with 22 fouls and numerous stoppages seriously hampering the entertainment factor.

NYCFC were first to go close in the match on 16’ when Matarrita poked wide a presentable opportunity after neat work from Villa and Yangel Herrera in the build-up, while Maxime Chanot headed a chance wide from a corner shortly after.

Atlanta had the ball in the back of the net on 21’ when Miguel Almiron thumped a volley into the ground and over Sean Johnson, but VAR intervened and chalked off the goal for an offside earlier in the move.

That reprieve only lasted 16 minutes as Atlanta did take the lead on 37’ through Eric Remedi, who scrambled home an opportunity at the back post after Johnson had pawed away a Josef Martinez volley.

City had been inhibited up to this point but they had cause to rue an officiating decision themselves in first-half stoppage-time, when Herrera stabbed home at the back post from a Villa bicycle kick which was deemed dangerous play for the high boot.

Down at the break, a big 45’ was required to give NYC something to take down south with them next weekend and Jo Inge Berget was sent on early in the second period to try and find it.

The Norwegian went closest to finding the equalizer on 73’ with an outstretched leg almost turning Tajouri-Shradi’s cross-shot into the net but the ball would fall the wrong side of the far post.

Four minutes later, Jesus Medina was introduced as the second substitute by Torrent but there were no more chances served up by the Boys in Blue, and in fact it was Atlanta who went closest to scoring the game’s second goal with a shot in stoppage-time which forced an incredible save from Johnson.

It was a frustrating night for the home faithful but NYC will go again next Sunday and look to overturn the deficit on the road.

NYCFC HEAD COACH DOMÈNEC TORRENT

On tonight’s match & looking ahead to the second leg in Atlanta…

“Today, it’s a bad result for us but I reminded my players, we need to imagine it’s a final. We need to win the next game. If you’re able to win the next game, you need to score at least one goal. 1-0? Extra time. If you’re able to win the game and score two goals, you are in the [Eastern Conference] final.”

On what needs to be adjusted heading to Atlanta…

“We need to win the game. I have to find the best solution and the best team to play better. I agree with who played the game in the second half. The second half we played much better, we can play side-to-side, we can play two against one. We played well the second half, they defend very well but we just need to win the game. We don’t need to win 2-0, 3-0, 4-1 – no, no – we need to win. If we win at least 1-0, it’s extra time, if you score 2, you are in the [Eastern Conference final], it’s as simple as that. We need to improve, absolutely. We need to improve for the next game because they have quality and the first half, we didn’t play well because we didn’t have the connection between the central midfielders and the strikers. We didn’t defend well, the set pieces especially. Every single corner, every single free kick, they could finish. We have to improve because in a semifinal or a final, you have to be focused on that, in every single action. But I am happy at the second half because I think we played much better – not in the first half and we have chances to win in Atlanta, why not? They have a good team but New York City as well. Our intention is to go to Atlanta to win the game because we need to win.”

On Maxime Chanot…

“Maxime, the last month, has played amazing, incredible. He has a special quality, he has a desire to win. It’s about the mentality. The mentality Chanot has shown in the last month is incredible. He was a leader for the defenders, the same with [Alex] Ring and Yangel [Herrera]”

NYCFC MIDFIELDER ALEXANDER RING

How Atlanta’s physical game effected NYCFC attacking game…

“No, I think the first half we didn’t play that well from the back, I think the second half we played much better. Their corners and set pieces were dangerous, it’s the payoffs and they did a good job but nevertheless we shouldn’t have conceded a set piece.”

On what they will like to continue next week…

“I think we changed the way we were playing a little bit, pushed a bit higher on the sides. I played alone in the midfield, I think that gave us a better rhythm maybe, where we were better spread out in the pitch than in the first half. You have to give them credit, they did well the first half and they know we like to play from the back, but I think we showed in the second half that if we play like that we’ll have a really good chance in Atlanta.”

On having to win the match in Atlanta to advance…

“Exactly, it’s one game and we have played there before, we know we can score goals there so yeah, I’m not worried. I’m looking forward to it, like I said, [the] playoffs are what we’ve been working for all year and I’m sure we are going to bring our “A” game when we show up there.”

NYCFC GOALKEEPER SEAN JOHNSON

Thoughts on today’s game…

“I think given our position now, Atlanta is going to be a final. We win and we give ourselves a chance. It’s one goal. If we score two, it’s gonna be a fight. So we just have to treat it like that and It’s gonna be an exciting game. I think we’ll just have to come prepared again. You know, we’d love a goal [today] but not conceding the second goal after conceding one of the set piece is important.”

Confidence level on the road for this team right now…

“Obviously we know what we have to do. Nothing really matters in the past going forward now. I think it’s really down to a belief in the group and I think we’ve had a little more belief in us the past couple of games and even tonight in the second half. I mean, we came out and tried to take it to them. So, we’re not really looking into our struggles in the past leading up to this next game in Atlanta, so we’re just going to treat it like a final.”

How did Atlanta prevent NYCFC from attacking…

“I think they did a good job at pressing. I mean, the way they set up, they knew how we wanted to play. I think it was just gonna be a battle to see if we could win a second ball. And I think they won a few more second balls in the first half. But when we did play a little more direct and win a second ball, we were able to advance the ball up the field quite rapidly. So that’s kinda how the game was at home earlier this year for large stretches and away as well…[it] didn’t catch us by surprise if you will. But I think obviously we can improve and figure out a better way to advance the ball and gain more control of the game, cause when we do that, we score.”

ATLANTA UNITED FC HEAD COACH GERARDO MARTINO

On the game…

“That’s the way you have to play every game, regular season or the playoffs, it doesn’t matter. That’s the attitude. In the first half, I think we played some really good football. In the second half New York City had a little bit more of the possession.”

On having to play differently in the playoffs on the road…

“It’s just not because of the field, but it’s also because the circumstances of the game. So, in a playoff game of 90 minutes or two legs of 180 minutes, the team who has the most success is the team that commits the fewest errors. So maybe today we weren’t as strict trying to play out of the back.”

The message to the team coming into the playoffs…

“The message to the team was not to make costly mistakes because I know that if we can do that, I like our chances of winning. Last weekend I thought we made too many big mistakes.”

ATLANTA UNITED FC DEFENDER MICHAEL PARKHURST

On getting a statement win…

“It was a good performance. It was the performance that we needed. It’s the performance that we wanted to have in big games this year and I’m disappointed that we haven’t had. It’s good that we came out here and we brought the fight. It was ugly out there for everyone at times. The pitch is tough to play on and you have to win the fight. Today, if we didn’t win the fight we at least equaled it and that was good.”

On the battle of playoff games…

“Every playoff game is like that. You have to bring it physically, especially on this tight field in New York. It’s very, very difficult to play on this field. It’s a big challenge to come in here and get a good result, so we’re very happy with that. We talked that we want to play soccer and we want to play our game, but if we can’t or if the game doesn’t dictate it, we have to win the fight.”

On keeping tabs on Maxi Moralez…

“We talked about him and [David] Villa a lot, obviously. Their partnership up top is what makes them tick and I thought Eric [Remedi] did a fantastic job on him, always keeping an eye on him wherever he is. The three of us in the back also were trying to keep an eye on him to make sure that he couldn’t control the game in between the lines. The second half he was on the ball a little bit, but it was further away from our goal, so we can accept that. The guys, especially in the midfield, put a lot of work in, making sure he couldn’t dictate play.”

ATLANTA UNITED DEFENDER JEFF LARENTOWICZ

On the franchise’s first ever playoff victory…

“It was extremely difficult, all the things that go into a game like this… the intensity, the emotion, the anxiety, the rivalry as well. It was a difficult game, but a solid result.”

On if performances like this can win MLS Cup…

“It’s just concentration for 90 minutes every week. We said it coming into today, no simple mistakes, no letting each other down, going back to the grit and determination that has gotten us here the last two years. If we come that same energy, then we’ll be alright, but it’s difficult you can’t think everything else will take care of itself, you have to concentrate on everything.”

On the key going into the next game…

“Well, first and foremost you’ve gotta bring the intensity. We did that tonight and it was a scrappy game.”