Maxi Moralez. Photo by: Stacy Podelski/1495Sports
New York City FC looked to rebound from a loss in Houston as they took on Orlando City SC during Pride Night at Yankee Stadium.
Patrick Vieira’s Starting XI saw three changes from the side that tussled in Texas, with Jesus Medina, Tommy McNamara and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi stepping into the lineup.
The first chance of the match came via NYCFC in the fourth minute, as captain Maxi Moralez whipped in a cross from the right-hand side to Jesus Medina, who headed the cross just over the bar.
Medina’s header remained the best chance of the first 20 minutes, as the two sides continued to find their footing in the match.
Orlando City SC soon after began creating chances — the best coming in the 30’ when forward Josué Colmán hit a right-footed curler just past an outstretched Sean Johnson. Fortunately for the Boys in Blue, the shot clanked off of the post, keeping things level.
Things didn’t remain level for long, however, as NYCFC got the opener five minutes later.
In the 35’, Anton Tinnerholm played Ismael Tajouri-Shradi into the right-side of the 18-yard-box and the 24-year-old did the rest — shaking his way past a defender before hammering home a beautiful left-footed strike to send NYCFC into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
That 1-0 lead nearly evaporated in 48’ when Orlando City were awarded a penalty after an Alexander Callens foul. Thankfully for NYCFC, Sacha Kljestan’s penalty shot hit the right post and bounced out of play.
Tajouri-Shradi netted his brace in the 79’ to double NYCFC’s lead. The forward whipped in a ball from a free-kick and the ball skimmed its ways through multiple bodies and into the net.
Maxi Moralez sealed the match off in the 87’ with a goal following consecutive crossbar hits by Jesus Medina and substitute David Villa in what was a humorous sequence of events.
NYCFC improved their home record on the year to 6-0-0 and sent their fans home happy on Pride Night
NOTES
- Alexander Callens earned his 50th appearance from NYCFC.
- NYCFC are a perfect 6-0-0 at Yankee Stadium this season, extending their franchise-record home winning streak to seven matches.
- Ismael Tajouri-Shradi now has seven goals on the year in his debut season with NYCFC.
QUOTES
New York City FC Head Coach Patrick Vieira
On keeping David Villa on bench in preparation for Red Bulls on Wednesday…
“What I wanted to see today was the different combination of players up front, I wanted to see the relationship between Jo, Ismael, Jesus. I know that David is a top player I know what I can get from him so just for this game I wanted to try some things and there was some good and some bad but at the end I think when you have quality players that we have up front it allows me to play and make some tough decisions and this is part of my job and it’s not easy. It’s not easy to leave David out today, it wasn’t easy to leave Ismael, Jesus and Maxi and the players have to get used to it because I will rotate the players.”
How well does this win set us up for Wednesday’s Derby …
“I think it’s always good to win the game, of course I think the 3-0 is too harsh on Orlando because they had chances to score a few goals and i will say the 3 nil doesn’t really reflect the game. I can understand that Jason can be disappointed but at times you have to have some luck and the luck was on our side and I will take it because it happened during the season where we played some fantastic football and we didn’t get the win but today the luck was on our side. With determination and patience we managed to score three goals and it’s good for us.”
On playing well at home …
“At home we have been really strong, we have a really good support at home. I think the fans today made the difference, we went through a difficult period where we need their support and they gave it to us tonight. I think that was a huge help for us because it was a really difficult game for us.”
On David changing his mentality to come off the bench …
“A top player will never accept to be on the bench that is why he has had the career he’s had. I have good relationship with David we talk a lot and as a Coach I have to think about the team first before I think about the individual. It’s a tough decision but this is part of my job and David, Maxime and all the players who are on the bench are not happy to be on the bench and I would be upset if I find out that players are on the bench are happy so this is what I want. I want them to get frustrated when they don’t play, to come in the next day and show their frustration and work even harder and this is how the team will do well. This is what I want you to understand, we will win as a team and we will lose as a team.”
NEW YORK CITY FC FORWARD ISMAEL TAJOURI-SHRADI
On his two goals today…
“I’m very happy about my goals of course, but I’m more happy that we could take the three points today because this was an important game for us. We wanted to take the three points because we are playing in a very important week, so in a few days is the next important game and we want to win that, of course.”
On having two games within a week…
“We were focusing on Orlando, so we’ve taken the three points and what we need and now we’re focused on the Red Bulls. In a few days is our next very important game and we want to win the Open Cup and then the League. Of course, we want to continue this way and it will be very difficult, but we want to continue this way and win against the Red Bulls and then we’ll focus on the next game against Atlanta.”
On the difference between today’s first half and second half…
“I think the first half we played not so good, I think, because we were playing against a very good team. Orlando was very good and they know what we want, so they made it very difficult for us, but we scored the very first goal and it was very good. In the second half we changed a little bit and we scored two goals. We took the three points, that’s the most important thing.”
NEW YORK CITY GOALKEEPER SEAN JOHNSON
On playing at Yankee Stadium…
“There’s a lot of factors, obviously we’re a lot more comfortable playing here. This is our home, we have to defend our turf and in this league it takes being successful at home to go on and achieve big things. Obviously, the fan base and just being comfortable with our surroundings but I think we’re really close to finding that consistency away – we’ve been trying to find it whether it’s just being on the tail end of results, draws, big wins early in the season away. I think we’re trying to find that level of consistency and I think we’re pretty close.
On the crossbar and post being factors in tonight’s match…
“Obviously the ball hits the post and goes out, it’s down to a lot of things. Probably the angle you shot the ball didn’t end up on the other side. But knowing the goal – if the ball is on the other side of the post, just do your best to save it, when it’s going on the opposite side, then the post is your friend so you just have to sometimes hope for the best and do your best to push and the rest will take care of itself.”
On the changes made at halftime…
“Yeah, we changed our formation, so that’s a big part of it. We saw the hands Orlando threw at us in the first half and we came in, the coach made necessary changes, and I think it was brilliant. It showed that we came and gave it something, we took it on, made our changes and went on to be more dominant in the second.”
NEW YORK CITY FC MIDFIELDER MAXI MORALEZ
On the second time playing Orlando…
“I think it was very different from the first game. They are much more offensive and are playing at a high level. Little by little they have been improving their level and they are a great team, but I think we’ve been superior in both games and we deserved to win.”
On the offense running through him…
“Well, I think it’s my position and my style of play and that is what I have to do. Obviously, I’m happy to be helping both offensively and defensively when I can but I think with every game it’s different. Today was a very difficult game because they have very good players. The second half was a little more complicated because of the way they played us, but it was a second half how I expected it.”
ORLANDO CITY HEAD COACH JASON KREIS
Talk about how your team played today…
“What’s there to say that hasn’t been said already. Another game where I feel like we’re doing a lot of really good things, but in the decisive moments, we were getting killed. Allowing the goal in the first half, I think they were really in control. Then there was one moment where it’s one-v-one and we slip in the penalty box and allow them a wide open shot. And then I think we go on and do a lot more positive stuff and get the penalty kick and then we don’t take the penalty kick. And then it’s late in the game and we’re pushing for things. We’re trying to catch the game and get caught out a couple of times. For me, the score lines… losing 3-0 and losing 1-0 are the same thing. We’re still just looking for those moments of decisiveness when we really need them.”
How did missing the penalty kick change the game…
“Yeah, I think it did. But I still thought there were some moments after that where we still got in around them. But, you know, right now we need somebody to step forward and score the goals for us. To be decisive in the final third.”
How close is this team to getting over that hump…
“I think really close. I really do. I think there is just no way forward for us except to continue to believe. Continue to work hard. Continue to do the things we’re doing. And then, you know, one thing breaks for us and then a lot of things will break for us.”
ORLANDO CITY DEFENDER TONY ROCHA
How disappointed are you with this match…
“Yeah, honestly very disappointed. We want to come away and put in good performance. We tried to get something from the game and we didn’t do it.
How do you feel playing center back…
“I feel comfortable back there. But you know, I went back to the team performance and I put that next to my performance and it’s unfortunate to step away from this game looking for three points.”
What’s the mood in the locker room…
“Moving forward. We look forward to Wednesday’s game. That’s all were focused on after this game now.”
How do you stay positive…
“I think just having a short-term memory. Like I just said, we’re focused on Wednesday’s game now, so we’ll try to put this game behind us and focus on the next.”
ORLANDO CITY MIDFIELDER JOSUÉ COLMÁN
You had two shots one off the crossbar and one off the far post, how disappointing was tonight?
“I’m disappointed over tonight’s result it was a tough match but together we’ll move forward. Unfortunately, I hit the post and the crossbar but I know we will work hard to get results moving forward”
Are you still pleased with what this team can do even with the four straight loses? Do you see anything positive?
“Personally, I’ve been able to loosen up offensively a little bit more. I had my two shoots they obviously didn’t get them in but together we will move forward.”
There’s a lot of positivity coming from this team but from your point of view what needs to get fixed?
“I think that we just need to score. We create many chances offensively but we just need that final touch, that final finish. The defensive side we made a couple of mistakes and we paid for them but I know that we will improve.”
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