There are times when a team just needs a win to reset the system. After dropping points in three straight home games and losing in exhilarating fashion on Saturday, NYCFC hit the reset button when Atlanta United came to town. They got the win with a goal in the 69th minute by Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and by fixing some defensive lapses that Ronny Deila described as “messy” after the loss to New England.
With three games in eight days, the starting line up favored fresh legs and young ones. Older starters like Maxi Morales and Anton Tinnerholm made way for younger players like Tavon Gray, Nicolas Acevedo, and Andres Jasson. NYCFC started three home grown players for the first time in club history and had one of the youngest overall line ups in their tenure. Atlanta was missing Josef Martinez and Emerson Hyndman and limped into Red Bull Arena playing without a true striker. It was the perfect time to play the younger team for Deila and play them he did.
The first half was a back and forth affair. Tavon Gray played well from the start helping to strangle Atlanta’s attack and springing Jesus Medina with a nice ball in the 4th minute causing Brad Guzan to come up with a big save to keep the visiting team even. Jasson did what he does best and drew foul after foul causing three Atlanta players to pick up yellow card trying to contain him.
Jun 23, 2021; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Marcelino Moreno (10) chases New York City defender Tayvon Gray (24) during the first half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
It wasn’t all roses for NYCFC though and in the 28th minute Sean Johnson would come up big with a spectacular save off a shot from George Bello. Johnson would be forced into action a few more times on the night but so would Guzan who mad a few outstanding saves of his own over the course of the game.
In the 69th minute however a errant Atlanta pass picked off by Keaton Park and quickly distributed to Taty Castellanos up top would prove to be the dagger. Castellanos nicely found Tajouri-Shradi on a full sprint and the Libyan attacker slotted it coolly home scoring his fourth goal in four games.
That was all NYCFC needed and they played out the game until the end by making defensive substitutions. Maxi Morales and Tinnerholm came on later in the second half but the run out was nothing to trouble their legs. The two Brazilian attackers, Thiago and Magno, did not even see the pitch. With NYCFC playing DC this weekend again at home, the rest was smart and needed. Now the team can field a fully rested squad for the weekend game and hopefully pick up more points by avenging an earlier loss in their season opener.
With all the new pieces to the puzzle and all the attacking options off the bench now NYCFC’s coach urged patience for fans wanting to see more of the new signings. “It’s a competition. I need different things in different games. There’s so much talent in these new guys. We are going to work with them. All these young players are improving all the time. It takes time to do what they’re doing. Patience is important.”
One thing is for sure, NYCFC have the talent now and if they keep winning at home like they did against Atlanta, as Ronny Deila said in the pre-game press briefing, “The future is bright.”
