New York City Football Club left no doubt about the color of NYC this year after they vanquished the New York Red Bulls in the Bronx on Saturday. It was a performance that put to rest some fears held by fans and firmly ended a skid of winless games in Major League Soccer for NYCFC.
The game was never in doubt as the boys in blue scored in the first two minutes and never looked back. Santiago Rodriguez connected with Alexandre Callens on an early corner and put the Pigeons up for good. It was a kind of statement made by the NYCFC after Red Bulls coach, Gerhard Struber had guaranteed a win earlier in the week. From the get go, this was not going to be the easy win Struber had promised.
Sep 17, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC defender Alexander Callens (6) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first half against the New York Red Bulls at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
For the second time in a week, NYCFC scored two goals and kept a clean sheet. Nick Cushing started a back three of Callens, Maxime Chanot and Thiago Martins. The trio has not all been available because of injury or suspensions for the past several games. Solid back line again provided stability both defensively and going forward. Newly minted left back Kevin O’Toole started the game again and was dangerous up and down the flank. Nick Cushing had nothing but praise for the newly promoted player after the game. ” We see his quality and I look at myself, I’m a little frustrated I didn’t put him [Kevin O’Toole] in earlier. He [Kevin O’Toole] always trained well, has great offensive quality, is technical, and is one of the fittest guys on the team, he could play again now and be fine.”
Cushing went on to praise the team’s momentum and response to the hard times of late. “For us, the performances are there. Listen, I want to win and I don’t want to deliver regular defeats for the fans because our fans deserve wins and the fans today were incredible. Maybe the stretch of defeats that we had was just part of the process. You know I think that our fans should be proud because our football club could fall apart at the seams after nine defeats in eleven, or it could build and bind you together. I think the last four days have shown that as a group we are going to fight for this football club for our fans and for our badge.”
The club has indeed shown some fight of late beating Atlas FC to win the Campeones Cup this week and sending their rivals from New Jersey packing. (NYCFC won both regular season match ups with Red Bulls this year.) But can this translate into a deep run in the playoffs for the team. Cushing was careful not to look to last year’s turn of form as an example.
“I think we have to be careful that we don’t rely on the fact that it is just going to happen just because it happened last year (winning the 2021 MLS Cup). It is a dangerous way to look at things. I think the one thing that the team is aware of is the last ten games they’ve shown us nobody or nothing is going to be given for free. You think of the injuries, the goals we’ve conceded. The FC Cincinnati game has been so crazy, seven to zero in chances and we draw the game one to one. It’s impossible and it’s not for the work of trying, and it’s not for performances or individuals, it’s just the nature of what’s happening to us. We are well aware that we have to craft and grind out results and play well in moments that we can, fight in moments that we can. I think it stitches a soul and a spirit in this group, but we have to harness this now as a football club and I have to do as a coach. If I get it right, we will go into the Orlando [City] game with real momentum, and if I get it wrong, this is coaching.”
Sep 17, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC interim head coach Nick Cushing looks on during the first half against the New York Red Bulls at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Coaching indeed. for the moment Cushing can feel good about his coaching. the past two games have invigorated the fan base and put to rest the horrors of a home loss to DC and a trouncing on the road in New England. The team is getting healthy again with a solid back line and the return of Keaton Parks from blood clot surgery. Other key players are on the mend as well and all signs look positive for the next few games. Can NYCFC make another run towards the Cup? The first answer will come next week in Orlando.
