NCFC 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.
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.”