They meet up Wed. eve to see which may go on, NY has a lead by goal differential, -1 v -3.
FCC played MLS powerhouse Atlanta United and achived their first win at 1-0 facing a team with 10 for the majority of the match for the initial MLS win under Japp Stam. The team had their first shutout since the last game of 2019 as Frankie Amaya got his first pro goal. They must do more than add to this recent success as they take on the team that beat them in the season opener at RBA. They had difficulties yet manged a pair of 2nd half goals. Neither scorer from that game play facing Atlanta. One missed the Crew game.
Mathieu Deplange stated "I'd like to keep the defensive shape we had and to have a good result to keep up this mentality and defensive attitude. We know how they play, even from last year. This is a team tha has a specific game plan, so we know them well and it's going to be a good game to test ourselves after Atlanta."
Interestingly FCC HC Stam is treating these games as a pre season , while gettting more familiar with his team, but not that they want to leave early. These games count in the standings, 3 points overall on the year, there is $1.1 million in prize money and the icing on the cake is the winner gets a spot in the CCL.
Beating Atlanta put them into third with the same points as NYRB. As the top 2 teams move on in the tourney, a win over NYRB gets them to the knockout rounds. A tie would move FCC on as well, with the top 4 #3 teams making it to the round of 16. NYCFC beating Inter Miami Monday forces FCC to at least tie to move on, RBNY would then also advance.
Deplange informed "For us, it is an important game because we can go to the knockout stage afte that. Even with a good result, I think we're probably going to the next stage. For us, it's important to confirm the result against Atlanta."
Stam offered "They've been looking for this little success-and I'm saying little, if you look at the game, it's a big success-but it's a small thing in a step going forward."
The win was big for team and morale but a small part of what the team seeks to do.
After losing the focus was on the way they would bounce back after the Crew. Are they able to build from the game with ATL as they take on NYRB who already beat them this year, yes but will they?, this is why they play the games. Each game is on its own a grand moment for the team in the now, what does it do to help them in their journey of hitting future goals? the big issue facing them at this point.