Neither team has started this MLS regular season off well, but both are still alive in the CCL. This, the home opener was the first time the 2021 MLS Champs would play a home as well as he first snow game in their history. I did find it odd that the opponent would be on the field for any part of the ceremony, let NYCFC only have their moment and do not have the other team endure it.
Amundsen was in on goal in the very early going, but was found to have fouled the player in winning the ball. Keaton fed Taty, but his hit went wide right. Many passes around of the ball leading to Mango, his hit was blocked over the endline, the corner was headed over the endline as well. At 7’, Callens had his first time volley from a ball nodded back to him by Mango, get buried in the back of the net. The Peruvian back line player had the last goal as the final went to PK’s in Portland and the first one of this young season as they were blanked in their first 2 games, hardly the case in their CCL matches. Three times in these first few minutes, Rodriguez is just a bit off, on errant passes and a run of his that did not link up with the pass for him. Mango wins yet another corner, gives to Taty but it is too much and the GK grabs it. The ball gets to Rodriguez, from 25 yards, he chips the ‘keeper, a great idea and tremendous touch on the ball. This more than makes up for his earlier miscues. Morales takes a foolish yellow just after the goal as on a free kick, he moves the ball. Callens is a bit fortunate to not be called for a red card for play in the area. Waterman clips Maxi pretty well, no card issued Amundsen gets off a shot from the top of the box. Taty leads Mango but he is unable to meet up with the ball and was offside as defenders stepped up. Mango across the 6 with a ball, Maxi cannot get to it and the GK gets it just before it would have gone on to Santiago . Mango is on goal from a ball played over the top, he does well in getting to it yet shoots it right at the goalie. Miljevic runs over Maxi, getting a yellow, Parks is down at 36’. Montreal gets about a half dozen good looks at goal, but nothing doing and they win a corner. Johnson faces a first time shot that goes wide. Taty gives to Magno and the header does no damage. Taty with a run on the GK who takes it off his feet.
The second half began with Montreal on the front foot but hardly finished as such. A big change in the game comes as Mihailovic is inserted at the start of the second stanza. Montreal cannot buy a goal as they hit the post and then the side netting. Djordie beats Jasson despite having his shirt held, plays it across the 6 box. Montreal gets one back at 52’ from Brault-Gilliard. Taty, Santi, Maxi, all in the area but no shot as they pass around and the ball is lost. Djordie tests Johnson as does Thorkelsson, the ball goes over the endline from the 6 for a corner. Maxi for Taty, but it goes a bit wide forcing him to drift right to gather it in. Youth is served as Jasson finds Mango who heads the ball down and in, 2 opponents are on the ground. A 5 v 3 from a corner at the far end of the field in favor of NYCFC comes up empty, they slow down the play and others catch up. Montreal had at one point 11 corners, that usually indicates one having a lot of offensive pressure on but it was not that at all. The final score, 4-1 makes it seem very lopsided which the game was not, NYCFC did again hold the ball a lot but today it was more getting forward than kept away.