NYCFC & San Diego
New York City, new coach, new opponent, new season as they face the latest entry to MLS in San Diego FC, they must have paid a marketing team millions for that name. With NY having most of their players returning one would think it gives them an edge, only many are out with injury so that remains to be seen how it will work out. SD has yet to play, NY has one under their belt, they did look better than I would have expected with a new coach, let’s see how much better they perform under his system today.
Freese reels in the first shot from outside, right at him no issue. Martinez with a run wins a corner at the end line. Last time out Keaton was the target man, it did not do much. Played out a bit then back in and San Diego has it, defended out about 25 yards out. San Diego well off. Across the penalty area, back inside to the D and lost. Recovered and passed back to Martinez, who is off frame, that is not good, an easy shot, unmolested near the penalty mark and wide. SD goes inside, nobody home and one hop to the GK. Some nice movement by NY gets it to the area and short passes in tight areas have it cleared out, get on net. NY has another shot but a difficult angle and it is high by Wolf. NY again, a good look on goal first time shot blocked but out of touch, McViegh defended it well. NY gets it forward wide, as it goes in, it is lost. They are just not connecting well today. This game like their last has neither wearing names on the tops, other games earlier in the week, did in fact have them. One player pressing, urging others on, fails as they do not pick up the others for NY. SD off again. SD in the area with numbers, a pass defended over the end line, a shot may have been the move, Hack with the block. Short corner and SD is up 1-0. McNair tucks it home. Lofted in after the short pass then headed in , just not good marking by NY. Alvarado way open on the right wing, plays it back in, SD gets a foul from about 30 yards out, watch for the same idea as the goal. Driven in far post and the player cannot catch it. A pair of touches and NY is over the half, the longer ball by Maxi taken by Alvarado. Maxi feeds a player who goes into the area, but the GK breaks it up. Another defensive breakdown by NY and the player, Dwyer gets through, just wide. They must tighten that up. Bakarah who has had 2 missed chances now gets in on net, batted away by the GK he recovers and and NY holds, but do have it taken away. To the left line 2x, this one is high into the 6, the GK swallows it up. Martinez had his defender 1 v 1 and still gave it up. NY loses it, recover it well, play it through the box for a tap in by Martinez, the assist to Gray, it went off the GK and into the path or Martinez. That is a basic play get forward play through the 6. A missed pass brings pressure and Wolf, gets off a shot the lost ball, left him open as he got forward. NY presses, Keaton takes it and again too much in close as Maxi passes from the top of the area, it was taken, shoot. Corner for SD, they scored on one already let’s see how this one plays out. Top of the 6. Freese plays it out of touch. Right side defense still lacking in this one possession SD has their player open thrice. SD out hustles NY to the ball, cleared out just in time out of the area. Maxi takes a hit and a caution is issued. NY does not challenge on the right as three players play the ball, now into the area then cleared out and NY suffers a foul. Tayvon with a go on goal, NY holds after the save. Lozano tries to chip the ‘keeper but is tackled as he releases and it is errant. Twice NY out hustled for a ball now and SD is in their area, NY gets a deep foul in their defensive end. Alonzo to a streaking Bakhor. Again, get forward, play it into the 6. Not the way to end the half as the goal comes at 40’. Held and shot by Lozano covered by Freese. Again NY is seeking to delay the attacking player, but not well into the area, luckily a player does challenge and takes it away. Five players within the same place and NY passes to one? Martinez with a big pass cross field leads to a first time shot that was just wide, Martinez had to get more over that feed from Gray. Wolf held back and draws the call. Keaton gets run through and gets the call. NY with a DFK in the waning seconds from about 30 yards. Maxi sends it, the GK boxes it and halftime is here.
NY got off to a slow start but have done better, they must make more of their chances. For a first game EVER, SD looks great
NY with the kick, they go back then go long to open space. Too strong of a pass bounds off a SD player and they recover it. Gray slides, missing a kick, ball into the area played out of touch for a throw. Martinez carries, a ball goes between two NY players and is lost. Alvarado and Dwyer with a two man game get it forward, then brought back in for Lozano he megs the defender and SD gets a throw. Lead ball then Lozano plays it through the middle it passes right through. Press by SD causes Freese to pass into the middle of the area. NY with a great chance that Wolf made look like a pass as it was played across the area. Deep throw for NY, it goes back to the GK, there go 80 yards? NY loses it then a poor pass, Lozano tries to paint the corner but Freese gets down to stop him. Moralez again down holding his right ankle, he is up not walking 100%. Gray and Keaton bear out what I always say, the player facing up field gets the ball if two are going for it on the same team. Again, poor pass selection by Freese to deal with pressure. Wolf to Bakarah, he looks far post but it’s a corner, could not link up with Martinez. The corner is taken into the area, partially cleared then NY gets it now back in the area as Shore looks near post. Gray defends a pass finds an outlet who can’t hold it in their defensive third. Lozano dragged down, Martinez may have been due a card? Lozano feeds Godoy and it is tied up. Poor defense left the assist man open and the runner to get free, he made a great shot on a first time shot. Freese wants offside, and the AR did not catch it, a quartet from SD converge on the ref, a yellow is issued. There was a player off moving forward in the 6, not far from the GK, so yes he did impact the play. First touch betrays NY and it is lost, the attacking player slips and NY clear it. NY broke the press and Martinez, with a long distance shot makes it 3-1 at 65’, he has had a foot in each goal for his side. NY presses, gives Bakarah a run on goal but the GK wins it. Back the other way a corner for SD, stolen by NY they get it near half then go back, the work of Shaw wasted. Back to the GK, NY goes long and SD gets it. Keaton carries gives to Fernandez, Della Torre of the USMNT gets is name called, should be an impact player here, playing in his hometown, this is not typically a good thing for most players, coming to MLS, though a loan, he is here. Boatang, looking dangerous in the area, just did not get around the ball enough in the area. NY misplays a few balls, Boatang may have just dented the post. Fernandez, hits Ojeda alone and he hits the floor and can’t control the ball. Fernandez going right away from players, turns indie too and then commits a foul in the area. He is the 2nd player the talking heads claim has a much preferred foot, at this level, having that cost you chances near goal is unacceptable. SD get end line, NY wins a throw. NY defends a ball out of touch. Corner for SD, they get a shot then offside after a short one. NY pressure is keeping the ball in the SD end, and they steam about 30 yards out. Maxi now at his left ankle. A 70 yard run by SD is not supported, he plays into the area and the hands of the GK. Great long ball finds its mark, laid off and lost by NY. Prince out of Wake Forest and the Bronx gets his name called. NY into the area then out sent back but just a few feet off the floor and cleared out. Break away and Romero the GK is cautioned as he leapt and took out the forward, a red is due last player, also seems to have been in the area, but being place just outside it.