NYCFC & St Louis
St Louis presses in the NYCFC defensive third and win deep throw as the GK waits too long to distribute the ball. Gray relieves the pressure from the SLC offensive with a ball played out of touch. Outnumbered to the wing, NYCFC allows a ball into the 6. The forward knocks a defender into the GK, no whistle. SLC got forward to the edge of the area back to the center circle again to the area and a long shot defended out for a corner. Taken into the area near the penalty mark it goes well through the area and a half volley is driven high. A through ball is received by SLC, into the area and it is 1-0 SLC off the foot of Hartell after Gray lost his footing. He was rather open about 8 yards out as the ball came in from inside of the area. SLC is loving this right side of the defense, they go to it again as the GK comes off his line and plays it off the field. Many players are well open as SLC gets forward, NY takes it back near midfield and go back below the center circle. A high ball across to the far touchline is lost after a foul. SLC presses again and do recover the ball but it still gets to their GK. A short corner after it was defended off a players back leads to a wide open player who shoots at the GK. We saw SD do the same to NYCFC last time out. A SLC player down allowing both teams to confer with their players, he is now up. Great ball movement gets NYC from goal to goal and a half chance on a shot, easily covered up. SLC with a pair of shots both blocked. Murray with a great sliding block in the area and NY holds to half field and slows down. NY over the top is it headed down and SLC holds as, they get across the field with a few passes. Klaus lays off a long ball to his runner who cannot catch up to it. NY cannot keep up with an attacker, a player open but the pass was short as NY knocks it away. Ojeda with a give and go finds the end line it is then into the 6, and it bangs off the crossbar and out. NY with a takeaway near mid field, get to the area no shot, they pull back and get a throw. Now NY holds, they get forward them go outside, then back twice? Now again, into the center circle, they give it up at midfield. Again on the right side a player gets open for SLC. SLC probing NYCFC, then getting forward again on the right side and give up a goal kick. NY fouled about 30 yards out near the touchline. A line is set at the top of the area and a few blue shirts to the left, into the area, headed out for an NYCFC corner, #3.To the side of the 6, headed out, Gray sends it back in, defended wide for another corner, his half volley was low and out. To the penalty area it goes, headed off the foot of a NY player, a high ball crosses the goal mouth headed out for another corner. Murray connects on a header, but directly to the GK. Twice the pressure almost gets it in the defensive third of NY, helped by poor first touches. A pair of blues shirts play the ball in different directions, but NY holds and draws a foul on the edge of the area, maybe ten yards from the end line. A DFK, but I doubt it will be on goal. A pair on the left await a pass, Wolf, looking to go top bin is maybe 20’ high as it crosses over the goal. Pressure by SLC causes confusion and they win a throw. Another player wide open on the right side gets a great ball across the goal winning a goal kick. Taken short, then blocked at the corner of the area and offside. The AR has lost the flag into the bench of NYCFC., this replay I want to see it may have broken as they now go to their gear bag. Again a player left open on the right side and it gets into the box, now a bit inside a player a bit open is the target but the pass was off target and the GK has it. NY moving the ball bout at 50 yards, a shot in from the area blocked out, NY recovers. Forward a bit then out again now to the bottom of the center circle just out of the area they play it in, off but another has it, lost and SLC is in the are just like that, cleared out by Gray, a great chance in the area for SLC. A deep throw by SLC is lost , NY gets it to the SLC half then win a throw, now across the field and they are on the line, into the area too far for the player and another throw, this one very deep. NY moving the ball but not getting into a dangerous position into the area and out then further back. Into the area now it’s taken as a sliding tackle gives up a corner and the attacker is limping. This corner goes to the penalty area, headed out NY recovers and play it back to their GK at 45’. Long ball down the touchline for NY is lost, NY had a DFK just below the center circle and with 2’ of extra time the first half comes to a close.
NY must tighten up on their left side defense and get shots off in this next half. SLC needs to take their shots, too much passing rather than taking shots for them.
NY with the ball in the area a shot not taken. A 50 yard run, lays it off then gets the return he puts in to goal but too much air and the GK has it. NYCFC beats the press, get into the area of SLC and out again, they win a throw but it’s in their defensive half now. Over the top headed back by Ojeada and a white shirt gets it. A poor pass NY now into the area, passed to a SLC player, recovered out a bit then in but too far for a goal kick. In the very early going of this 2nd half NYCFC looks better than the first. NY turns up the heat, gets forward, coming back and a 1v1 is just wide of the goal. Another shot headed out by NYCFC. At the end line a foul, to be taken just 10 yards on the field for SLC. Played high, missed, lofted back in but taken by the GK as no white shirts were nearby. A cross goes fully across the area then a shot by SLC and off the defender at the top of the 6, corner for SLC, off SLC for a goal kick. A wall pass at the top of the area does not work out for SLC. Fernandez has it in the area passes, Hernandez with one touch too many gets blocked. NY still at the edge of the area then go back 20 yards, next at the bottom of the center circle, too much in the area without a shot a few times in this possession and a goal kick. A long ball played between two NYCFC players is taken by SLC. Haak is now on for NY. Down the line for NY, onto the foot of the forward and it is lost. NY, again in the area due to the field conditions, slippery & cannot tuck it away. Many SLC players forward, it is in to the area and out back in and 2-0 at 67’. Martinez with a chance of a shot passes on it as a defender slips, it goes beyond his target and SLC gets it, they must shoot, a pass won’t score most times. Haak, hacks a player down on a sliding tackle upending the player near midfield, gets cautioned then help the player up, truly a professional foul and reaction. Open player gets 3 looks at goal, passes, then the next NY player has a pair of attempts to shoot, the half chance he takes is sent out. A ball lost in the area is picked up by Martinez, he not only does not take the first shot available but the 2nd and sends it home., no it’s called back for offside, this at 76’. Too many passes just beyond the area and NY lost it then it’s in the back of the net, going the other way at 79’. NYCFC just does not look as good as they had in past games, it is not that SLC is playing so well. On the right side, as shot not taken becomes a wild pass then laid off at the corner of the arc and again, no shot and the pass it lost. NY holds just beyond the area and draws a DFK at 85’, this should be on goal.It is a goal to the bottom fight of the goal, just beyond the GK, bouncing near the goal line. NY with a steal getting forward but no support, yet they win a corner. It comes out and is struck high from well beyond the area. Two on the left for NY one passes to the other, the ball in is not taken first time, it bounces up and is shot as it is blocked by Kessler. A break by SLC is just wide as the NY GK is of his line final 3-1.