NYCFC v Revs
This was the first game for NYCFC a decade ago it was lots colder. With one team on the rise as the Revs are not doing so well, neither have their own stadium yet. One an MLS original, while the junior has a title. No, none of this makes a difference the game starts soon. A 15 year old was called up by the first team of NYCFC, out of Auburndale but not dressed, Shore, another youngster was the Man of the Match last week.
Revs go to their GK at the start. NY steals it then lose it as they try to get forward. Again to the GK of the Revs in their first minute. Cavallo on a deep throw. Played on and now at the other touchline for Wolf into the 6, a crowd knocks it down and out to Gil. Revs hold well, go long headed down now to the NY GK. A ball played into a double teamed blue shirt and then the Revs get a whistle, and another. Sands loses his footing. Too long and high of a ball the Revs take it and get forward fast, just as fast out and the Revs get the long clearing pass. NY recovers at midfield then win a throw. Pressure and a mis timed pass lead to a deep throw for NY then into their own half, Cavallo leads Martinez, they don’t link up but do get a corner. Maxi to take it, Keaton with the header a bang bang play but saved, rebound played out for another corner, what an opening goal that would have been. Keaton again the target on a set piece to his feet laid back and lost, NY gets a throw, then another corner. From the corner of the 6, NY holds then it is over the end line now a goal kick. Revs press, a long ball to midfield is lost as the Revs go back with it. Now to their goal keeper. Again the pressure of the Revs is not dealt with well as NY goes 40 yards back to the GK twice. Lost at the half, NY gets a pass, cannot hold it and Revs again have it. They keep going back well below the center circle now, again into their half, and again, again, trying to get the runner on the wing, defended out for a throw a bit in the NY half, they go back to their own. Revs from near the end line to their own half now forward again Sands into the area defended out by Martins for a corner. High all but beyond the area, almost out, NY holds and too long of a ball is lost to the Revs. NY cannot deal with the press, a ball out is out of touch, a throw for the Revs they hold, but a poor pass taken and NY is attacking Shore leads it to Fernandez then Martinez and pulled way back for Keaton. Maxi sends Morales looking for Parks they win a corner. Fernandez & Morales at the ball, Parks a head taller than his mark? Headed out by the Revs, they have a run, pulled back 40 yards, this is beyond me. Near the top of the arc a New England player goes down and remains as he passed Martins, amazing he is up and ok. This press is not so strong but working wonders and Haak forced to a bad pass, NY gets it back then lose it to the Revs in their defensive third. Same player up and again a miracle he is fine, another whistle by the ref, Gil is clearly being targeted and Keaton draws the whistle. NY shields the ball gets the throw, losing it even faster. Big ball over the top the defender goes down and the Revs with a corner. Parks sends it out Revs hold with no pressure and they move it about. Bye plays it in and it is off Martins and into the back of the net, the Revs still have yet to score on the season. Just out of the 6 it beats Freese, another reason to get the ball into the goal area, anything may just happen. What were the odds in Vegas for this to be how they get their first score on the year. Cavallo is down, in for the red card suspension of O’Toole, as coach and Maxi talk it over. Risa in for Nico, who left fully under his own power. Maxi, gets to Risa his ball in played out NY holds Risa in again, gets a throw. Maxi for Ilinic and they win a corner on the ball into the 6, defended by Will Sands. Polster and Martins getting an earful form the ref. Ilenic not happy the AR not far from the play missed the ball hitting the inside of the defenders foot on the way over the end line. This mild pressing by the Revs, is paying big dividends and again NY plays a long ball out of the back and out of play. No idea why Bye just played a ball high and out of play from the wing? Freese pulls off a nutmeg a bit risky but it worked. Risa to Wolf he loses it out of touch. NY presses Shore to Martinez near the end line through the 6 and out. Haak to a covered player who slips and it is lost, stopped now Fernandez in the area and it is tied off a great pass from Wolf. Take a chance on a break and there you go. The winner last week went to Wolf from Fernandez. Revs called literally at the center spot for a foul. NY goes back literally half the field to the GK, then to the area again and again, across the area with some pressure and again it is lost for a throw off the foot of Haak. What would one have seen in a scouting report to half press, then have it work so well? Gil beats a free Freese, makes a great save on Ganago. Fernandez hit hard gets the call. Ganago into the 6 defended out by Haak for a corner, again this is why you put the ball there. Sands called for a hard foul NY wants a card, I saw 2 players committed to a ball, no card needed. Risa takes a ball off the chest out for a corner, there was some pressure by the Revs. Cleared out shot 40 feet high and a basket catch for Freese. Wolf the intended target of a ball flicked on but the movement was not able to be anticipated and it is now a goal kick. Martinez has a ball over the top, he stops and is run into in the area and wants a call. Ilenic sends in a loose ball but on the ground into the 6 from very near has no chance of getting by anyone. Ilenic skies what should have been a clearing ball as he was harassed by Sands.
Haak not enough on a ball to the GK, forcing Freese well off his line to go the other way with it to his right back. Ilenic both up for a ball Sands down now with that challenge by any means, no foul. Ganago submarines a player and again slow to get up but a miraculous healer that player is. Sands gets his first call after returning makes a few moves seems ok. Ganago for Yusef, then Gil sends it to a fan well above the goal. Gil may have sought out the player on the wing, but Ganago takes the pass. Gil beats a pair Revs hold then go forward for Yusef, too much ahead of him. NY goes inside, defended by a falling defender out for a throw. Ilenic scoops it to nobody and hears it now. Shore with a long shot that was wide but a great idea. Shore with a late tackle is carded as he would be at any licsensed establishment in the state at just 17. Ganago and Bye play a 2 many game then Ganago has his shot go well off the mark. NY looks to get forward foul on Maxi and his frustration is clear. Poor defense leaves Ganago open again, the shot eight at a defender. Parks too much for Fernandez. The shot of Ganago is again stuffed. Maxi for Martinez, defender slides by and the shot is wide. A teammate was coming on behind him with a far better look at goal. Shore is off Ojeda is on. Maxi with a corner head out NY keeps Parks with a look has a hard rebound Martinez sends it home. A side volley in the air struck by Alonzo all but tears through the netting. If only one might get style points for such things. Maxi just off on his effort Martinez with the fast return to Maxi, his flick barely wide. Ganago well off, the delayed whistle lets the play go on, this I do not agree with too much may happen as the play continues. Push by Haak should have been called was next to the ball near the ref. Now NY has the benefit of a play on as they should, while the ball kept going forward. Polster drops Maxi. Martins for Wolf lost and recovered, Wolf looks inside, too many dark blue tops. Sands is out, Buck is on. NY gets forward a ball in, turned away and they recover it. Yusef goes outside, Revs win a corner. Wolf stops trying to out run Gil, looks to go over him and wins a throw near midfield, Haak fouled. Great ball movement leads to Maxi forward up holing his midsection no whistle but the crowd wants one. Bakrar for Wolf at 91’. Ganago into the 6 no idea how but, Freese grabbed it up. Banago holds leaves for Bye into the area headed clear but Revs hold. Feingold sends one in, Parks heads out, Maxi helps it further from the goal. Yusef gives way to Diaz at 86’. Ojeda shields the ball at his corner lots of movement with Diaz as Ojeda goes down with a yell. Martinez and Moralez both far too generous with the ball, both should have shot. Parks, grabs Gil, gets cautioned, smart foul. Parks good run gives to Ojeda a great shot but just wide. Gil his pocked picked by Ojeda the Revs get a deep throw, now a corner. Falls in the area to Revs, NY clears it to the half, over the Revs hold in the area into the 6, defended out for another corner at 94’, 6’ in extra time total. Short to Gil into the area and out a card to the Revs Feingold and the NY player stays down. 6’ in and Revs with another corner, it is short, Revs get it, NY plays it out of touch almost half a minute beyond the 6, another corner. Gil over it, short to Haak and it is over. NY holds the 1 goal lead after trailing unlike last week’s tie.
A slim difference in the games but a huge one in result as a similar game last week facing a stronger opponent and NY trail, equalize, yet do not give up another and go from 1 to 3 points in a seek. Lessons learned of last week.