NYCFC & Sporting KC
New Year, new coach for NYCFC, this is a nice early FREE look with a few games on free TV WWOR, channel 9 locally. Coachella is not just for concerts anymore as the MLS has done preseason before from here.
A long ball is not caught up to by NYCFC. It is interesting to see MLS teams play on a field surrounded with a say 3’ high picket fence. In that it is preseason, no players have their names on the jerseys. Into the area, headed out by SKC and NY recovers. Into the KC area again nobody there as the GK grabs it up. SKC are holding despite pressure in their end, they now have it at midfield and go back into the area. Miller, out of IU, now in a KC kit is fouled. Into the area near the penalty mark, KC receives it, but it is taken away as it bounds away. Again NY pressing deep in their offensive third, it is delaying the other team but again they get it over the halfway mark, as Keaton is fouled. NY plays it in the back, look to get forward, losing it at midfield then KC gets it to their GK. NY goes long again and again over the end line. SKC getting forward into the area shot saved by Freese. This at 9’. The best look of the game thus far. Again over the top by NY, it is not working try something else? A few defenders break it up back to the GK of SKC. NY has it forward just beyond the area, a short ball in does not work, at least they tried. Great ball movement by SKC gets a shot off but the shot was not too good, it slowly gets to the GK. Again forward on the line then in on the ground just evading the foot of Fernandez. That tap in, it was explained by the talking heads was lost due to players being in the way, nope, concentrate. NY in on goal, a quick shot put out over the end line for a corner, they go short and the top of the arc just beyond a header and a goal kick. DFK NY from just beyond the top of the area maybe 5 yards off the touchline. It is into the sun yet played 3’ off the ground? The GK was shielding his eyes with this play, another reason to go high. A short pass in the area is lost to an open NYCFC player. Keaton sent rolling as he gets the call. Now end line, O’Toole getting on the ball again and toward the end line it is played in, headed out, this has been far more effective than the long balls over the top. As KC looks to get it out of their half, NYCFC steals it the center back had it, right wing back getting wide. Another kick, also played too low so it could not get further to goal. A corner for NY, now Maxi over the ball, to the top of the 6’ and Keaton is just wide, he already has a goal this preseason with a goal and a pair of assists to his credit last year. Again down the line, Ojeda looks to push it inside and they get a corner again. Headed to the top of the 6 by KC. A deep throw for KC just below the 18. Keaton beats a trio on his way to the end line, plays it in all but to the next touchline and it comes back for a 1v1 for KC, the defender gets back with a great slide tackle, corner coming. Parks, getting fouled for his trouble. A high cross finds its target for KC, then a lead pass goes into the area to NYC with many touches near the top of the area it goes fully across, played in, NY sends it back out on a header. Into the area and a KC shot blocked out they hold, then foul. Keaton over the top, Fernandez gets to it, loses possession, a deep cross is stolen played in a goal is offside. NYCFC steals it plays it to the area and the player does not take a first time shot, electing to let it run as it is then taken. SKC again offside. Downfield in the area, cut back as a pair of NYCFC players waited, it never got there. Again unable to link up at the end and NYC in the area lose it to the GK. An errant pass and SLC in the area is way wide with their go on goal. NY has a 1v1 and well after the offside call, shoots, that is a caution, not issued. At 15 yards out and a few off the touchline NYCFC has a DFK, let’s hope this time they get some air under it. Maxi does it get it high enough but at the 6 it is headed out, here comes the counter. 1v1 on the wing is laid back now played in from well beyond the area and the first time shot is off the mark. Another corner for NYCFC, they need to get one on the net. Maxi get the height and into the 6, headed out another goal kick. This one finds Keaton, he nods it on and the GK grabs it out of the air. NY holding in the back and suffer a foul in it. Maxi offside.
Neither team did much of anything in the first half, NYC must get shots off, come back a bit for the ball, good that they changed their point of attack. SKC has had a few breaks, they need to get more players forward with speed in such times to better support and prevent being outnumber as the defense gets back.
NY can’t control it and KC gets a throw. They made a few changes at the half. Now on the ground NY gets to the end line and then in a first time shot not taken has the next blocked, a miscommunication has a lead ball to the end line on the near touchline go out for a goal kick, the run determines the pass, not vice versa. A long high pass can’t be handled by NY and SKC near the area and now out again, a chipped lead ball dies before getting to its mark and KC gets forward. They get a throw, taken quick, then blocked out again and back in, earning a corner for KC. SKC again near the goal but offside, one time they won’t be. Playing from the back are NYCFC. Down the far line into Maxi who cannot handle it, NY holds, then get fouled. Stolen at the center circle, partially cleared, then NY recovers. They go back into their half, then a driven ball in, goes out. During an injury timeout KC make wholesale subs as does NY. A play on call goes to waste by NY as they lose it two passes later. SKC just wide from about 15 yards out, he was suffering a tackle at the time. A long throw by NY has it played back through the area, just beyond a player’s reach, great chance left to waste. NY holds well, back to the GK. Again over the top, it is cleared out of play for a deep throw for NY. Long shot is just wide by Gray. The NYC GK takes too long and a hard challenge bounds out over the end line, not good. For some reason, the commentators are not getting the subs as they are made. Gray defends, winning a goal kick. Great ball played back in the air, headed on goal, good go on goal but at the GK. A 1v1 on the GK and a PK is called, SKC goes let and is wide.
Neither team showed much, that does not mean much as it is so early. No injuries, not too many errant passes. Next game 3 p.m. Saturday also on Channel 9.