The feed from the main camera is out and now we have a view at midfield from a fixed position camera. We will be looking at the butt of the AR until the ball goes back into the NYCFC defensive half, why not pick up that camera and go handheld at field level, the raised position is back on line , NY is holding the ball well near midfield, but not really getting forward, now they do, and Martinez is offside from Wolf. MN winds up in the area with the ball and Tayvon takes it, now back to the GK, Freese has his kick go out of touch. A high arcing ball is struck by MN on the half volley and a bit of a surprise as he came out from between a pair of defenders, Freese is up to the task. Over the top of Wolf and off, the third offside in barely 5’. A 60 yard ball from MN they keep it within the area now back to midfield. Back to Harvey with a shot, wins a corner. Shore gave it away, good save by Freese and then played over the end line by NY. Corner headed out lands in the arc, Trapp gets it and now a ball played back to the Gk is over the end line for another corner to the Loons. Top of the box, headed out MN with a shot from beyond the area high and wide. To Freese, met with some pressure, he goes right down the middle for a team mate , it goes out just beyond midfield MN throw. MN GK with a long kick goes almost into the next area. NY wins a throw just in their half of the field. , All the way back to the GK, 50 yards or so given up. Pressure by MN wins a throw half way in their offensive half. Through ball is played to the wing near from almost at the top of the area and NY reels it in. Long ball to a covered player by NY is lost and the MN GK has it at his feet. Into the NY area the pass of Reese gets to midfield with a foul and MN takes a caution. Harvey defends a ball in for a NY corner NYCFC & Minn Utd
Last time out, NYCFC went young and paid the price, they did not look good, let’s see what this game’s roster has in store for us. NY will open facing Inter Miami in the warmth of Miami. It is not lost on us that the team from the Empire State has been playing at the Empire Polo Club in CA.
.Wolf into the area, shot deflected back, NY holds Wolf, now Gray back to Wolf and too high, though they held the ball well enough, the shot was not a quality one. Wolf to Haak, now to the opposite side, they go forward and yet another offside call on NY, they need to figure this out. MN looks good, get a shot, it is cleared on the ground just beyond the area shot in deflected in again and NY on the attack, Martinez, looking but headed away, another ball in defended and held then near the corner flag, Harvey is taken down, that deep is not the place to foul. NY with a few passes getting forward and defended out for a throw very much forward in the MN end, into the area Haak the target does not get it. NY heads on out of play MN throw near the bottom of the circle. Down the line and NY wins a throw. Gray seeking an outlet finds one mere feet away and it is lost for a throw of MN. 25 yards out the throw should be into the area it was high and head by NY, then MN a blocked shot, then to the edge of the 6 leads to a MN corner. This corner ball goes to the side of the area but a duo of players off and Freese is over the ball. The kick taken away and now played well back by MN. They look long and get it to the end line where Gray steals it, no outlet now he has Keaton, it comes to MN and a foul just beyond the arc a bit to the right, expect a shot out of this DFK. A four man wall is up into the wall and out now blocked out into the MN half now wide, the defense is allowing too much freedom to the Loons, a ball cleared out for a throw for MN. It gets to Freese and NY is on the go. Into the offensive half and not yet with a ball really forward, it is defended out for a deep throw, it goes 20 yards back then onto the NY defensive half. NY is pressing but the GK clears it out. Keaton with a quick restart has Wolf and a defender near the corner and NY gets one. Wolf hits his target on the chest but it drops too slow and now a corner near the half for NY. Gray is down they are at his right knee, I was unable to tell if it was an impact injury. Gray is now out of the game, we wish him well. Boxall fouls, a gets a yellow for rough play on the sub for Gray, about 12 yards in half way from the touchline to the area. Too low and headed out now a corner, I prefer the DFK. Into the 6, headed out again a NY corner. Boxall with the headed clear, Wolf has it goes back and now the NY GK from a corner? A long ball from the offside is played out by MN and they have it in the area and is wide seeking out the upper 90. Partially blocked for a corner. Headed out by Haak near the side of the 6, back in again blocked out in the area, MN will hold with a throw, NY moving it about fairly well but not getting forward. A ball into the box lost then recovered, now it’s out as Keaton gests a poor ball. Again deep in their offensive end, a foul by NY. Finally, they connect as Shore gets it in the area, a few more touch it before a shot taken almost out of the area and defended out, a corner for the NY team. They have now half a dozen of such restarts, Keaton cannot out jump the GK and his kick goes to the other end and to Freese, NY with a throw. Rodriguez and his $17 million transfer gets a first mention, it is not done yet and his going to Botofogo would have him taking on Talles Magno who is back in his native Brazil. Wolf gets his pocket picket and left sprawling. Haak beats a pair finds Shore and he feeds it in off the arm of a defender the shot well high.
NY must watch the offside and get more chances off the plentiful corners thus far. Pulling the trigger, is the only way to score, they seem reluctant to do so. MN has taken a few distant shots but have nothing to show for it, they had a bit better of the ball in this first half.
NY gets forward early but it is just wide right. NY presses and a short high kick is taken by NY , Keaton holds on a 20 yard run, goes right as it is lost. NY presses and a hard shot just before the area is wide by Shore. Again they cause confusion in the press. At 50’ the first corner of the half, 7th overall is won by MN off an end line stop by NY. Into the area headed out, MN gathers it, to the end line and Haak defends out for another corner, 2nd in less than a minute. Sent in low, Haak heads out and it is to the MN backstop. Keaton brings it across the field, get to Wolf then a cross is taken by MN in the area. Now a softer press by NY and MN slows it all down. Haak fouls Dotson in the MN defensive third. MN beats the press and get a throw in their offensive third. Foxall with a high throw and cleared NY gets it near the half and play it over the side line. Freese, out of his area takes it out of the air, sends it toward midfield and NY keeps the ball. A ball down the wing heads out, NY throw . Keaton getting very active forward. NY is playing the ball in faster to their forwards, it is not working but a try at changing their method. Another MN corner back out to trap it gets to Freese, he handles it no issues, the ball should not hit the ground in the area. Fernandez is now on for NY as is Ojeda. NY with nice crisp passing and they get forward, Ojeda looking inside but his target does not come to the ball and it is lost. Again three times NY could have shot near the top of the area, yet none did. Harvey defends, Keaton lays it off to no one . MN gets behind the NY defense and another corner is won for MN, Harvey is picked and his effort, headed well above frame. Fernandez with a great run, it in on the ground and off the defender. 3v2 for NY, again too much in the area and it lost, recovered and more touches in the area without a shot then the GK has it. A ball in bounces out to MN from the area a 2nd touch and it is missed, do not take it off the thigh, let it rip, goal kick NY is next. NY has a player down after the play there. Risa is up and we are back. NY with two long balls, one defended back, the 2nd taken away. NY had numbers but MN got it into the area. Yellow to NY for a handball. DFK from a bit below the circle it will not be on goal and a high line set. I would think they go to the wing,? It goes wide, defended out back, in and taken with a block in the area by NY. Rosales across the field as his ball into the area keeps going. Keaton with a steal, then he gets fouled, draws a yellow on Harvey. Martinez with a strike hit midstride as he isolated himself and sent it home, 11-0 at 78’. If MN presses, it may allow NY the chance at another. A lead ball to Martinez, it gets to Fernandez who is stopped at the near post, what a great chance, there was another player in the 6, he was ahead of the ball. Freese beats the attacker to the ball and feeds Keaton. So much on the ball just beyond the area, ends with Perrira and a shot defended out for a corner, others should have had a go on goal before this. The corner headed out by the defense and MN hold through the midfield, Harvey gets on the end and its skied out by a defender, MN throw. Throw is in and out of the area then cleared to the other half, where the GK picks it up , Boxall with a shot leads to his side’s 5th corner of the half at 85”. Rosales gets his head to it, but right to Freese. Again NY has it in close proximity ending with Shore looping one in that went to MN. Haak cautioned at 87’ from about 30 yards out. Rosales too far to get to Boxall but he did get the player to get very near to it. Martinez just beyond the 6 cant link up, now NY goes end line and ridden out for a MN goal kick.