NYRB 2-1 FCC
One team topped the league, the other hoping to get in the playoffs as NY visits FCC. First look at goal goes to the visitors and it is of course the #1 draft pick of FCC a few years ago, Frankie Amaya who gets the shot, from Duncan it is high and wide. I am glad it was a shot from a bit of a distance, without the typical RBNY many touches, too many before a rushed, lost or blocked shot. Make them come out and defend you, take the chance. Next time down the field, Harper has Barlow any number of times, then passes and his pass goes out for a throw for the home team. Barlow was way off on his pass to Tolkin, not good to lose the ball in your own offensive 3rd. Tolkin, this time from Barlow, his cross goes through the area landing jus wide of the 6, played out off a ball in from Duncan who then takes the throw in, flicked on for Luquinhas, he does not get there, Hagglund heads the Ball in from Luquinhas another NYRB corner, they have 9 goals off such and it’s to Harper with a great look on goal, this is wide right. The shot was taken with his left, the talking head says he had the first touch right, I say NO, that should have gone on goal. VAR is looking into a handball on the play, turn the body a bit and get behind for an although highly difficult, a makeable first time shot. It was shot straight, thing is he was not straight in front of the goal. Though the player had no play on the ball , Coronel a bit off his line to grab the ball in the 6, nice aggressive early play by the GK. Duncan with another throw to Barlow, back and forth, lost by Barlow, recovered by NY. Duncan on the ball beats a pair to feed Harper who puts it into the area but not enough away from the target who was away from the goal, not moving towards it. Amaya and Barlow get it forward, back to Frankie and he has a goal a 12’. His quick release on the shot once he settled it nets one against his ex team in a game with massive playoff implications for his current side. He was able to get a bounce just in front of the GK and picks the corner. Mosquera fouled deep in his end for a DFK. FCC moves it forward, the ball in cleared out by Edelman. Into the area goes Powell, beating a number of Red Bulls as he goes to ground, gets the shot off and it is wide. Sean Nealis, the captain takes a blocked shot then heads the rebound to the GK, he sprawls for it on the ground and may have been stepped on by Kubo, getting him twice, yet broadcaster says nothing there? The Paraguayan MNT GK is up and ready to go. Barlow with a nice pass to Tolkin on to Luquinhas, losing the ball to Powell. Edelman tracks the ball not letting it out of their half it goes to Tolkin back in first time shot by Manoel, 2-0 at 17’ for NY, I am liking these quick shots. NY is doing so well in finishing their chances, getting it wide then brining it inside, he was able to square his body with an easier ball than did Harper. Only one team has won here, no other has gone up by 2! Mosquera, steals the ball gets forward, it goes the other way , out of touch by FCC and NY throw. Mosquera with a quick restart into Harper and without whistle, it is called back. Here we go, too many touches, no go on goal, then out and a long distance shot is well off the mark, shoot the ball, it has worked so far, keep at it. The press creates a turnover deep for NY. Players within feet of each other has defenders there as well, and NY loses it very well deep. A cross to not a soul clears the 6, Tolkin sends it back in. The ball falls to Manoel but is unable to do anything with it. NY benefits from a fast whistle as the home team was getting forward, the center expresses his apologies. Miazga draws the attention of the ref with Manoel, and the ref is not happy as he gets it back from the NJ native and ex RBNY player with a good deal of time in Europe. Gaddis cautioned as his cleat catches Harper as he reaches around for the ball, it was more than just being stepped on. I agree this time with the commentator that it may not have been worthy of a yellow but it is issued. Harper, pulled to the ground by Mosquera, but no call. Duncan with a long ball in it’s taken away butt recovered just beyond the area. Some good hard tackles from both teams. A deep poor pass has FCC in on goal, played into the 6, Nealis sends it back out and here comes NY, final pass too long and the GK takes it. Tolkin with a steal and then loses it here come FCC, Nealis steps in front of the player and looks for Harper, who tries to get around by playing it well ahead but not quite quick enough. The pace of the game has dropped off a bit, RBNY are sitting back a bit, they need to keep the pedal to the metal as the big goal getters for FCC are on the bench. Coronel well off his line at 37’, kills the breakaway. Hagglund goes up in the area, but not getting the ball to stay in play. Though clearly emphasized by the front office that Troy is NOT an interim HC, he is now for the second time referred to as such. Duncan curls one into the area off the head of a defender and out, Kyle with the throw. Harper loses the ball and his footing down the line. Luquinhas for Tolkin plays it just a bit too far losing possession to Hagglund. Duncan seems to have sold a foul well as he goes to ground and rolls a bit after contact, leaves it for the GK to send forward. An extra minute of time to come. Just missed by FCC halfway through extra time, not good to let up so clear of a chance, but he was off, no flag as they delay it, none raised.
Subbed in now is Pinto, his sister at NC Courage and his dad, a great local player who has been in the sports industry for a number of decades now. Miazga gives way to Murphy. Edelman from 35 or so yards is blocked. A lead ball for Harper way off target. Powell beats a pair then Tolkin recovers and he beats another but Amaya grabs it and gets forward. FCC gets it back and a ball played too long over the end line. 49’ Powell draws a yellow on Luquhinas. A good hard tackle by Reyes is whistled by the ref. Edelman foul from behind hear half field. Duncan into the area it goes out to Tolkin, his first touch too far and it is blocked then out for a corner. John of course takes the kick going near post off a FCC player and another corner. This one is played into the 6 and high, the GK punches it out. Reyes with what I think is a poor decision at half field no less to grab the player and pull him off the ball and to the ground yellow issued. NY cannot clear it, a long distance shot by the home team is well high. Harper from the top of the arc, not a strong shot but it is partially blocked and goes to the GK. Acosta tand Barreal are now in. NY cannot clear it Powell shoots it almost sideways. Edelman looking forward has it headed away and FCC holds it, played back into their half now it’s out for their throw. Stroud, Dylan Nealis and Fernandez await entry for NY. Manoel from Harper, he spins and hits it saved for a GK, no extra touch and on goal, created nice space for himself. FCC has a break or so the talking heads say, it is 3 v 5 and the crowd roars. Reyes has the ball go off his arm, no call Manoel buries a curling shot but the handball is being reviewed, this may call back the goal. A PK is called if Reyes is cautioned, he is out of the game and suspended for too many cautions as well. A goal lost a PK awarded, not a good position for NYRB if converted as Acosta who just came on steps up, who else as MVP echoes through the stadium, upper 90 as Coronel goes the wrong way. Gut check time for NY, they have 23 minutes to go. The volume has been turned up as Edelman is down. Now the DFK, it’s into the area, a foul called on NY and it come right on out. Reyes stops a promising attack of FCC for a throw. Omir fouled, Hagglund booked, showed his cleats may have gotten lucky with that. Fernandez remains down and is in clear pain. As said by commentators it may be going to VAR, the center is on his headset, it is checked remains a caution. Burke replaces Omir. In limited time his weekend, Corey was dangerous. Edelman leads Stroud on the end line, his cross blocked for a corner. The leading goal scorer for NY had just 6:30 on the field. Consecutive throw ins for NY around the area. Edelman rocks Badji and gets the call, he is holding his arm. DFK NY side of the 6 finds the target, Dylan but winds up out of play. Vazquez taking the field, FCC wants this game he will get maybe 15’ due to the stoppages. Touch #3 for Vazquez is on goal from about 10 yards just wide. Luquinhas brought down, Pinto cautioned. From Just beyond the arc Amaya over the ball, Edelman gets to it as partially blocked and his shot is blocked. To set a new points record, FCC must win here and run the tablet to get those elusive 9 points. FCC has put in their offensive powers. Yearwood now looking to get on. Nealis carries, Luquhinas looks for Stroud nothing doing back to Luquhinas and again fouled but does not get the call. Yearwood for Luquhinas at 86’, no Hall this game. If NY prevails it would be just away win #3 but #2 in a row for 37 points. Amaya with a spin beats a trio and Powell gets his 2nd caution as he puts Stroud to the ground, NY has a man advantage for the duration. Acosta steals it from the man going to the corner a bit early, Yearwood in the area is outnumbered and gives it up. 10’ of extra time, a nail biter for both sides. FCC holding the ball and get a call just over the half, Acosta over it. A bit of a trick play and it goes over the end line. Burke gets it in the area, trying to link up with Yearwood but a bit behind him a late foul near the end line by FCC. As Yearwood tried to recover the ball Barlow held off with the better look at goal. Edelman gets the pass and goes high and wide with it. Troy booked as he protested the call on Burke, again wrongfully referred to as the interim HC. Pinto brings it into the area and it is out for a GK. Barlow fouled, back up. Burke gets the ball a half shot and saved without issue. As it stands, Montreal and DC are behind, helping NY big time. Another yellow to FCC for dissent. Coronel cautioned, where is the self control discipline here? Last minute in extra time but injury and cards may add to that. Acosta and Duncan go face to face Duncan carded, water thrown at him and Coronel off his line, Acosta also cautioned. Duncan fouled a player and Acosta went after him and is now jawing with the ref. Acosta goes short it is picked off NY ball and the final whistle.
Teams do want to peak late, NY won at DC, played well facing the Fire and of course just won here tonight, are they peaking at the right time, as the 2nd season approaches? Being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round so often is that now inside their head, well not time for that yet, stay focused on the next game, only look ahead, nope that will have you looking at the playoffs rather than playing in them. They must now be near perfect just to make the playoffs.