Coachella: NYCFC & San Jose
Today NYCFC comes out with many more senior players and what would be typical starters on the field. A pair of Aussies on the field and all players who would have seen a good deal of time last year, probable starters for this coming season.
It is being stated these players will get from 60 through the full 90 this game. Kai takes away from a member of the US U-20’s at the top of the area. A pass out of the back is off the defender, NYCFC throw in the neutral zone and back, now to the GK. Pressure from the Quakes and now the long ball does not get to O’Toole and it is lost, O’Neil with the foul. Going back now across the back are NY, they need to get the ball forward, 2 passes and to the side of the 6, Wolf gets a miscleared ball poor shot, Nico has it his pass is lost. Not defending well as NY now has the Quakes at the penalty mark then out as they hold. Same issue over these games at Coachella, if you can not get back, don’t get forward. Maxi seeking out Ojeda, who may have been off but it is taken away. Kai hears it from the ref as he gets in a hard tackle, putting the player to the ground. Over the top and too long for San Jose, goal kick. Freese with no pressure holds, goes right gets it back, goes left and now across, pressure, Maxi over the top now to Wolf, his pass through a trio is lost. Foul from behind, NY DFK at midfield, quick over the top and lost at the top of the area then a whistle. Into the area then an overlap for the Quakes, Gray plays it out of touch at about 30 yards. Over the top for San Jose, now too long of a cross, NY throw. Players on both sides are always bunching up, making for a choppy game. Distant shot off O’Toole is wide and a corner, the game’s initial one at 13’. Taken is a shot returned and back again thrice into the area and a whistle. Gray leads the attack from the back gets to mid field now to Freese, literally all but half the field given away. San Jose with a ball in, winning a corner. NY gets forward, then pulls it back a few times. Ojeda offside on a ball from Gray. NY passing around the backline. Beyond Gray goes a ball In, off Martins for a third corner by the Quakes. NY doing an interesting thing to counter the corner, this is the 2nd time in leaving a number of players forward having to be covered if it is cleared, but the camera does not show this. Trying to run through a pair, NY loses it. NY, looking forward send it straight out. O’Neill on a shot after a DFK and again blocked in the area. NY steals in the circle, O’Toole to Wolf it is bouncing around, now a bit back out to Wolf and back, Kai goes deep, Quakes with a break, winning a throw in the NY defensive third. San Jose completing passes in tight spaces, NY not going for the ball allows then to do so. Corner Quakes at 22’. A distant shot is easily handled by Freese. NY with some good passes, Gustavo well high from a distant and poor angle. NY wins the ball out by the GK and go to their backfield. Across the 6, Freese steps up a bit and reels it in. Nico gets to a ball over the top, wins a DFK at 25’. From right to left this will go goalward with speed. Side of area, flicked on and in but a handball ls called. Again a player on the wing left open and sends it in, nodded out, Quakes hold and over the top out of touch by NY deep throw for Quakes. Cleared out and the GK comes up to it as the NY player pulls up. Gustavo over the top for Wolf, headed to the GK of San Jose. Great ball in for Ricketts and San Jose hold it. Ojeda steps up with a steal now dropping it as many defenders are present. The NY backline now passing it about, they get it back and all three backs get multiple touches, Martins goes forward, now Ojeda, he goes back, so many passes within say 30 yards right on the wing. Again over the top for NY, shielded and the GK has it. NY presses, they break the press on the wing and the ball is defended out, San Jose recovers get forward then over the byline. Maxi taken down from behind, no call, NY holds. Gray and Ojeda trade passes. Across the backline to the GK and lost in their defensive third. At the waterbreak O’Neill out Parks in and O’Toole drops back. Parks lays it back moves to space does not bet it back. Quakes with a 1v3, they hold it and a shot blocked at the top of the area by O’Toole Maxi on it then goes back, Maxi again finds Wolf on the left, his curling shot from well beyond the area was just wide as it was curling in. Maxi again fouled form behind. The restart by Keaton goes back a good thirty yards, Nico the target on a lead ball is lost. Keaton and a teammate collide, now holding his face. Another corner for San Jose at 44’. All players are back, this is shown while the other way was not. GK steps up and sends a long ball out. NY plays it back now to the GK. At the halftime whistle, Parks lets a left footed shot go and that is the half.
Pierre now in midfield with Parks, Kai is out. San Jose over the top, it is knocked down and NY holds, Gray gets behind Ricketts for Matins, he leaves for Maxi, now Keaton and back to Maxi now Keaton 2 more times, make it 3. Forward and across the area but not a NY player near it, to their defensive third it goes and now Maxi over midfield, back once more. Across the area for San Jose, they have a player down, the whistle is blown. NY presses, a long clearing ball taken by NY and they hold. Forward to Wolf on the wing to O’Toole, Wolf drives a ball down on net and it is defended out and wide, but off a defender as he took it first time off a deflection. Into the 6 and the GK has it with a player down, Ojeda in the wings. Ricketts pressures Martins as he shields a ball out for a goal kick. Keaton to the top of the area and outside, the ball back off the defender and the GK forced into a save, again Ojeda waiting to pounce. A nice 30 yard pass by Keaton, now sees it played further back. Maxi to Nico great go on goal and parried over the bar for another NY corner at 55’, Maxi on the corner. He goes high and far for Gustavo, played in and the call is no goal, goal kick. NY has by far had the better of play in this early part of the half. Very distant shot by Ricketts is very far off. Wolf with an overlap his ball into the area does not find a blue shirt. San Jose look long and too long, deep throw in their defensive end for NY. Ojeda turns on the jets leaves for Keaton and the GK with a good save at the hour mark. DFK San Jose on the edge of the area at about 15 yards, very dangerous, I go on goal. On the ground, O’Toole plays it out for a corner. San Jose change a pair. Near side of the 6 and out by Ojeda, sent in and Freese grabs it. Getting forward, NY with a pass into a defender, leading to a throw. Ojeda into the area and another corner at 64’. He plays it to the side of the area Pierre gets the header but over the top. San Jose too long on a lead ball. Martins for the advancing Gray who then goes into traffic losing the ball. Ojeda outside and goes in beating a pair, the 3rd got him. Nico to O’Toole seeking Maxi it is lost and quickly it is in their half. Gray trying to play it between a pair gets a throw. Maxi tossed to the ground. Goal at 71’ for San Jose off a dep turnover, the initial save to the foot of San Jose and it gets buried. Just at the top of the area it is taken, this playing with it in the back does not work for me, here is why. Maxi for Nico in the center circle. Wolf with a lead ball and a defender, give and go then back a bit. Keaton run over at what, 6’4” that takes a bit. From 30 yards Nico & Maxi talk it over, this should be on goal. Nico with the wide Martins waiting to run on it, it is knocked away, Nico gets it back, the GK off his line and takes it out of the air. NY have about 15’ to level this one up, but now it is in their half a lot more. San Jose pressing a bit give up a throw near midfield, NY suffers the same fate. NY getting forward, the player goes right into the path of a defender, the ball is gone. Gustavo out for Cavahlo. Martins with a foul and the PK is called at 87’. Freese sets and the shot to the right beats him, though he did guess right. Ojeda, loses it on a 1v1, no pressure after. Miscommunication on the NY defense has them watch a ball in the area roll, a shot gets blocked then they recover maybe one last run, nope 2-0, the young ones did better last game.