NYRB 0-3 Crew
The overall record between these two MLS originals is 33-33-13, so the Rubber Match after almost 30 years is being played. The hopeful NYRB v Supporters Shield winners Crew.
Just 10 seconds in, Manoel has to jump high to avoid the GK in the area on the ground. A long ball in, Coronel on the ground able to get around his defender, but the home team holds it. The pressure of NY is being felt in these really early minutes. Another long ball, did the Crew know something that has them playing such balls? Pressure causes NY to win a throw at the half field mark. Olympian hopeful Edelman is taken to ground. The boo birds making their presence known on a ball played back to Coronel. Duncan runs through Morris and is whistled for it. Duncan steps up to intercept a crossing ball, his first touch betrays him and it is now a throw for the home side. First corner goes to the Crew. Reyes, above all others gets a head to it. Stroud has a player get in his way, Yeboah gets involved, stepping on his thigh. Edelman kicked down by Cucho who stomped on the foot as the youngster got past him. Stroud to Duncan, the return ball gets skied and lost. Over the first ten minutes the Crew have had by far the better of the ball. A centered ball on the ground hits the handcuffed Reyes and luckily, unlike last year it is into the hands of the GK, not the goal. Yeboah beats Reyes, gets it to the 6 to Cujo 1-0 a 13’. So yes, they may have seen something as the ball to Yeboah was played well ahead and Cujo lost his man as Reyes as unable to close on the ball. Cucho is down after a strong hit of Reyes on a tackle. Elias shields the ball out of play for a corner, the first for RBNY. From JMI and headed out. Duncan, tripped by Cucho, then pulls him to the floor, but the foul first by Duncan is called. The pressure of NY has the ball from well in their end to into the defensive third, but held by the Crew. Stroud intercepts, lays off to Duncan, who falls as the ball goes out of play. Forsberg, avoiding a tackle plays the ball too far ahead and it is taken. Cujo seeks to lead Yeboah but it gets to Coronel. JMI with a slide on the ball in gives up a corner but did his job. A ball meant for Morgan is taken, not held and his pressure then gets his RBNY a throw in deep, yet goes below the center circle in their defensive end. Duncan alone on the wing gets it to Edelman for Stroud and cleared out for a throw near the end line. The throw to the 6, headed out for another throw in that goes to the GK. Russelll-Rowe the target from the GK and Amaya unable to handle it, leading to a corner. Thee ball bounds about the area then over the end line of NY. Cleared a bit to Yeboah and his shot, wide. Edleman with a strong hit on Morris is cautioned a 28’. Amaya just got away with one. NY wins it and have strung together a good dozen plus passes but getting nowhere, now, over 20. Forsberg seeking JMI on a run he did not make. A turn over looks impressive for the Crew but it is passed into the foot of a defender and lost, NY continues to hold and just pass it about. They look for a penetrating pass, it gets to the GK. Duncan plays off the defender winning a throw at mid field, played below the circle a number of times then to the GK, again a ball forwarded, this one intended for Morgan. JMI runs down a ball from Forsberg to not a soul and save it from a turnover, they have now given away a good 50 yards now Forsberg has it at his feet in the area and loses it, the pressure may be back, but no they beat the press. Reyes sends the ball in, out for a throw. An unforced error and NY holds, Reyes in but offside. Stroud for Morgan who lays it off for Forsberg, just able to flick it at the goal and taken by the GK without issue. Great work by NY to get it into the area Manoel can’t get the ball from underneath him off the Forsberg pass. A Red Bull player goes down in the area but the ball is nowhere near, it is play on. Back to the NY goal, Duncan nutmegged 2x, Cujo cautioned as he gives Stroud a hi while he passes him, sending him to the ground, not a smart move. Forsberg has the ball beats 3 players on his own, gets fouled for his troubles in extra time, DFK from 20 yards beyond the area, partially headed clear now Duncan on the wing beats a pair and then loses I, he grabs Russell-Rowe by the top as he is obstructing him. Bodies all over as Rossi fights off a defender or 2 and that is he half, Rossi still pleads his case.
NY must get to goal and stop absorbing this pressure. For their part, the Crew should look to get another for a bit of breathing room.
NY with a short pass to a double teamed RBNY player is lost. JMI with a hard foul. Ross v JMI and Rossi lays the ball off, JMI gets to it and sends it out for a corner. NY not getting the ball up field and lose it in their defensive third, Duncan takes another nutmeg, this one at the foot of Yeboah, yet wins a goal kick. Rossii v JMI and Reyes heads it out. Crew recover. Rossi sends a ball in, deflected out for a corner by the backline of NYRB. Edelman close behind an opponent in front of the ref has the player go down Daniel lifts his arms as if to indicate he is innocent, n call made. Rossi for Yeboah, the strike on the full volley, he did strike it on the way down but still it sailed off. Russell -Rowe picks up a poor pass taken by Cujo, goes in on goal and tucks It away in the corner, easily outpacing Reyes. It began with a poor take down of a chest trap, then a toe poke tackle. On comes Burke for Manoel and Amaya gives way to Gjengaar, making his debut, he is from Norway. Rossi for Russell-Rowe, he stalls, Cujo then shot the ball into any number of feet in he area. Does the ref think Yeboah, hit in the back by Duncan jumped and dove in his way. Edelman with an unforced error near the half its over the line by NY and Crew get back with it. Too much in the back and a ball is challenged by the Crew in the NYRB area. Malte with a foul that will kill off some time. A pass by Edelman trying to beat players, does not and the Crew take it down field and win a corner in the area as Reyes and Edleman bring the player down. Morris puts the corner away off his thigh at 66’ on the flicked on header of the Rossi restart. Moriera taken down by Burke is rolling in pain, Burke totally lined him up, chested him and forearm pushed him down. Yeboah gets a ball, another he should have taken first time from Cujo, his effort in front of Duncan is just shy of he near post. Crew win a throw deep, less than 20’ to go. Yeboah can’t get past Duncan but does get fouled and a DFK a few yards out of the area a few yards from he end line Kyle receives a yellow for his effort. From Masapequa, Nealis awaiting to come on, Dylan as his brother Sean is hurt, Morgan comes off the field. Burke with a good lk from Forsberg who sends him into the 6, but it is off Burke for a goal kick. For the Crew, Farsi on for Zawadzki. NY now employs a 3 man backline, not the typical 4. Edelman taken down by Cujo shifts his body moves forward and the whistle is blown and the Crew get the call. Stroud gets a tackle in, then one the Crew get the ball. Nagbe & Duncan crash into each other both down for a bit, Darlington, carded. Forsberg beats three, gives to Gjengaar who puts his shot right at the net minder. Forsberg runs at Burke plays it a bit long to himself the mark of Burke steps up and takes it away. Sands on for Crew Yeboah out for him, Ramirez in for Russell-Rowe, Jones on for Cjuo as is Hinestroza, Nagbe out. 5 minutes of stoppage time, half way through it now. Reyes stops a promising attack. Reyes late on Rossi and called for it. Morrs is down as Edleman, beyond exra time. Edelman holding his ankle and is red carded as it was his 2nd yellow. He should have been more cautious as he is due in Olympic camp. Great seeing a mid 30’s man in the stands giving him the finger as the early 20’s player leaves.