Coachella: NYCFC & Sporting KC
NY has a very young line up today, with so many games it makes sense, interesting it is being done all at once in a game. I am older than any 3 on a line combined. With a lineup featuring the older backup GK of last season in Acedo, Murry, Flax, Carizzo, Reid and more.
Harris catches up with a long ball into the area and out, SKC holds. Back again are SKC, cleared out, again SKC holds, still holding then a foul on NY. There is a good pace in the early going. A long cross deep in the NY half and then back to midfield. Another SKC ball in cleared out. SKC dribbles a trio, now to Harris and the endline now near the top of the box, then they back out a bit, NY foul. Davis sends one in off Murray at 5’, first corner of the game is being taken. Lofted to the penalty mark, many NY players up for it and then a whistle. An eye on Flax out of Dix Hills shows him finding space to receive the ball. He lays a ball off, gets it back in traffic, and it is lost, NY foul. NY pressing and a KC throw. Big cross well read by Acito stolen and Musu with a shot on the ground at the GK with not much on it. Viera getting forward, Carrizzo well too strong on the return and the GK has it for KC. Haasan again on the ball on the wing, it is lost, NY getting forward then fouled by KC. Carrizzo again off the steal gives to Flax outside he drops then again into the circle from near the endline. Musu into the area and right out, NY recovers the ball, Reid pulled to the ground by Miller, DFK just beyond the area. Flax and Musu at the ball, Flax sets it. Cooper is set, he is wide right, but around the wall. NY steals and an immediate foul. Three hard fouls on NY when will a card be issued to KC? Big pressure almost as NY lose it at the goal, then they do on the next ball, it is cleared to Reid, he drops to Musu a weak shot from the top of the area, scooped right up by the GK. NY again near the top of the area they go across and back a bit, now outside and back, then lost at the bottom of the circle. Acito getting forward too strong to Reid, KC gets forward fast, long ball in is taken down and Romero knocks it aside for a deep throw. Nodded down by NY, taken by KC and foul called on NY. Garcia from 40 yards the 6’ 3” Murray sends it the other way, in again and sent out, Garcia holds to the endline. Into the 6, off a player and goal KC by Harris on first time shot that was partially deflected. Musu with another foul. From 50 yards it will be played on to another, Murray again gets to it and a foul, it is coming out. At 25’ NY has looked better in the last say ten but do trail and KC has had the better of the game thus far. 26’ KC nets again. From the top of the area, outside then to the endline and through the 6, such a play is all but a set piece, it is really 2nd year soccer. Lead ball to Reid he chases half way across the field, to have it cleared out.KC go endline now to the midfield and across to the circle forward then back and forwarded too fast for the target, Harris to get to it. NY presses, to the GK it goes and they hold off. A card to the NYCFC captain, he got in front of the ballon the restart. Reid the target man surrounded by 3, and it is lost. Getting forward on the wing are KC, lost at about 15 yards between the area and touchline. With less than 15’ to go NY needs to build an attack, the long balls are not working, try to get one before the half. NY near the top of the area on the wing, back to the circle now, still holding it. Back again to the circle loses it to his strong side. With a runner NY goes across, now numbers with Reid in the area too many touches and it is lost, Musu now drops a KC player. Reid should have gotten a shot off. Over the top but too much for NY and the ref almost gets hit with the ball as KC looks up field. KC finding the open player, looking to spring Harris but the GK goes to ground and secures it. NY loses a tackle, but Musu gets the ball and a wide shot on goal following his shot. Musu again from a distance, his curling shot well over the frame. Carrizzo into the area and loses it. NY with some great ball movement to get it out of a tight space on the wing, now over the top and it is lost for a corner. Musu with the corner at 41’, he plays it to the side of the 6, Acito flicks it on and KC with speed forward, endline looking inside, Murray as he goes down, partially clears and KC regain the ball, again across the 6, Murray again heads it away. Reid spins on the ball and is taken down in his defensive third. Davis fouls NY DFK. Musu in the area, tries to find Carrizzo but the defender gets it following him was Flax. Great through ball for Ried but the GK beats him to it by half a step.
It is 2-0 as we open the 2nd half of the 2nd to last game of these games for NYCFC. Reynolds and another are in for KC as NYCFC added Pierre. KC get it deep in their end and Reid with a steal, it moves a bit and is lost. Over the top by KC, nodded out by the backline of NY. Carizzo into the area taken down at 49’, streaking into the area and taken down while the defender was on the ground, Reid has the ball. He ines it up he goes to the same right side as does the GK but just high enough above the ‘keeper to beat him 2-1. Now to see how the young charges of Pascal turn it up with this tally. A high ball in from KC headed out by NY, but a foul in the area gives them the DFK. Reid closes on the GK, who goes straight up it is then to the side. KC moving the ball around, NY mild pressing then they foul just below the circle. Over the top KC on the wing, hold the ball in across the field, to Davis out of the air and all he does is get air under it as it appears like a cross not a shot by any means. KC holds in the NY third, taken away, Flax plays it outside and the attacking player loses it. KC in the area then out by the corner flag, and now to the circle. Into the area a wall pass but the shot is well off. Flax wins a tackle it is lost in the KC defensive third now forward and NY steps up to steal and now a foul on NY. Deep in their defensive third KC with a DFK, a high ball is received and now far back by KC. Long ball over the top, defender does not anticipate that and is beaten. NY in tight spaces getting it into space now to the touchline and across field. Forward o the wing played on for Carrizzzo who then goes back and back again into the circle, KC is pressing NY doing well with it, though I take issue with all the balls played back, a lead ball is lost. A pair of NY players face the GK with 3 outlets? Into the NY haf and KC with a fouil, subs coming. Acito out for NY Kai. Flax on the restart. Long ball to Reid taken and now he presses the GK. Keep going forward for a bit, but loose marking, now a run over to Carrizzo, his pass is lost at the top of the area. Now with space come KC at speed. NY steals then lose it for not keeping it near the player. A look at Flax. A square ball fully across the field and out for KC in the NY half. From 18 yards out, KC throw, this may go deep into the area. The throw goes to just top of the 6. A great ball in finds the head of the KC player, his header is wide, defender needs to avert the ball in. No pressure now to the GK with the ball at his foot and he goes straight up the middle. On the ground and out by NY in their area, KC takes it, Davis loses to NY and their press has them pinned again. Long ball out from the GK is lost and NY fouls at the bottom of the area. Side of the area and back, returned there and now in the defender defends to the touchline, gets it back clears to Reid , he cannot reel it in and KC forward wih a quickness, a step over and ball in then headed out by KC. Reid taken to the ground as the ball went forward, another Reid, from Elmont who we have followed for a bit is on the opposite team. O’Toole is in on the left wing, Nico has just entered as well, NY may just want to win with 15’ left. Flax on the ball good movement goes outside with it gets it back and KC gets forward. What a dangerous back pass to a covered last man by NY a less deep player was fully open. A quick look at Maxi and Talles who suffered an inury of late. Flax now getting back and getting more on the ball, moving it around well. He finds space lays off a good first time pass. Reid sprints back below the circle. Ojeda for O’Toole slide tackle takes it away by KC. Pierre gets to a ball in, putting one over the bar. Corner KC at 80” Davis to put it in play, he goas far back and now Pierre sends it to the circle, KC to the GK, his long ball finds an open man in the other half of the field, now to their back field. Side of the area and behind the mark, Reid of LI involved. Nico to Ojeda outside to Murray, a high ball and the GK camps out under it near Reid. Kai gets a lot on the ball and Nico unable to get his ball forward. KC clearly still not sitting on their lead at 84’ as they keep getting forward. Ojeda into the area being held by the top and wins a corner. The corner by Nico, the GK boxes out a whistle on NY, not so good so late and at the doorstep to the goal. Down the line goes KC, the ball in goes out of touch, KC holds as it was nicked by a defender. Reid of KC still active as he drops back a bit in his positioning, he can play, hoping he gets a good look in KC. NY throw at 88’, it is lost, NY takes it at midfield looking for a return ball the attacking player sees it go back. Murray on net and did challenge the GK a bit, he is now down. Following the ball in Murray went down and a trainer is out. Stretched out and he is up, 2024 saw him get an NCAA Title they had a great game at Hofstra. Reid from Tayvon and he lays it off to Ojeda. Great movement gets it to O’Toole and Nico a few times, Nico with a give and go, his pass is lost, Nico with a great chance at 90’, blocked out for a corner. The late corner is to the side of the 6, the GK of NY is right there and fouls at the top of the area.