Who: NYCFC vs San Jose Earthquakes
When: Saturday, September 14th @ 12:30 pm ET
Line: NYCFC -107 | Draw +275 | San Jose+255

Two teams and two coaches on a redemption arc meet Saturday evening in the Bronx when Dome Torrent’s New York City FC play host to Matias Almeyda’s San Jose Earthquakes.

With NYC sitting atop the Eastern Conference and San Jose in fifth place, just two points behind second-place Real Salt Lake in the West, it may be difficult to remember the doubts surrounding both coaches when their respective team’s struggled early in the season.

Almeyda arrived in San Jose as one of the big off-season catches in all of MLS. Arriving directly from Chivas de Guadalajara, where he collected five trophies in his three seasons, landing the Argentine was seen as raising the bar on MLS coaching hires.

Then the season began with the Quakes losing five in a row out of the gate by a combined score of 14-2. The run included a 4-1 road loss to the New York Red Bulls and a 5-0 home humbling at the hands of LAFC.

Observers wondered if his new team would ever master Almeyda’s unique man to man marking system and the old doubts about foreign coaches succeeding in MLS (Tata Martino excepted) began to emerge.

Meanwhile, on the league’s opposite coast, NYCFC began the season with a spate of draws, sharing the points an astounding eight times against four wins and just one loss in its first 13 outings.

The knives may not have been out for Torrent just yet but they were being sharpened, with High Press Soccer wondering if Torrent, a longtime assistant to Pep Guardiola, was up for the top job.

The NYC head coach confirmed the notion when he told NYCFC radio man Glenn Crooks that, “Right now I am in trouble as a head coach – I know and I have to accept that.”

Two programs on the rise

Both men would turn it around. They come into Saturday’s match with much to play for.

As mentioned, The Quakes are in the thick of it in a Western Conference that is packed tightly behind runaway league-leading LAFC. Any of the teams from second to eighth are still capable of a top-four finish (securing a home playoff game), while missing out on the postseason is still a possibility.

For the home team, the playoffs are a certainty. Positioning, a little less so. Torrent would love to lead NYC to its first Eastern crown, which comes with home-field advantage for as long as they go before possibly facing Bob Bradley’s juggernaut.

San Jose will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing midweek loss to division rivals Real Salt Lake. NYC will try to get back in the win column after a 1-1 draw with Toronto snapped the Cityzens five-game winning streak.

NYCFC vs San Jose Preview

New York will have to contain a San Jose attack that is led by a rejuvenated ChrisWondolowski. Wondo passed Landon Donovan as the all-time MLS leader in goals scored earlier in the campaign and has racked up 13 on the season.

Wondo is surrounded by some useful players like team assist leader Christan Espinoza (13 helpers), Vako (8 goals), Magnus Eriksson (6 goals and 8 assists) and U.S. international Jackson Yueill.

The 22-year-old Yueill is one player who has clearly benefited from Almeyda’s tutelage. The young midfielder was an afterthought in previous seasons before blossoming under Almeyda to the point that he has earned a look with the U.S. National Team.

Tommy Thomson is another young American that has flourished under new San Jose boss, earning regular time at fullback after struggling for minutes as a winger under previous coaches.

With the International break out of the way, NYC should be prepared for what San Jose has to throw at them. It was a makeshift side that Torrent sent out against Toronto and the 1-1 draw was a decent result, preserved by a fine Sean Johnson penalty save, Johnson having been released early by the USMNT.

NYC is still without striker Heber, the Brazilian that turned NYC’s season around after his April arrival but talisman Maxi Moralez will be back after missing out against TFC due to yellow card accumulation and his return should be enough to spark NYCFC to a home victory.

Where to Bet NYCFC in the US

In the US, you can legally bet on soccer online in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

For New Jersey, we recommend DraftKings Sportsbook NJ or FanDuel Sportsbook

Who: Vancouver Whitecaps vs NYCFC
When: Saturday, August 31st @ 10:00 pm ET
Line: Vancouver +320 | Draw +310 | NYCFC -139

Hot on the heels of an impressive Hudson River Derby win over the New York Red Bulls, MLS Coach of the Week Dome Torrent and his NYCFC team fly cross-continent to face the last-place Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday evening.

While New York may complain of jetlag, a la Wayne Rooney, Vancouver should be the more tired of the two sides having made a cross country journey of their own following Wednesday night’s 2-1 loss in Montreal. Brutal.

Rooney may have a point.

Vancouver Whitecaps vs NYCFC Match Preview

If New York City is to build on that Derby victory it will have to find a way to solve Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, the red hot Canadian international who set an MLS record with 16 saves on Saturday versus San Jose.

Crepeau erased USMNT legend Tony Meola’s mark, with many of his saves of the spectacular variety.

Despite their goalkeeper’s heroics, Vancouver still managed to lose that match 3-1. So Torrent and his charges will be hunting for the full three points.

Due to continued absence through injury of James Sands, Torrent will likely continue with the same four back system that worked so well versus their neighboring Red Bulls last time out. This line-up features Maxime Chanot and partner Alexander Callens centrally with Anton Tinnerholm and Ronald Matarrita on the flanks.

Minus Sands, that defense may be a bit vulnerable but it can still be an effective group. The fullbacks remain terrors on the wing, and midfielders Alex Ring and Keaton Parks are capable of providing cover defensively while also contributing to the City attack.

That attack is fed by MLS assist leader Maxi Morales; is he still underrated or has the MLS public finally copped on that the diminutive Argentine is one of the best players in the league?

Twin strikers Heber and Vincent Castellanos are a terror upfront and likely too much for the Vancouver defense to contain, even backed by Crepeau.

New York winger Ismael Tajouri-Shradi has been out for several weeks now and appears close to a return. It may not be in time for Vancouver but ITS provides a goal scoring threat alongside New York’s other weapons and Torrent will welcome his return, whenever that comes.

The Whitecaps have taken a step backward this year, sitting in last place in their first season under Marc Dos Santos. The Caps finished eighth in 2018, just two points out of the playoffs.

Why? Well, Vancouver doesn’t score goals.

Its total of 29 goals is bested, (worsted?) only by Cincinnati’s 27. And to make matters worse, Vancouver doesn’t defend; only three teams have allowed more goals than the 50 that Whitecaps have leaked.

What threat the Caps do possess is largely down to Jordy Reyna, the Peruvian midfielder/forward who has five goals, good for second on the club. He’s just one behind Fredy Montero, who has scored four of his six goals from the penalty spot.

Dos Santos may look to Candian international Tosaint Ricketts for some inspiration up top. The versatile veteran has appeared in only three games this season,and received his first start of the campaign against Montreal Wednesday night, picking up an assist on Reyna’s goal.

22 year-old Korean international and Young Designated Player Inbeom Hwang is an exciting young player that will give New York coach Dome Torrent something to think about as well.

Prediction

By any and every metric, NYCFC is the better squad. Anything less than a point would be a disappointment. Expect NYCFC’s offense to be too much for Vancouver to contain and for the Pigeons to collect all three points.

 

 

Who: NYCFC vs Columbus Crew
When: Wednesday, August 21st @ 7:00 pm ET
Line: NYCFC -186 | Draw +330 | Columbus Crew +450

Fresh off a palette cleansing 4-1 win at Cincinnati, NYCFC will be looking to add three more points when they play host to the Columbus Crew Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

NYCFC will do this without James Sands, the 19-year-old center back/midfielder who has been a key part of the team’s success so far in 2019. Sands faces an extended time on the sidelines after suffering a broken collarbone versus Cincinnati.

Sands had previously sustained a broken arm against the Ohioans, so don’t expect NYCFC’s first-ever Homegrown signing to be vacationing in the Buckeye State anytime soon.

NYCFC vs Columbus preview

New York will be welcoming a Crew side that has begun to make the adjustment to Caleb Porter from longtime leader Gregg Berhalter. They are undefeated in over a month, having drawn their three previous matches.

The peculiar streak has not exactly rocketed the Crew up the standings. Columbus sits in 11th place in the MLS Eastern Conference, just one point above their in-state rival, Cincinnati.

New York will need to keep a particular eye on Pedro Santos, their 31-year-old Portuguese DP who has racked up nine goals this season in 26 games. Santos’ production, which includes three assists, has helped get the Crew on track after their leader and playmaker Federico Higuain went down to an ACL injury late in May. Columbus was already struggling but an indication of Pipa’s importance to this team is that Higuain is still the team leader with five assists.

NYC come into the match still trying to take advantage of the team’s games in hand over its division rivals. The Pigeons having lined out 24 times in 2019 as compared to 26 matches played by division-leading Atlanta, NYRB, and New England. Second-place Philadelphia Union and fourth place DC United sandwich NYC in the Eastern Conference standings having played 27 times this campaign.

New York’s win over Cincinnati was a badly needed one. It came on the heels of a top of the table battle in Atlanta that went to United in straight sets, with the gulf in class between the 2019 champions and New York making NYC look like pretenders.

New York was dominated by Atlanta to such an extent that NYC boss Dome Torrent called out the courage of several of his players. Those same players showed resilience against last-place Cincinnati, running out a 4-1 winner after falling behind early at Nippert Stadium.

His squad already formation fluid, Dome Torrent ran out a 4-3-3 that managed to get both of his center forwards, Valentin Castellanos and Heber, on the pitch at the same time, and it worked a charm with the two strikers each bagging a brace versus Cincinnati.

With Alexandru Mitria filling out the attacking trio. all-important Maxi Moralez drops back into the midfield role that best suit his playmaking skills. This leaves captain Alex Ring and reinstated Keaton Parks to do the midfield dirty work after Torrent dropped Parks for the Atlanta match to deleterious effect.

The good news, however, does not continue to NYC’s defensive wall directly in front of goalkeeper Sean Johnson. With Sands set to miss considerable time, and the status of likely replacement Alexander Callens and All-Star caliber fullback Anton Tinnerholm up in the air.

Ben Sweat and Eric Miller are on hand to fill in but Johnson may need to be extra sharp in order to keep Santos, Gyasi Zardes and company at bay Wednesday night in the Bronx.

Only Major League Soccer could have an All-Star break where no one actually gets any time off.

For example, NYCFC is back in action this Saturday in Salt Lake, eight days after defeating Sporting KC 3-1 in the Bronx.

That victory sent New York City Football Club into the “Break” in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. However, a slightly closer look at the standings paints a rosier picture for Dome Torrent’s men.

By some quirk in the schedule, likely to do with the team’s status as the New York Yankees tenants in the Bronx, NYCFC has played just 20 games, three less than any other Eastern Conference team.

NYCFC is just four points behind Philadelphia Union with four games in hand. They are second in MLS with 1.75 points per game behind the LAFC juggernaut, averaging 2.23 ppg, and well positioned to make a late charge up the table.

So, how did NYCFC get here? Let’s take a look. Here are their “mid-season” grades.

Goalkeepers: B+

Since coming to the Big Apple for the 2017 season, Sean Johnson has revived his career in the Bronx.

Under Patrick Vieira and now Torrent, Johnson has improved his ball-playing skills and has earned his way back into the USMNT picture under Gregg Berhalter. Johnson was selected to the Gold Cup squad, where he played one match while serving as Zack Steffen’s backup.

With one notable exception versus Minnesota in April, Johnson has largely eliminated his propensity for the big error, or howler, and provides leadership and stability as well as superior shot-blocking for NYCFC.

Despite a shaky moment or two, NYC won three of the four matches career backup Brad Stuver played while Johnson was on international duty, losing once and earning Stuver his first MLS shutout.

Defense: A-

Torrent has built an effective and versatile defense in front of Johnson, a unit that the Spaniard can send out in a three back set or a four back with equal confidence. Surprisingly, the key to the NYC defense has turned out to be 19 year-old James Sands, the first Homegrown Player in club history. Sands entered the 2019 season as a midfielder with just four first-team appearances over two years.

Something seemed to click for the team and the player when Sands was dropped in between veterans Alexander Callens and Maxime Chanot in a three back-formation.

With Anton Tinnerholm ever-present at right fullback/right wingback and Ronald Matarrita emerging over Ben Sweat as the first choice on the opposite flank, the three back set looks look NYC’s best bet going forward.

Sweat has as many appearances this season as Matarrita and Torrent can use the two at once with “Mata” playing further up the pitch. Eric Miller was recently acquired to provide cover for Tinnerholm, who has played every minute for NYCFC this season and has been outstanding.

Midfield: B+

On Friday night at Yankee Stadium, Torrent sent out what looks to be his team’s best starting 11. Johnson, Chanot, Sands, and Callens at the back, with Tinnerholm and Matarrita flanking captain Alex Ring and Keaton Parks. Finally, he opted for a front three of Maxi Moralez, Heber, and Alexandru Mitrita.

As Friday’s match unfolded, Parks dropped deeper defensively while Ring pushed into the attack, scoring one goal and assisting on two more.

So, are Tinnerholm and Matarrita midfielders? If not, is NYC plying with just two midfielders? It all just points out that systems are flexible.

MLS assist leader Moralez, was listed as a wide forward but spent much of his time floating around the center of the pitch and Tinnerholm and Mata still could not neglect their defensive duties.

However you slice it, NYC has a talented midfield group led by Ring and his newish midfield partner Keaton Parks. Ring has been a do-everything stalwart for the Pigeons since his arrival from FC Kaiserslautern for the 2017 season.

Parks is a 21-year-old Texan arrived on a season-long loan from Portuguese giants Benfica but had had to bide his time before earning a spot in the starting 11. When I asked Ring after that win on Friday what Parks brings to the side the captain put it this way, “he was always neat on the ball and ran his ass off and he’s earned his chance.”

Torrent has plenty of depth in the midfield with Ebenezer Ofori, Jesus Medina his first options off of the bench and Matarrita always happy to be pushed forward.

Forwards: B+

As we’ve seen Moralez, though really a midfielder, can be deadly wherever he initially lines out. However, it is his play in combination with a pair of recent arrivals that makes this NYC team a threat to go deep in the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Alexandru Mitrita arrived from Universitatea Craiova in his native Romania just prior to the season but despite his quality, NYC was still lacking a true number nine. On March 21, Tab Ramos and the NYCFC front office finally delivered, signing Héber Araújo dos Santos, or Heber, to fill that role.

Heber debuted in a goalless draw versus Montreal in the Bronx but it soon became apparent in Moralez, Mitrita, and Heber that NYCFC had a Big 3 that had a chance to be special. Heber has been an instant hit, scoring nine goals in 13 games, 11 of them starts. Playing the number nine role for NYC, Heber provides a focal point for the teams’ deep attack.

When healthy, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi can return Moralez to the midfield, but injuries have slowed last year’s 11 goal scorer to just four in 12 games (8 starts). If Isi is healthy down the stretch NYC will be very dangerous.

20-year-old Argentine Vincent Castellanos failed to fire last season, his first in New York, but since the arrival of Heber, the young striker has become a dangerous weapon off of the bench and as an occasional starter.

One failure this season at NYCFC, aside from all the draws, was the inability of Torrent to find a way to get the best out of promising American winger Jonathan Lewis. Patrick Vieira also failed in that task before Lewis was shipped off to Colorado. Lewis has scored three goals for the Rapids in six games, so he clearly has something to offer.

For whatever reason, it didn’t happen in New York for Lewis, so Reyna turned to the transfer market to acquire Scottish winger Gary Mackay-Steven from SPL side Aberdeen to provide depth on the wing.

With 14 games remaining New York has a lot going for it – if they make good use of those games in hand. This is a well-balanced team, versatile and deep, a side that looks good enough to battle for the top playoff position in the East.

How oddsmakers view NYCFC

Very favorable.

NYCFC is a clear second favorite to win the MLS Cup. Priced at +600, only LAFC (+200) has better odds. The gap between NYCFC and third favorite Atlanta United (+1100) is considerable.

Look for NYCFC to not just challenge for the Eastern Conference honors, but for the MLS Cup as well.

NYCFC picked up three valuable points with a 2-1 win in Colorado against the Rapids on Saturday.

The match featured a half-hour weather delay; a sixth-minute lead for the Rapids on a goal scored by 16 year-old homegrown prospect Sebastian Anderson which was set up by Jonathan Lewis, who was traded by NYC after the team gave up on him; then a red card to Anderson in the 33rd minute; then a Tim Howard injury; and finally and a late New York winner from substitute Alexandru Mitrita, a goal that Colorado coach Conor Casey loudly proclaimed offside following the game.

Pheew!

When the smoke cleared from that incident-filled evening, New York City Football Club had climbed into fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

NYCFC well-positioned for playoff run

NYCFC has played just 18 games, four games less than playoff contenders Toronto FC and five less than first-place Philadelphia Union. New York had games in hand over all of the teams that it trailed in the Eastern Conference standings.

Ah, but the thing about games in hand is, well – you had better win those “extra” games.

Recovering from a skid

NYCFC was also coming off a two-game losing streak, significant given that Dome Torrent’s men have lost just three games all season. However, the visitors never panicked after conceding that early goal, quickly recovering to dominate the possession, nearly 78%, and shots, 29-7.

New York was already well on the way to compiling those impressive numbers when referee Chris Penso confidently produced a straight red card, prematurely ending an up and down evening for Anderson, the California teen.

With Anderson now on the line and Rapids leading scorer Kei Kamara unavailable, the Raps were always going to struggle to apply any pressure to Sean Johnson’s net. Things did not improve for Casey when he had to pull his goalkeeper, Tim Howard, before the halftime break.

Howard had been excellent to that point. The U.S. legend could do little to prevent Heber abrilliant 40th-minute control and strike from a wonderful chipped pass by MLS assist leader (13) Maxi Moralez.

With the return from injury of James Sands, still wearing a cast to protect his broken right arm, Torrent sent his side out with the 18-year-old Sands at the center of a three back set. Sands was fine and the formation held up well, save for the Colorado goal, which came when Sebastian Ibeagha was beaten by Lewis to tee up young Andersen.

Ibeagha was in the team for the suspended Maxime Chanot, and his return alongside Sands and Alex Callens will be welcomed by Torrent.

Colorado has improved since Conor Casey was named interim boss when Anthony Hudson was let go on May 1. However, the gulf in class between the two teams on Friday night was clear even as Casey’s Rapids battled for a hoped for draw.

It was not to be with New York’s depth coming into play when Torrent sprung Alexandru Mitrita off the bench, and back from injury, to score the New York winner.

Casey had to be disappointed that his 10-man side were unable to escape with a point, moreso considering his view that the game-winner should not have counted.

“I saw a long ball with a player offsides,” Casey said in his postgame remarks. “Lalas (Abubakar) has to deal with a header and then the ball falls to somebody else and no offside is called.”

It looked as if Casey had a point but the call did not go his way and New York headed home with three valuable points and one game in hand taken care of.

Next Up for NYCFC

Next up for New York – Friday, July 26 vs. Sporting Kansas City – 7:30 PM ET

NYCFC -143

Draw +275

Sporting KC +375

All good things must end.

On Sunday evening, NYCFC lost 1-0 for the first time at Yankee Stadium this season to a deserving Portland Timbers side.

Torrent proud of team despite final result

The loss is also New York’s first in league play since a 4-0 pasting by Toronto FC way back in March. New York coach Dome Torrent thought that his team deserved better.

“I think the team deserved more. I am very proud of them. It is not easy to play so many games without rest. We are missing some players but is not an excuse, it is a reality, but I am very proud of them. They deserved more. In the first half, we made one mistake and when you make a mistake in soccer it punishes you.”

That mistake came in the 14th minute and resulted in the game’s only goal. Scored by Sebastian Blanco (0:50 in the below video), the goal enough to stop NYCFC’s unbeaten run at 14 games. New York defender Sebastien Ibeagha was the culprit when he failed to clear Diego Valeri’s free-kick, instead directing the ball into Blanco’s path, inadvertently setting up Portland’s goal.

Torrent handed the start to Ibeagha because his squad is shorthanded at the moment. NYCFC is missing eight first-teamers, including center backs Alex Callens, part of the Peru team that lost the Copa America final to Brazil on Sunday, and James Sands, who had been a regular starter before fracturing his arm.

Timbers’ Savarese may love New York, but keeps focus on Portland’s performance

Portland coach Giovanni Savarese has strong ties to New York and the local soccer scene since leaving his native Venezuela for Long Island University Brooklyn, through the New York amateur and semi-pro leagues, on to the MLS MetroStars, and finally to his coaching career with the New York Cosmos.

But after the match, the coach wanted to keep the focus on his team.

“It was important to get these three points to continue to climb in the table. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. This team is a team that can bring you some difficulty and challenges. They are a good team and that’s why they had only lost one match before today.”

Savarese added, “ We expected a tough match. Very proud of the sacrifice of the players the way they battled united, how we found the goal, how we created some chances, but we also had to deal with a lot. They moved the ball well, New York City, and they were looking for spaces. We made sure we worked as a unit and we were able to get a very important result for us, but it wasn’t easy.”

That sacrifice that Savarese spoke of included the team defense that frustrated a New York side that seemed bereft of ideas once it got in sight of the Portland goal. Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark had something to do with New York’s frustration too.

When NYCFC did find a way through the Portland defense Clark was there to earn the shutout despite New York’s 15 to10 shot advantage, that included five shots on target to just two by Portland on Brad Stuver in the home goal.

With New York pressing desperately to preserve its perfect home mark, Clark had to be alert virtually until the final whistle, tipping an Ibeagha header over the crossbar in the 94th minute to preserve Portland’s victory and the shutout.

Sunday’s win brings ninth place Portland within three points of eighth-place Real Salt Lake and four points back of seventh-place Houston and a playoff spot.

NYCFC remains in fifth place.

Up next for NYCFC

NYCFC Next Games:

Wednesday, July 10th – US Open Cup @ Orlando City

Sunday, July 14th – MLS regular season @ New York Red Bulls

NYRB +104

Draw +260

NYCFC +240

Just a couple of hours after their landlords, the NY Yankees, engaged in a slugfest with the Boston Red Sox 3,000 miles away in London, New York City FC outscored the Philadelphia Union for a 4-2  victory at Yankee Stadium Saturday night.

And for all the complaints about playing soccer in the Big Ballyard in the Bronx, Dome Torrent’s men remain unbeaten at home in 2019. They are also undefeated in their last 11 matches league games.

Catellanos leads makeshift roster to win

In the first MLS action for NYC since a 5-2 home win over Cincinnatti on June 6, Vincent Catellanos was the hero, earning two penalty kicks, both of which were converted by Maxi Morales. Catellanos then scored two goals of his own from open play.

With NYCFC missing seven players, four injured and three on international duty, Casellanos’ contribution was badly needed, especially with leading goal scorer Heber out injured.

With his team shorthanded, coach Torrent certainly appreciated the contribution from Castellanos and some of his other bench players, saying,”“you know, it’s very important that I say that all of them deserve to play and that I don’t have a doubt about Taty because I say many times in the facilities, he never gave up and he did everything he could to convince the coaches.”

Torrent noted his team’s depth, adding, “I say many times, it’s impossible to play more than 14 players. And they have to be ready to play. And his opportunities are the same as Keaton (Parks). Keaton played the game really well again and it’s good news for us. And I don’t have doubts about my players, and I say many times to them, they have to be ready to play when I decide to play with them.”

New York had to overcome an early deficit on Saturday after Philadelphia took an early lead on a seventh minute goal from FaFa Picault, whose trap, turn, and shot in front of the New York goal was beautifully executed.

The home team got back on level terms when Castellanos drew the first of New York’s penalty kicks. Duly converted by Moralez for a 23rd minute equalizer.

In year’s past Philadelphia might have been expected to fold up its tents after coughing up an early lead but there is something a bit different about coach Jim Curtin’s crew this season, and within seven minutes Kacper Przybylko had put the Union back in front, set up by Jamiro Monteiro and Ilsinho.

That sort of bounce back attitude has the surprising Union sitting atop the MLS Eastern Conference. However, with four games in hand and its next two games at home, don’t sleep on NYCFC.

A flashpoint came in the 55th minute when Castellanos drew a second penalty kick after contact with the Union’s Alejandro Bedoya. Philadelphia hotly disputed the call at the time and former USMNT midfielder Bedoya likely earned imself a fine from the Commissioner’s Officewith his postgame comments, delivered, naturally via twitter.

Absolute joke of a penalty call that changed the complexion of the match.
You’d think I had hit him with an uppercut. #BroadwayIsDownTheRoad https://t.co/mIxWjaum4B

— Alejandro Bedoya (@AleBedoya17) June 30, 2019

Bedoya’s coach Jim Curtin had his captain’s back, even if his language was somewhat more diplomatic. “Castellanos was good at maybe embellishing a little bit and making it look worse than it was. On that play (Castellanos) doesn’t even see Ale coming. In my mind simple as I can put it: Ale is entitled to that ball just as much as Castellanos is. He puts his body in between the two, wins the ball. It looks like a hard contact but this is a contact game. I think the ref got that one wrong.”

Wrong or right, and for what it is worth, I thought the ref was on the money, Moralez buried his second pk of the match and we were level once again.

From there Castellanos the provider turned finisher, nothing the final two goals of the match to secure the three points for New York City FC.