ClapThe New York City F.C have earned their first back-to-back win after posting a 1-0 win over Chicago F.C Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
The win over Chicago F.C follows NYCFC 2-0 win over D.C. United last Sunday. Both were achieved as a result of creating physical plays that saw, in the match against D.C, twenty-eight fouls and seven yellow cards.
Valentín Castellanos scored New York’s only goal, his second of the year and third in his fourteen career games. Castellanos paired up with Héber Araújo dos Santos and broke past Chicago’s defenders into the middle of the box and sent a curling shot past goalkeeper David Ousted as he dove in an attempt to block the shot.
Major League Soccer
New York City F.C has won two of their last four games, and this on a night that saw Alexandru Mitrita sitting out due to an injury to his ankle. That saw another different starting lineup, the 29th in the last 30 games.
With Mitriță out, Coach Domènec Torrent put Castellanos in as his replacement. It was his first game back after sitting out due to concussion protocol from a head to head collision during NYCFC match against the Minnesota United.
Castellanos return paid off with his goal at the 9th minute mark. Heber’s ability and speed were big factors in that success after he kept the ball up front allowing for that opportunity to be created. After a blistering start, play slowed after several lengthy stoppages due to player injuries and treatment. One of those came at the 30th minute point that saw Ronald Matarrita exiting the game.
Heading into halftime, New York had the lead, but Chicago controlled the ball and took little time finding the net with a close range shot that beat Sean Johnson but was disallowed due to Chicago being offside. The win Johnson having an easy day not having to make a single save and with it earning his 57th win and subsequent shutout.
NYC had several other scoring opportunities and the chance to double their lead in the second half. One of those came after Heber pushed the ball through the midfield to Castellanos, who passed to Maxi Moralez whose shot hit the crossbar and rebounded back. Moralez has another golden opportunity came during stoppage time when awarded a penalty shot for being fouled by Bastian Schweinsteiger but his shot was stopped by Ousted.
Wednesday night’s win may not have been as pretty as that on Sunday. However, New York earned a much needed victory at home. New York next will welcome the Orlando City S.C on Saturday for a 1 pm afternoon game before taking a week off and then heading to Montreal on the 4th of May.
