One game in 100 words: A semi-fitting explanation of this game could be the classic tale-of-two-halves description. New York City FC got off to a fast start and scored within ten minutes, dominating the flow of attacking play and putting the Red Bulls on their heels early. At the end of the half, New York had none of the momentum and had to fight back one goal at a time. Jesse Marsch’s men didn’t disappoint in their attempt to mount a comeback, staving off the NYC’s offense for the most part while taking opportunity of their opposition’s set-piece weakness. The Red Bulls moved up to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, while New York City remains at ninth (second-to-last) place.
Goals
NYC: Thomas McNamara 6’
NY: Bradley Wright-Phillips 47’, Chris Duvall 52’, Matt Miazga 73’
Three moments that mattered
6’ — NYC nets one quickly — This capped what was almost a perfect beginning to the game for New York City, as the Red Bulls were dealing with high pressure inside of the box, and Thomas McNamara managed to convert a difficult touch and strike on the left side. He chested down the ball and smacked a right-footed half-volley that squeezed between multiple defenders and tucked into the lower corner of the net. Goalkeeper Luis Robles couldn’t make the near impossible save.
52’ — Duvall opportunistic for equalizer — Just two minutes had gone by in the second half, and Bradley Wright Phillips already halved the scoreline for New York with a close-range strike. Then, a set piece effort led to this goal when Mike Grella executed a short-chip lob to forward chips it to Anatole Bertrand Abang, who headed it over to Chris Duvall on the near post for the banged-in finish.
73’ — Miagza snags two-goal lead — New York did put forth a few chances that could’ve change the course of this game, but determination, and slight luck of being in the right place at the right time, drowned out the host’s ability to reposition themselves. More great service into the penalty area from Sacha Kljestan had 6-foot-5 youngster Matt Miagza on the other end, rising into the air to nail an ideal downward header to beat goalie Josh Saunders.
Lineups
NYC: Thomas McNamara, David Villa; Josh Saunders; RJ Allen, Jason Hernandez, Shay Facey, Chris Wingert (Jeb Brovsky 24'---Javier Calle 70'); Andrew Jacobson, Mehdi Ballouchy (Kwadwo Poku 56'), Ned Grabavoy, Mix Diskerud
NY: Anatole Bertrand Abang (Sal Zizzo 67'); Luis Robles; Chris Duvall, Matt Miazga, Ronald Zubar (Damien Perrinelle HT), Kemar Lawrence; Dax McCarty, Felipe, Mike Grella (Manolo Sanchez 84'), Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips