New York City FC Vs Orlando City: Player Ratings

BRONX, NY – MARCH 27: Héber #9 of New York City is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal to tie the match during the MLS match between New York City FC and Orlando City SC at Yankee Stadium on March 27, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York. The match ended in a tie of 1 to 1. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)

New York City FC earned a draw against Orlando City SC despite a dominating performance this weekend. Here are the player ratings from the 1-1 draw.

New York City FC fell behind early against Orlando City SC, allowing a goal in the 18th minute. Nani scored after a poorly cleared ball fell at his feet in the box. Following that, Orlando City had another goal disallowed following VAR review and Maxime Chanot had to clear a ball off the line, after goalkeeper, Sean Johnson, ran out of the box to confront a Nani breakaway.

Despite the rough start, New York City FC dominated the remainder of the match, earning a draw and their eighth point in their last four matches thanks to Heber notching his second strike of the season. New York City FC held 66% of possession. They took fifteen shots while allowing just three from their opponents. The midfield tandem of Alexander Ring and Ebenezer Ofori did a great job of controlling the tempo of the match and supplying their forwards with the ball through effective long passes.

New York City FC have risen quickly to seventh place in the Eastern Conference. They are the only team in their conference with only one loss, and are just five points short of first place, with a game in hand. In their last five matches, New York City FC are undefeated, with three draws and two wins. Since, adding Heber, they have also had more success putting the ball in the back of the net. Their ascent up the Eastern Conference table should not stop here.

Here are the player ratings from the weekend’s 1-1 draw with Orlando City.

BRONX, NY – MARCH 27: Sean Johnson #1 of New York City punches the ball away from the advance by Dom Dwyer #14 of Orlando City during the MLS match between New York City FC and Orlando City SC at Yankee Stadium on March 27, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York. The match ended in a tie of 1 to 1. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)

Goalkeeper

GK – Sean Johnson – 8

Sean Johnson did not make a single save against Orlando City while giving up a goal. The conceded goal came off of a poor clearance by Maxime Chanot, which happened to fall at the feet of Nani in front of goal. But this performance was still one of Sean Johnson’s best of the season.

He made four clearances, showing good decision-making and assertiveness in the box. At one point, Nani seemed to be in on goal due to a defensive error, but Johnson stormed out of goal to confront Nani at the edge of the box and block the shot. After Chanot cleared the ball at the goal-line straight up in the air, Johnson came back into the play to punch it away.