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New York City FC Vs Toronto FC: 3 things we learned – Alejandro Pozuelo, the punisher

By Marko Babic

QUEENS, NY - OCTOBER 23: Captain Michael Bradley #4 of Toronto FC claps as he charges up his team during the 2nd half of the 2019 MLS Cup Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Semifinal match between New York City FC and Toronto FC at Citi Field on October 23, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Toronto FC won the match with a score of 2 to 1 and advances to the Eastern Conference Finals. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)
QUEENS, NY - OCTOBER 23: Captain Michael Bradley #4 of Toronto FC claps as he charges up his team during the 2nd half of the 2019 MLS Cup Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Semifinal match between New York City FC and Toronto FC at Citi Field on October 23, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Toronto FC won the match with a score of 2 to 1 and advances to the Eastern Conference Finals. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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QUEENS, NY – OCTOBER 23: Ronald Matarrita #22 of New York City from behind with his name and number showing on his jersey during 2019 MLS Cup Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Semifinal match between New York City FC and Toronto FC at Citi Field on October 23, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Toronto FC won the match with a score of 2 to 1 and advances to the Eastern Conference Finals. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)
QUEENS, NY – OCTOBER 23: Ronald Matarrita #22 of New York City from behind with his name and number showing on his jersey during 2019 MLS Cup Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Semifinal match between New York City FC and Toronto FC at Citi Field on October 23, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Toronto FC won the match with a score of 2 to 1 and advances to the Eastern Conference Finals. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images) /

2. New York City FC’s backline bottlers

While Toronto FC’s defenders scrapped their way to victory, New York City FC’s cost their side a place in the Eastern Conference Finals with two amateurish errors setting the table for Alejandro Pozuelo’s brace.

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Luxembourg international Maxime Chanot’s inexplicable attempt at a back-pass to goalkeeper Sean Johnson in the 47th minute gifted TFC the lead as his flick-on fell short and found the feet of Alejandro Pozuelo, who calmly slotted the ball past Johnson at close range.

It appeared the home side were on the brink of a dramatic comeback prior to Ronald Matarrita’s poorly timed slide tackle in the 88th minute. Receiving the ball on the right flank, Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea shimmied past Matarrita with ease, gliding into NYCFC’s penalty area unopposed. Trying to win the ball from behind, the makeshift left-back attempted a slide tackle across Laryea’s body, but his mistimed effort caught Laryea’s standing leg instead of the ball. Pozuelo converted the resultant penalty, condemning New York City FC to an early playoff exit.

It is often said that defense wins championships; a statement amounting to nothing more than an over-utilized cliché for some. Unfortunately for NYCFC, however, the errors committed by Chanot and Matarrita highlighted the fact that. For all of their other virtues, the Bronx Blues lack a championship-caliber defensive line at present.

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