New York City FC vs FC Cincinnati: Let there be goals

1. Let there be goals… finally!

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The biggest complaint about New York City FC so far this year has been the lack of goals.  Arguably, they have missed too many chances and the finishing has been extremely poor.  Yes, there have been some goals, but not enough for a side to legitimately compete in the Eastern Conference.

But finally, the goals arrived.  The Pigeons scored four goals against FC Cincinnati, with three occurring in the first half.  Including Mitriță’s brace, goals from Anton Tinnerholm and Jesús Medina led the Pigeons to the win.

More importantly, Medina finally got back on the score sheet.  He has faced criticism on his performances, and whereas he has improved, he still has yet to meet the expectations as a Designated Player.

He desperately needed a goal, and finally delivered.  The Pigeons won a free kick right outside the box, which Medina took in the 88th minute.  The Paraguayan’s shot deflected off the Cincinnati wall, and the ball dribbled into the back of the net.  Spencer Richey could do nothing but watch the ball move next to him, rolling over the goal line.

Medina’s goal put an exclamation point on a fantastic night for the Pigeons.  The attacking effort and energy were greater in the first half, but the team still gave their all despite tiring in the second 45 minutes.  The goals will hopefully boost confidence throughout the team, and maybe start a streak that leads to more wins.

However, the Orange and Blue are a side that is struggling as well this year.  Currently, they sit in 11th place and have scored just eight goals in the regular season.  The true test will be against sides toward the top of the table, and whether NYCFC can score against those teams.  Yes, Saturday’s performance was excellent, but there must be caution going forward.  The Pigeons must prove they can continue to score before fans can declare the scoring woes are over.

In addition, while he did not have any goals, Valentín Castellanos was an attacking force, adding six shots to NYCFC’s 22.  He made himself open and took chances as a striker should.  But, NYCFC should still sign a striker to help with scoring.  They need to have another option, and adding a goal scorer will just help put the scoring struggles to bed.

Nonetheless, the goals on Saturday were a welcoming and positive sign.  May this trend continue, and let there be more goals!