New York City FC is building something special in last-gasp winner over D.C. United
What was seen in Sunday’s 2-1 win over D.C United was an encouraging sign for New York City FC. In the late equalizer, there was a sign of potential and promise for NYCFC in fighting through to secure at least a result.
And in the last-gasp winner was a blending of conviction and belief in what New York City FC has been building over the past season under head coach Ronny Deila.
New York City FC went down in the opening nine minutes of the match but forged a result in the 84th minute via a Keaton Parks goal and then found the winner in stoppage time when the recently-signed Thiago ran two-thirds of the field and scored on a beautiful individual effort.
“It’s unbelievable, the kind of pace he has. It was 70 yards I think, a sprint. Pines who I think was running with him — he’s not slow, so I think he was impressed with the speed of Thiago as well,” Deila said after the match.
“I thought he was going to shoot on the first, then when went inside I was like ‘what are you doing? Put it in the goal!’ But then he took it on his left and it rolled so slowly into the goal. This is a moment you’re gonna remember, and all the hard work, all this suffering, struggling through our season was playing into that. So I feel brilliant for the team and everybody in the club. “
It wasn’t an easy match for New York City FC and yet another where the ‘home’ side was playing at Red Bull Arena and not the hallowed grounds of Yankee Stadium. NYCFC has had a hot-cold season, one that was summed up by a dominating performance on Sunday in terms of possession and opportunities created but still was deadlocked as the match went into second half stoppage time.
Then the brilliant finish by Thiago in the last moments of the match secured a win and a building block moment for New York City FC. With the win, NYCFC is 5-3-2 (17 points) and in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
It was an outing where New York City FC held the ball for 64 percent of the match and an advantage in shots (14:8) and shots on goal (7:4). They were the better side and the more dominant side.
But as often is the case in soccer, the better team doesn’t always win. On Sunday at Red Bull Arena, NYCFC got the deserved three points.
They didn’t give up, not as D.C. United went up early with a ninth minute goal from Nigel Robertha. And they didn’t hang their heads or get frustrated when they continually knocked on the door of Bill Hamid in D.C United’s goal but were denied until Parks’ finish with five minutes left in regulation.
It is a sign of a team that is different than past incarnations of New York City FC, built on star power and big names. These players are vested in the club and Deila’s message, a wonderful bit of team building from sporting director David Lee to bring in balance and talent to the roster rebuild started two years ago.
There is fight here and belief, a group that has wholly bought in to what is being built in the Bronx.
At the end of the day, New York City FC is emerging as a team that is both gritty when needed while still maintaining the possession -ased style they’ve implemented from the get-go. It is a blend of character and poise that should take this team deep into the fall.
Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex’ on Twitter @KristianRDyer