New York City FC vs. Portland Timbers: Match Recap & Commentary by Peachy Deegan on the 4th Home Game of the 2015 Inaugural Season
It's not about winning or losing, it's about how you play the game!
And it's if you're in the game!
New York has not had a professional football team since the 1920's we learned during the third Home Game, the first game we covered, and it's time for YOU to get in on the action. Picture Peachy Deegan dressed as Uncle Sam: We want YOU at the games, Manhattan! We have a lot of experience in witnessing team building of a new team, from going to 40 home games a year when the Hartford Whalers started (when other kids were learning to read, Peachy was helping keep stats with injured players in the stands, and for more on the owner that built that team, read our friend Mover and Shaker Howard Baldwin's book, Slim and None here...he's from Westchester.)
What the New York City Football Club has that the Whalers did not is the support of both Manchester City in England and the New York Yankees!
Though no one is happy about a 1-0 loss, everyone is happy to have this team here and up and running, despite beaucoup de injuries. It's easy to like a team that wins all the time, but let's see your true colors and solid support for a team in the building stages that just needs to have luck bounce its way. 21,891 were in attendance at Yankee Stadium last night for this game, and we're glad to say that New York won 61.5% of the duels and had 76.4% passing accuracy during the first half. Unfortunately, this time that passing accuracy did not add up to goals, and culminated in a 1-0 loss at the end. We do commend them for clearing the ball out of their defensive zone during corners, and thought the forechecking (hockey term-being aggressive on the offense) was particularly commendable, especially by Mullins.
Thank you Marty and NYCFC for continuing to include us, and we were delighted to attend the press conference post-game as well. Head Coach Jason Kreis, a great speaker, commented after the game:
"The performances of past two matches show me that we are a team that has the necessary qualities to be a very good team in this league. For whatever reason right now, I think we're getting quite unfortunate: unlucky. I have to believe that over the course of the season we'll get some luck on our side and this will all level out. The players are willing and able to do anything for each other, and that's encouraging. This is going to be a fantastic team. It's important to recognize that right now the results aren't going our way but the performances are, and if the performances continue like this, the results are just around the corner. The only thing that could break us right now is if we stop believing in each other. We need to build off the positives and continue to move forward and improve."
If you are on the NYCFC, Peachy's homework for you is to watch a game from The Stanley Cup playoffs. Look at all the creative ways the forwards employ to get the puck in the net - especially the corners and every little nook and cranny where the goalie is not. Use an English muffin analogy. Make friends with open space in the net, and send the ball there.
Stay tuned for more excitement from the non-pinstriped team on the upswing in Yankee Stadium! And if you are reading us from Manchester, you ought to know we support your SHOES too as in Lotus since 1759.
Don't stop believing, New York, and take a journey to 161st.
NYCFC tells Whom You Know:
For the third straight match, New York City FC suffered late-game heartbreak.
Dairon Asprilla’s shot in the 79th minute took a deflection and agonizingly ended up in the back of the net as the Portland Timbers eked out a 1-0 victory in front of 21,891 on Sunday evening at Yankee Stadium.
New York City FC falls to 1-3-3 (6 points) while Portland improves to 2-2-3 (9 points).
Darlington Nagbe picked up the ball near midfield and darted forward. He made it as far as the 18-yard box before Jeb Brovsky slid in to knock the ball away. New York City FC couldn’t clear the danger as Gaston Fernandez latched onto it. The ball squirted further to the path of Asprilla, who let loose a shot that took a deflection off defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe and went into the net.
"The result doesn’t match the performance we had," midfielder Sebastian Velasquez said. "I think we played great football today -- we had the ball, kept the ball and created chances. We were just unlucky. To have their goal on a deflection .. things just aren’t going our way. We have stick together. We’re a family and in tough times this is where you have to keep your head up, stick together and keep motivated."
"I think it’s really important we try to recognize the results aren’t going our way but the performances are," head coach Jason Kreis said. "I’ve been around this league long enough to know that if the performances continue like this, then the results are right around the corner."
New York City FC also suffered disappointing finishes their prior two matches to the Philadelphia Union. On April 11, Vincent Nogueira’s goal in the 92nd minute propelled the Union to a 2-1 victoryat PPL Park. Five days later at Yankee Stadium, C.J. Sapong’s equalizer in the 86th saw the teams share the points.
On Sunday night, New York City FC came out the aggressor, despite being without three starters. Captain David Villa (hamstring), midfielder Mix Diskerud (ankle) and defender Jason Hernandez(calf) were all sidelined. Khiry Shelton and Javier Calle made their second-consecutive starts, while former New England Revolution teammates Patrick Mullins and Tony Taylor (debut) began the match up top.
Mullins’ left-footed blast in the 16th was the best chance early on, but Portland goalie Adam Kwarasey punched it away. The keeper was vital again, putting Ned Grabavoy under pressure to block his shot in the 28th.
The teams went into the locker room scoreless at halftime.
Portland put the home side under pressure early in the second half. New York City FC was called for a deliberate back pass, setting up the Timbers with a direct free kick near the 18-yard box. Fanendo Adi’s blast was deflected by Watson-Siriboe for a corner.
New York City FC had a great chance to take the advantage in the 58th. Medhi Ballouchy held up the ball like a quarterback in the pocket waiting for a receiver to get open as Mullins made a darting run between two defenders into the box. The midfielder threaded the needle, but Mullins shot was pushed away by Kwarasey.
"We have to stay focused and positive," Watson-Siriboe said. "Staying positive is the most important thing. We’re a brand new team. A lot of people want us to have success. We’re in New York where the bright lights are, but we have to be patient and be realistic with the progression we’ve had. We have to put our heads down and keep working hard. It isn’t how you start, it’s how you finish."
New York City FC returns to action on Friday against the Chicago Fire. Kickoff from Toyota Park is set for 8 p.m. EDT.
New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis made two key changes ahead of the rematch against the Philadelphia Union on Thursday evening at Yankee Stadium.
Knowing his club had to be the aggressor, Kreis inserted midfielder Javier Calle at left back and forward Khiry Shelton at right midfield.
Both MLS rookies played well and earned praise from their teammates.
"I thought he was excellent," goalie Josh Saunders said of Calle. "I thought he gave us a very dynamic option going forward and completed a lot of good passes. I thought he did very well."
Calle had 44 passes, while Shelton had 41. The Colombian also had a match-high 11 crosses. Shelton, the second overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft out of Oregon State University, showcased his speed on the wing, chasing down balls in open space. He also remained strong when receiving the ball before assisting Mehdi Ballouchy's goal in the 57th minute.
"I was very excited to hear that I was going to be starting," Shelton said. "I did everything in my power to try to get a win for the guys today, but I was unlucky with the chances I had, but it will come over time."
Shelton has seen time in five matches in his rookie season. Thursday was his first-ever start.
Player Stats — Khiry Shelton
General
Games Played6Minutes Played306Starts2Interceptions3Substitution On4Substitution Off0Duels Won43.1%
43.1%Aerial duels won20%
20%
Flair for the Dramatic
New York City FC has had their fair share of heartbreak so far in the early stages of their debut season in Major League Soccer.
The Club's first-ever match was spoiled by a deflected free kick goal by Kaka in stoppage time. More recently, the Philadelphia Union have played spoiler, snatching a 2-1 victory at PPL Park thanks to a stoppage-time goal and rallying for a draw on Thursday evening due to another late goal.
New York City FC has given up just five goals through their first six matches in club history, but three of them have occurred in the 86th minute or later.
DATEOPPONENTSCORERMINUTERESULT3/8/15 at Orlando City SC Kaka 91' 1-1 D
3/28/15 vs. Sporting KC Ike Opara 12' 1-0 L
4/11/15 at Philadelphia Zach Pfeffer 27' 2-1 L
Vincent Nogueira 92' 2-1 L
4/16/15 vs. Philadelphia C.J. Sapong 86' 1-1 D
Rebounding Timbers
Since the 2013 season, the Timbers have won eight times immediately following a loss. While suffering consecutive losses just twice during that span, Portland is 8-2-5 overall in matches directly following a defeat, including a recent 3-1 victory over FC Dallas on April 4 (which followed a 2-1 loss at Vancouver on March 28).
The Timbers have won their last five matches following a defeat dating back to last season.
DATE LOSS NEXT MATCHDATE
3/28/15 2-1 at Vancouver 3-1 W vs. FC Dallas 4/4/15
9/27/14 3-2 at Toronto FC 2-1 W at San Jose 10/4/14
8/24/14 4-2 vs. Seattle 3-0 W at Vancouver 8/30/14
8/2/14 3-1 at Los Angeles 2-0 W vs. Chivas USA 8/9/14
7/13/14 2-0 at Seattle 2-1 W vs. Colorado 7/18/14
6/27/14 1-0 vs. Sporting KC 2-2 D at Los Angeles 7/4/14
6/16/14 4-3 vs. Vancouver 3-1 W at Real Salt Lake 6/7/14
4/19/14 1-0 at Real Salt Lake 1-1 D at Houston 4/27/14
3/29/14 2-1 at FC Dallas 4-4 D vs. Seattle 4/5/14
3/22/14 2-0 at Colorado 2-1 L at FC Dallas 3/29/14
8/30/13 4-2 at Real Salt Lake 4-0 W vs. Toronto FC 9/7/14
8/25/13 1-0 at Seattle 4-2 L at Real Salt Lake 8/30/13
7/27/13 2-1 at San Jose 1-1 D vs. Vancouver 8/3/13
7/7/13 1-0 at Columbus 2-1 W vs. Los Angeles 7/13/13
3/9/13 2-1 vs. Montreal 1-1 D at Seattle 3/16/13
