New York City FC vs. Seattle Sounders 3-1 Loss: Match Recap & Commentary by Peachy Deegan on the 5th Home Game of the 2015 Inaugural Season Our Coverage Sponsored by Stribling and Associates
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We think they can, we think they can, we think they can....the little Engine that could, otherwise known as the NYCFC came out strong at the beginning of both halves, but the culmination of their efforts is not adding up to wins yet. Early on their shots were sharp and accurate, although saved by the opposition goalie. Their passes were clean and the successful play sequences sadly did not measure up. Was it allergies? If you heard the sneezing coming from the press box, our sincere apologies. Pollen was not helping anyone last night.
In the first 20 minutes, we felt that the game was evenly matched. However, after Seattle scored to put them up 1-0 in the first half and it also seemed to give them the momentum. Seattle's passes were more well-oiled and showed better chemistry and teamwork. Though Seattle possessed the ball a lower percentage of the time, they proved to be more lethal when they did. New York needs to become more cohesive and more dangerous when in possession.
Like the first half, the NYCFC came out in the beginning of the second half with newfound renewed energy and we felt they were playing with proper intensity and were offensively hungry to start off with. Overall on the field, we have to say we're most impressed with Medhi Ballouchy; he has scored both goals we've seen and he should be on the field all the time we believe. It was exciting to see a tie score but it wasn't for long as Seattle answered twice. Could it have been the spirit of Kurt Cobain, excited for his HBO Documentary debut tonight helping them out?
Though the loss was a 3-1 total, it is not reflective of the play of goalkeeper Josh Saunders in particular, who needs a lot more help on defense. The spirit of the press conference post-game as well of the locker room interviews was less than spectacular to say the least. Losing bothers this team in a big way just like it would to anyone in this most competitive city in America. Head Coach Jason Kries commented that "the biggest downfall in my character is that I have little patience." We would be the last people to criticize someone with little patience, and it sounds like he fits right into Manhattan. "We were a much better team in the first 45 minutes of the game [but we weren't scoring goals.] In the end, it wasn't enough and it won't help me sleep tonight."
We commend the fans on their commitment: attendance was an impressive 25,384, and we
love how they begin the game with processions of cops and firemen and how the players walk in with soccer players of a young age, both boys and girls. "I'm very happy with the fan response we've gotten in every one of our games," Kries says. "I think that it's a fantastic fan base that's built already. It keeps me up at night because I think these fans deserve a little bit more and a little bit better and I'd like to give that to them right now."
Our advice for the team? Get some sleep. Don't over think the plays. Be cohesive, communicate and anticipate what your teammates will do. Come out hungry, and stay that way.
Hang in there, New York! We still think the best is yet to come. This coming Sunday May 10th, we are BULLISH on NYCFC and bearish on the New York Red Bulls, who really are not in New York at all! 7pm on Fox. Be there!
The NYCFC tells us:
Mehdi Ballouchy had a memorable 200th Major League Soccer appearance by scoring his second goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough as the Seattle Sounders beat New York City FC 3-1 in front of 25,384 on Sunday night at Yankee Stadium.
The journeyman Ballouchy tied the score at 1-1 with a powerful left-footed strike from 18 yards, beating Seattle goalie Stefan Frei in the 54th minute.
Unfortunately, the Sounders responded quickly as Clint Dempsey scored four minutes later and Obafemi Martins found the back of the net for the second time on the evening in the 66th.
New York City FC are now 1-5-3 (6 points), while Seattle improves to 5-2-1 (16 points) with a third consecutive victory.
"We were the much better team in the first 45 minutes," head coach Jason Kreis said. "But again, we don’t score a goal. We dictated the game, we had the majority of the chances against one of the best teams in the league which has been together for a very long time.
"I think the team still believes in themselves and they should. It’s not like we have been completely outplayed one game. We had chances to score and I expect the very same thing next week, the guys believing in themselves, having a good week of training and preparing for the game."
Patrick Mullins was running onto a ball played into the corner and he inadvertently contacted a defender who slipped, freeing up the New York City FC forward. Mullins continued his run and cut toward the box, held up play and slotted the ball to an on-rushing Ballouchy. The midfielder, who also scored in the 1-1 draw with Philadelphia on April 16, touched the ball forward with his right foot before blasting a left-footed shot into the mesh.
The celebrations were short lived as the visitors quickly regained the lead.
Seattle defender Dylan Remick gained possession near midfield, dribbled down the left side and passed to Martins. The Nigerian forward ran toward the byline, danced around his defender and served the ball into the box toward Marco Pappa. Pappa laid the ball off to Dempsey, whose shot dribbled past a diving Josh Saunders for a 2-1 advantage in the 58th.
Seattle wasn’t done. Martins received the ball off a nifty touch from Dempsey, split a pair of defenders and slotted it into the back of the net for a two-goal cushion.
"You have two world-class players and when you give them some time and space, they’re going to put the ball away," Saunders said. "It’s rough. But again, I thought we played well, we just didn’t execute.
“It’s really easy to turn negative. It’s easier to be negative than positive. We all need to be positive. We have to keep going because it’s a long season. There are a lot of games left and I think we’re moving toward something good. We have a lot of positive people and that creates good energy."
New York City FC came out the aggressor in the first half. The Club held advantages in possession (56.8%-43.2%), passes (283-217) and shots (11-4).
Midfielder Pablo Alvarez, who was making his first-ever start for the Club, was the main catalyst in attack. His outside-foot through ball was weighted perfectly for Mullins who ran into the box, but the forward’s shot went directly at Frei in the 17th minute.
Despite the better possession and chances, it was the Sounders and their leading goal-scorer who had the breakthrough.
In the 23rd minute, Pappa played a through ball to the speedy Martins who out-raced the New York City FC back line and had a breakaway. Martins, who set a Seattle single-season record with 17 goals in 2014, put the visitors ahead with his low shot.
The score remained 1-0 at halftime.
New York City FC return to action against the New York Red Bulls on May 10. Kickoff from Red Bull Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT.
“We’ll go over our mistakes but we have another big one next week," defender Chris Wingert said. "We just have to keep pushing and keep working hard in training. Guys just have to continue to work hard and bring the right attitude every day in training so we can get better. Hopefully, the results will start going our way.”
Scoring Summary:
23’ Obafemi Martins, SEA (Assist:Marco Pappa)
54' Mehdi Ballouchy, NYC (Assist: Patrick Mullins)
58' Clint Dempsey, SEA (Assist: Marco Pappa & Obafemi Martins)
66' Obafemi Martins, SEA (Assist: Clint Dempsey)
Misconduct Summary:
28’ Kwame Watson-Siriboe, NYC (Yellow Card)
39' Marco Pappa, SEA (Yellow Card)
44' Tyrone Mears, SEA (Yellow Card)
50' Mix Diskerud, NYC (Yellow Card)
79' Obafemi Martins, SEA (Yellow Card)
85' Kwadwo Poku, NYC (Yellow Card)
88' Kwame Watson-Siriboe, NYC (Yellow Card)
Lineups:
New York City FC: Josh Saunders, Shay Facey (RJ Allen, 70'), Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Chris Wingert, Jeb Brovsky, Mix Diskerud, Ned Grabavoy, Pablo Alvarez, Mehdi Ballouchy (David Villa, 54'), Khiry Shelton, Patrick Mullins (Kwadwo Poku, 70')
Unused substitutes: Ryan Meara, Josh Williams, Thomas McNamara and Sebastian Velasquez
TOTAL SHOTS: 20; SHOTS ON GOAL: 9; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 4
Seattle Sounders FC: Stefan Frei, Brad Evans, Tyrone Mears, Chad Marshall, Dylan Remick, Andy Rose, Osvaldo Alonso, Gonzalo Pineda (Christian Roldan, 90'), Marco Pappa (Lamar Neagle, 67), Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins
Unused substitutes: Troy Perkins, Leonardo Gonzalez, Zach Scott, Michael Azira and Chad Barrett
TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 12; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 8
Referee: Silvu Petrescu
Referee’s Assistants: Daniel Bellau and Richard Gamache
4th Official: Alex Chilowicz
Referee Assessor: Brian Hall
Attendance: 25,384
Notes:
Captain David Villa dressed after missing the past two matches with a hamstring injury and came on in the 54th minute
Midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy's 54' goal tonight was his second of the season
Goalkeeper Josh Saunders returned to the lineup after missing last Friday's match due to a suspension
R.J. Allen made his debut for New York City FC two days after signing with the club
