Extra time goal from Santi Rodriguez sends NYCFC to second Open Cup quarterfinal in club history
Courtesy: NYCFC
By Chris Tsakonas
New York City FC are through to the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup after a 1-0 extra time win over the New England Revolution at Belson Stadium tonight. Santi Rodriguez got NYCFC’s goal in the 94th minute.
Despite the narrow extra time margin, New York City controlled the run of play throughout, outshooting New England 15-8 - 7-4 in shots on goal - while holding 64.2 percent of the possession.
There was some early chaos in front of goal, and NYCFC had a golden chance to finish in the 11th minute. Andres Jasson crossed the ball in for Thiago Andrade, and his close-range shot was saved by goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, the follow through was also saved, and the ball was finally cleared off the line by defender Matt Polster.
That double-save was the only real scoring opportunity for New York City until the 36th minute. Then, Talles Magno took a touch at the top left corner of the penalty area and corked a powerful shot that was stopped by a diving Petrovic.
The Revolution nearly scored against the run of play in the 43rd minute, when Justin Rennicks took the ball down the right flank on a quick counterattack. Rennicks sent in a cross to Esmir Bajraktarevic, but the glancing header was right at City keeper Luis Barraza.
Through the first 45 minutes, New York City had largely controlled the match, holding 71.5 percent of the possession while outshooting New England 4-1 - but the opening goal was yet to come.
New England came out of the locker room with an early opportunity, as Damian Rivera fired a shot from the right side of the box that was thwarted only by a diving stop from Barraza.
Another point blank opportunity for NYCFC came in the 57th minute - this time off a free kick from the left flank. Jasson delivered it to the back post, where Maxime Chanot nodded it back across for Justin Haak, but he couldn’t finish.
Just two minutes later, Malte Amundsen took a lead pass into the left corner before delivering a cross to the edge of the six, but Talles Magno’s header was stopped by Petrovic.
New York City kept pressing forward. In the 86th minute, Jasson saved the ball at the byline before floating a cross to the back post, where Castellanos’ sharp angle shot couldn’t beat Petrovic.
Four minutes into extra time, NYCFC had their breakthrough. Castellanos dribbled into the area and laid it off at the spot for Heber. He then found Santi Rodriguez on his left, who finally found the back of the net for the opening goal.
New England thought they had an answer in the 95th, as Polster found Justin Rennicks with a through ball that was fired into the back of the net. But the goal was disallowed after the flag was quickly raised.
There was one last chance for the Revs in the 118th minute, when a cross from Wilfrid Kaptoum found Gustavo Bou at the near post - but his header was stopped at close range by Barraza.
The victory now sets the stage for an early, extra edition of the Hudson River Derby, as New York City faces a road matchup with the Red Bulls for a spot in the semifinals in late June.