Gyasi Zardes brace costs New York City FC in 2-1 road loss to Austin FC
Courtesy: New York City FC
By Chris Tsakonas
New York City FC kicked off a four-match road trip with a 2-1 road loss to Austin FC at Q2 Stadium tonight. Andres Perea opened the scoring for New York City in the fifth minute, but Gyasi Zardes found the equalizer for Austin in the seventh minute of first half stoppage time before scoring the match-winner in the 69th minute.
Zardes brace wipes out fast New York City start
After going up 1-0 in the ninth minute from an Alonso Martinez goal in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over CF Montreal, New York City got off to another early start against Austin tonight. In the fifth minute, Tayvon Gray delivered a cross from the right side to set up the opening goal from Andres Perea.
The lead lasted until the final seconds of the first half, when Jader Obrian delivered a cross to the back post to set up a headed equalizer from Zardes.
Zardes would complete the comeback in the 69th minute, as he broke free into the box after getting on the end of a through ball from Owen Wolff before beating Freese one-on-one. Zardes ultimately determined the outcome with his first two goals of the season.
“We lost the game on moments - the moments that we don't execute and finish and the moments [we conceded] the two goals,” head coach Nick Cushing said after the match. “I think they get three chances and I think the first chance is too easy. We have to block, we have to stop crosses, we have to mark in the box better.”
Late push for second goal falls short
After creating just four shots in the first half - with the only shot on goal being the Perea goal - New York City ramped up the activity in the final third in a late bid to salvage a result on the road. In the second half, New York City created 13 shots (four on goal) to generate a total of two expected goals - but none of them found the back of the net.
The highest-percentage chance for New York City came in the 77th minute, when Illenic missed from the middle of the penalty area on a shot with an expected goal value of 0.19.
“If you look at the possession that we had, we started the game really well. We create two, three chances, but we only take one of them,” Cushing said. “In the second half, we're the team that's dictating the game, we're the team that's really pushing the game and creating the majority of chances.”
Additional injury concerns for New York City
Despite the strong start, problems began to arise for New York City as the first half continued as three players picked up injuries. Gray was the first to leave the match in the 12th minute with an injury, as Mitja Illenic came on as an early replacement. Santi Rodriguez had to get a bandage to stop bleeding on his head after a collision in the 30th minute but remained in the match after being cleared to return.
On the opposite side of the back line from Gray, Kevin O’Toole also both picked up injuries in the first half, which led him to come off at the start of the second half for Justin Haak.
“Tayvon has got some discomfort in his leg - so was Kevin O'Toole, we had to pull both of those [players out], so not ideal to take out both starting fullbacks, but I thought Mitja came in and grew into the game and I thought Justin Haak showed what an incredible guy and an incredible professional he is to go in and play left back as a right footed midfield player,” Cushing said.
The injuries come as New York City already entered tonight’s match without four players in Birk Risa, Malachi Jones, Maxi Moralez and Christian McFarlane.
Next Up
After playing three matches in nine days, New York City will have a full week to prepare for the second road game against the Chicago Fire on July 13. Live radio commentary will begin at 8:15 P.M., with Glenn Crooks and Matty Lawrence on the broadcast from Soldier Field.