New York City drops 2-1 defeat to DC United
Courtesy: NYCFC
By Chris Tsakonas
The August struggles continued for New York City FC tonight in a 2-1 defeat to DC United at Red Bull Arena. Heber got the only goal of the match for New York City in the defeat.
“We have a roster that is more than capable of winning games,” interim head coach Nick Cushing said after the match. “It's our job to get back in the training facility and make sure that we will find a solution to this.”
The first 14 minutes were uneventful, with neither side getting off a shot. NYCFC got the first shot in the 15th minute, as Heber got on the end of a lofted ball from Anton Tinnerholm before firing a long-range volley that was parried away by DC United goalkeeper David Ochoa.
DC United opened the scoring against the run of play in the 24th minute, when a right flank cutback pass from Chris Durkin was put home by an open Ola Kamara at the back left post.
New York City responded quickly. Just three minutes later, Malte Amundsen teed up a cross for Heber, and this time he finished to level the match at 1 and snap a six match scoring drought.
Tinnerholm went down with an injury in the 38th minute, having to come off prematurely as a result. After the match, Cushing said Tinnerholm was likely dealing with a hamstring injury, and that the prognosis was currently unknown.
There wasn’t much more attacking play before halftime, as both sides only mustered two shots in the first 45 minutes of play.
New York City created the first good chance of the second half in the 53rd minute. Off a 35 yard free kick from the left flank, Gabriel Pereira served a dangerous ball to the back right post, but Maxime Chanot couldn’t get his header on frame.
DC United were awarded a similarly placed free kick in the 57th minute - and made the most of it, as a cross from Matias Rodriguez was put home by Steven Birnbaum to put New York City behind again.
While New York City controlled much of the ball - they finished with 61 percent of the possession - it didn’t turn into much offense with just 3 shots on goal the entire match.
Their only shot on goal in the second half came deep into stoppage time, where second half substitute Gedion Zelalem forced Ochoa into a diving save with a strong effort from about 25 yards out.
With the loss, NYCFC fall to fourth in the Eastern Conference standings after the Red Bulls defeated CF Montreal 1-0 earlier tonight. They end the month of August having won just one of six matches, and now face a quick turnaround with a Sunday road trip to play the New England Revolution now looming.
“From the moment that I walk out this room, I will reflect and evaluate on my preparation for the game and where I can be better at improving this team going into New England,” Cushing said. “But I'm also really aware of where the team is at, where the roster is at, and how we can find a solution to make sure that we get back to where we should be.”