New York City FC are Campeones Cup champions after 2-0 win over Atlas

Courtesy: Blue Balls Podcast

By Chris Tsakonas

New York City FC have their first trophy of the season, defeating Atlas FC 2-0 in the 2022 Campeones Cup final at Yankee Stadium. Alexander Callens opened the scoring in the 4th minute, with Maxi Moralez doubling the lead in the 49th minute.

It was a closely contested match, with NYCFC narrowly edging out Atlas with 51 percent of the possession.. Atlas outshot City 20-17 overall, with an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal.

NYCFC got their first good look at goal in the 4th minute - and they made Atlas pay. Gabriel Pereira delivered the initial service off a free kick, his service was deflected by Nico Acevedo and fell to Alexander Callens at the back left post, and he put it home from a tight angle to get the early lead.

Set pieces would be the source of several New York City opportunities in the first half. One of those came in the 14th minute, when Santi Rodriguez stepped up to take a free kick from about 30 yards out - but his shot was put over the bar.

The run of play began to shift towards Atlas as the first half progressed, with the first shot coming in the 27th minute off a shot from Anderson Santamaria - but Luis Barraza was right in front of it for his first action of the game.

Heber had to come off in the 29th minute with a lower body injury, with Talles Magno entering the game in his place.

Atlas got another opportunity in the first minute of stoppage time, with a New York City turnover quickly leading to a Julian Quinones shot that was stopped again by Barraza.

New York City doubled their lead in the 49th minute. Magno collected the ball in transition, setting up the through ball down the right flank for Moralez to slot home for the second goal of the game.

NYCFC nearly made it 3-0 in the 51st minute, when Rodriguez got on the end of a feed from Callens and fired a shot from the middle of the box that was stopped by Atlas keeper Camilo Vargas.  

The counter attacks continued for New York City, including a 65th minute opportunity that ended with Moralez finding Callens with a through ball to set up a shot that Vargas saved again.

With this final in the rearview mirror, New York City FC now look towards the final stretch of the MLS regular season. Their final match before the September international window will be the return leg of the Hudson River Derby, as New York City FC host the Red Bulls at Yankee Stadium.