New York City FC celebrates MLS Cup banner ceremony with 4-1 win over Montreal
Courtesy: NYCFC
By Chris Tsakonas
A wintry afternoon in the Bronx began with the MLS Cup banner ceremony and ended with a dominant 4-1 win for New York City FC over CF Montreal at Yankee Stadium.
“We want to attack, and it feels like we’re a different team at Yankee Stadium,” Malte Amundsen said after the game. “Everyone loves to play here, we were so happy to be back today.”
The biggest offensive contributor was Talles Magno, who finished with a goal and assist in the win to earn Man of the Match honors.
“I am very happy to have won man of the match and score in my first game at Yankee Stadium,” Magno said after the win. “Really happy with the [team’s] great performance.”
It didn’t take long for NYCFC to get their opening goal. After a corner kick was cleared out of the box, Keaton Parks set up Magno, who centered the ball to set up a left footed volley from the penalty spot from Alexander Callens to give New York City the 1-0 lead.
NYCFC capitalized on a giveaway in the 20th minute, as a pass from Victor Wanyama was intercepted by Santi Rodriguez, who chipped Sebastian Breza to put the ball in the back of the net to double the lead.
It looked for a moment like New York City had scored their third in the 29th minute - Taty Castellanos took the ball down the left side of the box and cut back onto his right foot for a shot that was saved. Magno finished the rebound, but the goal was disallowed as he was in an offside position on the initial shot
The third goal almost came in the 45th minute, when a cross from Rodriguez found the head of Magno at the edge of the six, but it was saved at point blank range.
NYCFC went into the halftime break with a decisive advantage in shots, outshooting Montreal 11-5 in total shots - with a 5-0 advantage in shots on goal.
A triple substitution came from Montreal heading out of the locker room, with Robert Thorkelsson, Djordje Mihailovic and Zach Brault-Guillard coming on for Lassi Lappalainen, Rida Zouhir and Alistair Johnston.
In the 51st, Montreal pulled one back - and it was thanks to two of the three halftime subs. Thorkelsson dribbled up the left wing and filtered a ball across the six, where it was tapped in by Brault-Guillard at the right post.
Sean Johnson had to come to the rescue in the 55th minute, when Djordje Mihailovic took a powerful shot from the edge of the area that was parried away. Montreal controlled the rebound, and the follow up from Matko Miljevic was also saved by Johnson.
Montreal thought they had their equalizer in the 61st minute, when a lead pass for Romell Quioto was put into the back of the net. The assistant raised his flag for offside, and the goal was waved back.
NYCFC responded in the 64th minute, as a cross from the right side of the box from Andres Jasson found the head of Magno, who finished with a powerful header to double the New York City FC lead.
New York City got their fourth goal in the 83rd minute. A poor backpass from Joel Waterman was intercepted by Thiago, who slotted it past Breza to make it 4-1.
“I expect goals from Talles and Thiago and Santi,” NYCFC manager Ronny Deila said after the game. “They’re good finishers… we scored four today without Taty and Maxi scoring and that’s a strength for the team.”
The win gives NYCFC four points through three games of MLS play. With the win, they now head on the road yet again, with a trip to Guatemala ahead of Tuesday night’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Comunicaciones.