New York City FC defeats Santos de Guapiles 2-0 in first leg of Champions League Round of 16

In their first competitive match since winning the MLS Cup in December, New York City FC defeated Santos de Guapiles 2-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League round of 16. Taty Castellanos scored both goals in the first 30 minutes of the match.

City controlled much of the run of play, outshooting Santos 12 to 7 while holding 58 percent of the possession.

“I think we had true control of the game,” NYCFC manager Ronny Deila said after the game. “They didn’t create anything, even when we were down to 10 men - we were really solid, disciplined, [and] compact.”

It didn’t take long for NYCFC to find the back of the net. In the 4th minute, a cross from Gedion Zelalem on the left side was handled in the box, and Castellanos finished the penalty into the lower left corner to put City ahead.

Santos was able to create some chances - with one coming in the 17th minute when Lopez fired a shot from near midfield that almost caught Sean Johnson off his line with a chip.

NYCFC nearly doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute, when Maxi Moralez got on the end of a low cross and fired a right-footed shot 10 yards out from goal that hit the crossbar.

The second goal finally came in the 30th minute, when a deflected cross from Malte Amundsen from the left side fell to Taty Castellanos in the box, and he finished with a powerful strike into the top right corner to make it 2-0.

“When we played through the midfield, we created chances all the time,” Deila said. “[Santiago Rodrigues, Talles Magno, Moralez and Castellanos] - those four together, they open them up every time they get between the lines.”

NYCFC had a dangerous set piece opportunity in the 36th minute, when Castellanos had a free kick from the top right corner of the 18 yard box. He couldn’t capitalize, however, as the shot curled wide of the near right post.

City kept pressing, and in the first minute of stoppage time Castellanos found Talles Magno on a cross, setting up a shot that hit the left post. It was the last opportunity of the first half, and it would remain a 2-0 New York lead at the half.

The NYCFC attack kept the pressure up in the second half. In the 66th minute, Castellanos threaded a ball into the box for Santiago Rodriguez, but he missed wide of the left post.

Just 2 minutes later, NYCFC went down a man after Rodriguez was sent off for a late studs up challenge on Santos forward Erson Mendez. Santos pressed forward, but couldn’t find a goal despite the man advantage.

With the first leg victory, the focus now shifts to Los Angeles, where NYCFC will host Santos in the return leg next Wednesday night.