New York City FC split points in 1-1 draw at Chicago Fire FC
Courtesy: NYCFC
By Chris Tsakonas
New York City FC are still searching for their first win after finishing level in a 1-1 draw with Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field on Saturday night.
New York City controlled the flow of the match at first, holding roughly 80 percent of the ball through the first 10 minutes. The first scoring chance came in the 11th minute, when Matias Pellegrini delivered a dangerous cross for Andres Jasson - only for him to hit the right post. Keaton Parks fired a follow-up from outside the area, but it was saved by Fire keeper Spencer Richey.
In the 23rd minute, Gabriel Pereira got on the end of a dangerous through ball from Talles Magno, and his shot was narrowly parried away by Richey.
Pereira would get the breakthrough late in the first half. In the 39th minute, a pass from Keaton Parks was deflected to Pereira on the right side of the penalty area. Pereira slotted a low shot through traffic to beat Richey just inside the left post for NYCFC’s first goal of 2023.
“I think we dictated the first half, we controlled the game, we created the chance with Andres - which was unlucky - we get the goal,” Cushing said. “We really got into our rhythm quickly, which I was really pleased with.”
Chicago began to dial up the pressure on the backline, creating more chances as the second half went on. In the 72nd minute, Gaston Gimenez launched a dangerous volley from 25 yards out that narrowly missed wide of the right post.
In the 73rd minute, Santi Rodriguez returned to the field for the first time since resigning with NYCFC, appearing in a limited role to re-acclimate himself to the side. James Sands came off for Justin Haak with an apparent muscle injury, but head coach Nick Cushing says it isn’t a serious cause for concern.
Sands got the start in his first game back from his loan with Rangers, and Cushing felt that experience showed on the pitch tonight.
“I think you can see his understanding of how we want to play and how he really contributes to our build up,” Cushing said. “ I think he can see the maturity that he's gained from being over in Scotland and playing in Champions League and the Europa League and in the Scottish Premier League.”
In the 75th minute, the Fire had their equalizer. Fabian Herbers leveled the match off a shot that deflected off of Talles Magno and redirected into the back of the net.
“There’s too many moments where we're trying to attack the game and we haven't had the ball for maybe a small period - which is the nature of our league,” Cushing said. “On the regain, we have to keep the ball for longer periods so that we can control the game.”
In the 83rd minute, it looked as if the Fire had taken the lead when Maren Haile-Selassie finished off a save from Luis Barraza - but a lengthy VAR check led to the goal being disallowed fro an offside.
With the draw, New York City FC head into their home opener against Miami next Saturday looking to get their first win of the season.