NYCFC clinch home field advantage with 2-1 win over Orlando City

By Chris Tsakonas

After trailing 1-0 to Orlando with just 25 minutes to play, New York City FC rode a late offensive explosion to a 2-1 win at Red Bull Arena. The win clinched home field advantage for New York City FC for at least the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. 

“There's been a bit of a really good feel [in the locker room] since we started to perform better,” interim head coach Nick Cushing said. “We finally got a bit of momentum, and I felt that pregame.”

It looked as if NYCFC had taken the early lead in the 12th minute, when Tayvon Gray got on the end of a cross and buried it in the back of the net. Santi Rodriguez was in an offside position in the buildup, and the goal was disallowed.

A golden chance came in the 23rd minute, when Rodriguez set up a curling ball to the back post that found Talles Magno - but the five yard header was off target, and the match went into halftime scoreless with neither side recording a shot on goal.

Facundo Torres drew first blood for Orlando in the 46th minute, finishing at the back post off a setup from a glancing header from Ercan Kara. 

In the 66th minute, New York City answered. Magno had the ball at the edge of the area, setting up Alexander Callens with a through ball for a shot that found the back of the net
15 minutes later, City had their first lead of the match. Gabriel Pereira collected the ball out in transition on the right flank, and found Magno on an overlapping run, finishing on the breakaway for his first goal in nine matches. 

The win puts City two points clear of the Red Bulls for the third seed in the East, which is the highest they can possibly get with one match left to play. They’ll host at least one home match, with the opponent to be determined after Decision Day next Sunday.

“I think the result is really important for lead position,” Cushing said. “I think for us, we want to finish as high as we can.”