NYCFC unbeaten streak snapped in 2-1 road loss to Philadelphia
Courtesy: NYCFC
By Chris Tsakonas
New York City FC’s eight-match unbeaten streak came to an end tonight, as the Philadelphia Union came away with the 2-1 win at Subaru Park.
The opening 20 minutes only saw two shots - both coming from Keaton Parks. In the 7th minute, Parks got on the end of a cross from Mitja Illenic on the right, only to head it over the bar. In the 20th minute, Parks got another header from a Matias Pellegrini corner, but similarly headed it off frame.
“When we're not picking up points, but we're performing in a way where we should win., we have to be clinical,” head coach Nick Cushing said after the match.
At the other end, the Union broke through. In the 26th minute, Jose Martinez finished off a Philadelphia counter attack, beating Luis Barraza at the left post to take the 1-0 lead for the Union.
“I think we've got we've got to deal with the counterattack better,” Cushing said. “When we turn the ball over central, the ball should go wide. If the ball goes wide, you get an opportunity to close the game up, and it was a really sloppy moment from start to finish.”
Quinn Sullivan nearly doubled Philadelphia’s lead in the 34th minute, firing a dangerous 12 yard shot that was parried away by Barraza.
New York City got a golden set piece opportunity in the 63rd minute, with a 25 yard free kick near the center of the edge of the area. Santi Rodriguez stepped up to take it, but he couldn’t get it on target.
The Union doubled their advantage in the 81st minute, when substitute Chris Donovan was able to get around Barraza inside the six yard box and tap it into an empty net.
“We gave away two really, really poor goals and we have to improve,” Cushing said.
New York City quickly responded. In the 85th minute, Andres Jasson got on the rebound of a blocked shot and fired it past Andre Blake to make it a 2-1 match.
City had one more chance to tie the match in the fifth minute of stoppage time, when a cross from Kevin O’Toole fell to Gabi Pereira at the back post. Blake made the stop, and the Union held on for the win.
With the defeat, New York City will enter the Leagues Cup portion of the season. NYCFC will return to Citi Field to host Atlas in the first group stage match next Sunday, in a rematch of last year’s Campeones Cup.