NYCFC win second straight at home 3-1 over Dallas
Courtesy: NYCFC
By Chris Tsakonas
New York City FC picked up their fifth win of the season tonight, defeating FC Dallas 3-1 at Citi Field in a match where they scored three goals in an 11 minute span. Santi Rodriguez had his first brace of the season, while Talles Magno also found the back of the net and Luis Barraza made seven saves.
“I can’t give Luis enough praise [for] his bravery [and] his positioning,” head coach Nick Cushing said after the game.
Rodriguez had his first brace of the season, playing his most effective game of the season while moving into the false nine role.
“I cant say enough good things about Santi Rodriguez,” Cushing said. “He trained incredibly well, which made my mind up [about playing him in a new role].”
Neither side got their first shot on goal until the 10th minute, when James Sands nodded down a corner kick for Keaton Parks, whose initial attempt rebounded out to Braian Cufre for a 25 yard try that was deflected wide of the goal.
In the 16th minute, Gabriel Pereira beat Maarten Paes with a low driving shot from about 20 yards out, and it appeared as if NYCFC had a 1-0 lead - until referee Fotis Bazakos went over to the VAR monitor, and the goal was disallowed because Pereira was offside on the initial entry pass into the final third.
NYCFC finally broke through in the 44th minute, when Santi Rodriguez intercepted a pass, broke through the Dallas back line and finished to go up 1-0 on the stroke of halftime.
The floodgates opened in the second half, as New York City continually broke through the Dallas defense. In the 50th minute, Pereira sent in a cross from the right flank that was finished at the back post by Rodriguez for the brace.
In the 55th minute, it was a 3-0 City lead. Pereira worked his way into the right side of the area and got off a shot that was saved - only to fall to Magno, who tapped it in at the edge of the six to put the match away.
FC Dallas pulled one back in the 77th minute, when Tsiki Ntsabeleng sent in a cross off a short corner that was finished by Jose Antonio Martinez to make it 3-1 with a quarter of an hour to go.
With the win, New York City FC now looks towards a four game road trip, which will begin next Saturday with a trip north of the border to take on Toronto FC. New York City FC is still searching for their first road win of the season, with a current road record of 0-2-2. City will be on the road for the next four matches, marking their largest road trip of the season.