Struggles continue for NYCFC in 1-0 loss to Charlotte

By Chris Tsakonas

New York City’s winless struggles continued this afternoon, as an early goal from Daniel Rios put Charlotte FC in the driver’s seat in a 1-0 win at Bank of America Stadium. 

“We have to continue to show the video, continue to get the players on the training ground, and continue to demand the standards that that this football club demands,” interim head coach Nick Cushing said after the match.

It didn’t take long for Charlotte FC to take the lead. In the 5th minute, a throw in from the right sideline ended up at the feet of Daniel Rios, who beat Sean Johnson to put Charlotte up with his second goal of the year.

Charlotte got an arguably better chance to double their lead in the 15th minute. A turnover from Justin Haak allowed a through ball to find Brandt Bronico behind the defense, but his attempt to chip Johnson as he was coming out of goal was hooked wide right.

In the 45th minute, Charlotte nearly struck again. Off a Justin Haak turnover, Rios got the ball and looked upfield, setting up Kerwin Vargas for a point blank shot that just missed to the right.

It looked as if New York City’s fortunes may have turned in the 55th minute, when Charlotte FC captain Christian Fuchs was sent off for elbowing Tayvon Gray. 

The offensive struggles continued, and NYCFC wouldn't get their first shot on goal for another 20 minutes. The chance finally came in the 75th minute, when Malte Amundsen’s cross found the head of Alexander Callens - forcing Kristijan Kahlina into his first stop of the day.

City kept pushing for an equalizer in the dying minutes. In the 89th minute, Matias Pellegrini received a short corner and sent a cross into the box that found Gray, who missed the target on the shot.

The match exceeded the 8 minutes of stoppage time initially awarded, and New York City found themselves with a free kick 25 yards out from goal in the 10th added minute. Maxi Moralez stepped up to take, but ultimately missed well high on what ended up being the last kick of the game.

With the loss, New York City now look towards a break from MLS action, as they’ll host Atlas in the Campeones Cup on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

“Every game has an opportunity now for a reset, because we need a result,” Cushing said. “And I think you can see that we're maybe lacking a little bit of confidence, lacking that winning feeling.”