Three late goals power NYCFC past San Jose in 3-0 win

Source: NYCFC

By Chris Tsakonas

Three goals in a 14 minute span powered New York City FC to a 3-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes this afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Keaton Parks, Gabriel Pereira and Chris Gloster found the back of the net in the win.

“The first half was a little difficult because the other team was so compact,” Thiago Martins said after the match. “The second half opened up - we kept the ball and attacked the space.”

NYCFC outshot the Quakes 23-11 with a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal. They controlled 55 percent of the possession, and earned a 2.8-0.3 expected goal differential.

Both sides traded early opportunities. In the third minute, Keaton Parks got the ball at the edge of the area and got off a right footed shot that was saved by a diving JT Marcinkowski . In the 14th minute, Jeremy Ebobisse got the first chance for the Earthquakes, but Sean Johnson made the stop.

NYCFC nearly got the opener off a corner in the 28th minute. Santi Rodriguez got a cross in from the right corner flag that Talles Magno headed off the post. 

In the 36th minute, New York City got a pair of chances. First, Malte Amundsen got a cross in to Rodriguez, but his header was wide right. Rodriguez regrouped and sent a cross of his own in to Thiago Martins, but he missed just right.

Off a through ball from Taty Castellanos, Magno thought he had the opening goal in the 59th minute, but it was called back for offside.

NYCFC got the goal for real in the 74th minute. Magno lost his footing before slotting a through ball for Parks in the box, and he fired into the upper 90 to get New York City up 1-0 - and get his second goal in as many games.

Four minutes later, NYCFC doubled their lead. Rodriguez gathered the ball at the top of the box and passed inside the 18 to Pereira. The newcomer took the ball, cut back onto his left foot, and curled a shot past the far left post to make it 2-0.

The third goal came in the 88th minute. Maxi Moralez launched a deep pass from the center circle that Gloster collected on the left flank before firing across goal and inside the right post. It marks the first MLS goal for Gloster.

With the victory over San Jose, New York City FC continue a strong run of form. They’ve won three straight, with two of those three being shutouts. Overall, they’ve outscored their last three opponents by a 14-4 margin.

“You don’t get anywhere without [hard work],” manager Ronny Deila said. “If we keep playing like this we’ll be hard to beat.”

NYCFC return to action next Saturday, continuing their home stand against Sporting Kansas City at Citi Field.