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MLS New York City FC

New York City FC Clinch Playoff Berth Following Win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC

September 1, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release


New York City FC clinched a spot in the 2019 MLS Playoffs Saturday night. It is the Club's fourth consecutive playoff berth and was clinched earlier (27 games) than any of the other previous seasons.

SUMMARY

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 - 3 New York City FC

Saturday, August 31, 2019

2019 MLS Regular Season - Game 27

Attendance: 17,512

LINEUPS

Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Maxime Crepeau; Jakob Nerwinski (16' Scott Sutter), Doneil Henry, Ali Adnan; Hwang In-Beom (83' Theo Bair), Jon Erice (46' Michaell Chirinos), Russell Teibert; Yordy Reyna, Fredy Montero, Tosaint Ricketts

SUBS UNUSED: Zac MacMath, Derek Cornelius, Brett Levis, Lass

New York City FC: Sean Johnson; Anton Tinnerholm, Maxime Chanot, Alex Callens, Ben Sweat; Tony Rocha, Keaton Parks, Maxi Moralez (90'+3' Justin Haak); Alexandru Mitriță, Héber (21' Gary Mackay-Steven), Valentin Castellanos (70' Sebastien Ibeagha)

SUBS UNUSED: Brad Stuver, Eric Miller, Jesus Medina, Juan Pablo Torres

SCORING SUMMARY

10' - NYC - Héber (Assisted by: Alexandru Mitriță, Tony Rocha)

26' - NYC - Gary Mackay-Steven

64' - VAN - Yordy Reyna (Assisted by: Tosaint Ricketts)

72' - NYC - Alexandru Mitriță

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY

45'+4' - VAN - Hwang in-Beom (YC - Unsporting Behavior)

49' - VAN - Doneil Henry (YC - Unsporting Behavior)

79' - VAN - Michaell Chirinos (YC - Unsporting Behavior)

85' - VAN - Alexandru Mitriță (YC - Unsporting Behavior)

QUOTES

New York City FC Head Coach Domènec Torrent

On the game...

" It was very important for us. When I say we have to focus in the next game, that is true. For me the most important thing is the next game and, right now, that's New England. The most important thing is to get three points again and maybe we have some problems in the second half because we didn't defend compact, but we were able to score three goals and we could score more goals. It's very important because it's the fourth game in a row we won and when that happens in the last seven games, it's very important because we will try to finish in the first position, if not in the second because I know how important it is, especially this year, for the playoffs because it's important to play at home because it's a knockout game. They [the players] deserved that because they fight everything day and I'm happy for them, for the club, for the supporters. It is special for us in this moment because the feeling is much better, but we have to improve. I'm happy, but we have to improve."

On response to goal...

"I am happy because they respond when we had some problems, I'm happy because look at the difference in the last 10 minutes for example, we take the ball and pass the ball. That didn't happen for example against Colorado. I remember we had many problems and that means we play much better and this team is getting better."

On Heber's injury...

"He has discomfort in the quadriceps. I don't know, we have to check it out in New York."

New York City FC Forward Gary Mackay-Steven

On scoring on his birthday...

"I think it's first [time he's scored on his birthday] so it's nice to get off the mark. Extra special it's my birthday, but the main thing is getting the three points and I thought the boys done really well today, so it's a good victory again."

On getting subbed in early...

"Héber scored a great goal and he's been on fire recently, so hopefully it's nothing serious for him and he's back for the next game because he's been a big player for us lately. But yeah, you don't have much time to think about it, you just have to get stripped and go on. But you're always ready when you're on the bench and I was happy to get on and play my part today and still feel there is a lot more to come and still feel a little bit rusty in a lot of ways, but definitely the goal helps and I can kick on."

On reaching full potential...

"I've not been happy with myself to be honest and I keep working hard on the training ground and today it was nice to get off the mark and hopefully it can kick start and I can show my true level."

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Head Coach Marc Dos Santos

On Crépeau...

"Let me talk bad about Max today [and] the third goal ... Max knows what I'm going to say ... he knows how much I appreciate him and how much he's given to the team. But in that third goal, we felt that there was a man lacking in the wall and the ball went through; a goal that we can't concede in a moment that there's a lot of belief in the team, and then we concede that third one and it becomes difficult."

On Erice substitution...

" No, the reason is we felt at 2-0 down we had to take a little more risk so we went from the 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 where we brought Michaell in. So, an attacking player for a defensive midfielder. And we know that probably with the course of the game, John would probably get a little bit tired because of the amount of ground and what he covered against Montreal, plus the trip and he's not 18-years-old right now. So, because of that we felt that it was a sub that we would take a little bit more risk, go at the opponent and that's why we subbed him."

On the penalty result...

"Because of the way we came out in the second half that penalty would give us the momentum even more because if you go back and watch the first 20 minutes of the second half, we were a team that went at them. We tried and we created and there's chances that were just a little bit unlucky. In the first half the cross from Scott [Sutter], it goes between the legs of Tos [Tosaint Ricketts] and that could have been a goal. When Michaell cut inside he has all the second post open, it goes wide. So, we have chances, so for sure, that that goal in that moment would have been very important, so that's why I don't want to talk about that play because it's a play that I really feel would have made a difference."

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Defender Doneil Henry

On team effort in the last three games...

"San Jose, we got popped. I don't know what it was but when you look across the board ... this was not what we are. We went to Montreal, and I thought we played really well and we didn't get anything out of it. I thought today again, we did enough to get a result, even a tie. That's the most frustrating thing about football. Sometimes it can be really cruel, sometimes decisions impact games. [There's] a lot of stuff that goes into a football match that's out of our control, but what's in our control is that we bring our effort and bring the right mentality every day."

On mentality in the second half...

"We never put our heads down once in this game. We never thought that this game was over because of how good we came out flying. It's really hard when you go down 2-0 to keep playing, but even at 2-0, the game was so wide open ... I think on a better day, we're clinical."

On Reyna...

"I think Jordy has been outstanding for this team especially in the last 7 to 10 games ... You see effort, you see his momentum, you see his work rate ... he shows you what kind of a player [he] is. Salute to him, he's been fantastic for us.

On Dos Santos and the team's rebuilding process...

"I salute Marc, he puts in major days, major hours ... it's never going to be easy when you make this [many] changes within a season ... Trust Marc, give it time. I feel sorry for the fans, yes, they want it now, of course, but trust the process with us because the guys really want it and the guys want to make a difference here."

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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