New York City FC Clinches 1st Place in Eastern Conference
September 29, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release
SUMMARY
New England Revolution 2 - 0 New York City FC
Sunday, September 29, 2019
2019 MLS Regular Season - Game 33
Attendance: 28,602
LINEUPS
New England Revolution: Matt Turner; Brandon Bye, Andrew Farrell, Antonio Delamea, Jalil Anibaba; Carles Gil, Luis Caicedo, Wilfried Zahibo, Cristian Penilla (83' Michael Mancienne); Teal Bunbry, Gustavo Bou (90' Scott Caldwell)
SUBS UNUSED: Brad Knighton, Diego Fagundez, DeJuan Jones, Juan Agudelo, Juan Fernando Caicedo
New York City FC: Sean Johnson; Eric Miller, Sebastien Ibeagha, Alexander Callens, Ronald Matarrita; Tony Rocha, Maxi Moralez, Jesus Medina; Gary Mackay-Steven (76' Ismael Tajouri-Shradi), Héber, Alexandru MitriÃâºÃÆ
SUBS UNUSED: Brad Stuver, Luis Barraza, Ben Sweat, Ebenezer Ofori, Juan Pablo Torres, Justin Haak
SCORING SUMMARY
66' - NE - Teal Bunbury (Assisted By: Cristian Penilla, Gustavo Bou)
89' - NE - Gustavo Bou (Assisted By: Wilfried Zahibo)
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
61' - NE - Brandon Bye (YC- Unsporting Behavior)
82' - NYC - Alex Callens (YC - Unsporting Behavior)
On the match overall...
"I think we played well. We deserved goals in the first half to score I don't know, maybe two goals. But you know what happened, like so many times in soccer, if you are unable to score goals, the soccer [will] punish you. That happened for me in that game. I'm not angry with my players, because the better men won for me. They fight every single ball, they win the duels, and they created opportunities. We make two mistakes and they score two goals."
On NYCFC winning more duels in game:
"I saw the stats and we win more duels then New England, but after that, you know what happened. They may fall, and fall, and fall for five seconds, six seconds. It's not easy to play that way because the fall, fall, fall, fall every single ball. It's not easy to play in that way. We play even well especially in the first half. We could not score in the second half after one-zero. The last minute of the contest, we lose the ball. This kind of ball I don't like to play inside, you know. Something happened in the last two minutes. We tried to score one goal to win the game, and they score the second goal. That happens. I'm not happy, happy with my players, but I'm not angry with my players, because the better man was good. I don't know what will happen in Columbus, but if not, I say to them, 'We have to be ready for the next game."
New York City FC Goalkeeper Sean Johnson
On emotions after tonight's match...
"I think it's a bit of a rollercoaster. Obviously, we're a team of competitors. The result tonight here in New England was disappointing. Walking off the pitch, we were pretty upset with the result. In an important game we needed just a point and we came up a bit short. Then, obviously not knowing what happened in the other games and never being in the position where you have everything in your control, you don't want to leave it up to another result or something out of your control. Free to become champions of the Eastern Conference, but once we got back in the locker room I think all the phones went on to the game and we were all just locked to the screen. We didn't know there was a weather delay as well. We stuck through it for about 30 minutes just watching the end of the Columbus game. Sometimes, you need a little bit of luck elsewhere, if you will. That result was great for us and we'll take it as a win. Eastern Conference champions and [Concacaf] Champions League as well is something to be happy about."
On how the performance of tonight's game...
"The game was a bit weird, honestly. At the end of the day, we needed a result. A win would have been great for them, a win would have been great for us, but a draw would have put us both in a decent spot. We set up to win. The game was a little back and forth. They had one quality chance in the first half. We had a few quality chances in the second half and it just kind of one of those nights that might end up scoreless or 1-1, but they scored that first goal then they scored later on. It was just a bit of a weird game. We're competitors and having nine unbeaten coming into this game, I think we were just in the mindset of being able to take care of business and we came up a bit short, but that's the game of football sometimes. We'll look at the performance, reflect on it, we'll enjoy the moment."
New York City FC Defender Sebastien Ibeagha
On his emotions after tonight's loss...
"We obviously came off of the field pissed off, you know; like you said, a missed opportunity, a missed chance, and just take it for ourselves and keep it going. But, you know, we came in here, started watching the [other] games. 0-0 at the time in the 55th, and we just kind of watched it the whole time. Columbus scored, we were like, 'okay, this could actually happen.' Then, they scored another one, and we were all really ecstatic and they could hold that until the end of the game."
On receiving help in clinching the Eastern Conference:
"A little disappointed not to just do it ourselves and get the three points here. I mean, the goal was still the same no matter how we get it."
On the delayed celebration...
"We still lost. You never want to lose. I think that kind of was hanging over it. Then, when you realize you just clinched the first spot in the eastern conference, it's something to celebrate no matter how it happened."
On how they found their way throughout the season...
"I think the culture was something Domenec [Torrent] was trying to bring in last year. I just personally thought he didn't have enough time. I think he came in halfway through the season, there was already a previous culture that was kind of set already, and this year he kind of got to come in with a blank slate. I think it's big, the culture he has preached in the locker room has been great and you see guys performing under him."
On how they came about finishing first...
"[In] preseason we always talk about the goals as a team. Our goal was to get a better seeding going into the playoffs and that was one thing. Obviously, you have that and the MLS Cup, Supporter's Shield. So, I think it's kind of been a goal of ours since the beginning. Kind of wavered a bit through the first games as we struggled. But, I think, as a team, we always knew what we were capable of and what we still are capable of."
Major League Soccer Stories from September 29, 2019
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- LAFC Draws Minnesota United 1-1 on Sunday Night at Allianz Field - Los Angeles FC
- Quakes control destiny in season finale next Sunday - San Jose Earthquakes
- Instant classic: 'Caps defeat Galaxy in dramatic high-scoring affair - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- D.C. United Draw New York Red Bulls 0-0 on the Road - D.C. United
- Sporting Earns 2-2 Draw vs. Portland in Home Finale - Sporting Kansas City
- Union head home for final regular-season match next Sunday - Philadelphia Union
- Postgame Notes: Real Salt Lake 2-1 Houston Dynamo - Houston Dynamo FC
- New York City FC Clinches 1st Place in Eastern Conference - New York City FC
- Toronto FC (2) - Chicago Fire (2) Post Game Summary - Toronto FC
- LA Galaxy Postgame Notes: LA Galaxy 3, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4 - Sunday, September 29, 2019 - LA Galaxy
- Chicago Fire Draw Toronto FC 2-2 in Last Home Match of the Season - Chicago Fire FC
- Dynamo Fall 2-1 at Real Salt Lake in Road Finale - Houston Dynamo FC
- Revolution Clinch Playoff Berth with 2-0 Win vs. New York City - New England Revolution
- Red Bulls Take Home the Atlantic Cup, Draw 0-0 with D.C. United - New York Red Bulls
- FC Cincy draw even at home - FC Cincinnati
- Impact and Atlanta United Draw 1-1 at Stade Saputo - Club de Foot Montreal
- Atlanta United Draws 1-1 against Montreal Impact - Atlanta United FC
- Michel Scores Late, Lions Earn Draw 1-1 at FC Cincinnati - Orlando City SC
- New England Revolution Reveal 2019 Team Awards, Carles Gil as JetBlue Team MVP - New England Revolution
- Three Points: Houston Dynamo Close Two-Game Road Trip in Utah - Houston Dynamo FC
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