New York City Football Club Falls to Philadelphia, 2-1
July 15, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release
Quick Read
New York City Football Club suffered a narrow defeat against Philadelphia Union on Saturday night. The hosts took the lead in the 19th minute via Jose Martínez. That lead was doubled in the 81st minute through Chris Donovan. The deficit was halved when Andres Jasson recorded his first goal for NYCFC. An equalizing goal did not arrive and that allowed the Union to take all three points.
Match Recap
The Boys in Blue took a trip to Chester, Pennsylvania to take on the Union Saturday night.
Nick Cushing made two changes to the team that recorded a 1-1 tie against Columbus Crew last time out, with Mitja Ilenič and Matías Pellegrini subbing in for Stephen Turnbull and Gabriel Pereira.
NYCFC started the game well and established control of possession and a rhythm on the ball during the early exchanges.
The hosts were unwilling to leave spaces open in behind for City, and that made it challenging to carve out clear-cut opportunities early on.
In the 19th minute, a set piece from Santiago Rodríguez connected with the head of Keaton Parks, and that forced Andre Blake into a good save.
Despite that early pressure, it would be the Union that took the lead in the 23rd minute after Jose Martínez converted from close range.
The pattern of the game was now well established with NYCFC trying to find a way through the Union defence, while the hosts sought opportunities on the break.
As the half neared a close, NYCC fashioned a good chance for Ilenič after some neat interplay on the edge of the box allowed Richy Ledezma to play it to the Slovenian, but his effort was deflected wide for a corner.
The second period brought no changes for either side, but it did see an early chance for NYCFC to restore parity after an overload down the left.
Ilenič's cross was deep and found the onrushing Kevin O'Toole, but he was unable to make clean contact and instead skewed it into the ground.
Nick Cushing sought to make a triple chance in the wake of that opportunity, with Andres Jasson, James Sands, and Thiago Matins replacing Alfredo Morales, Rich Ledezma, and Justin Haak.
NYCFC continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession and they were beginning to generate momentum with a flowing move seeing Santiago Rodríguez feed Pellegrini through on goal, but he was denied the chance to shoot thanks to a last-ditch interception.
Cushing turned to his bench again in the 71st minute to introduce Gabe Segal in place of Ilenič.
The second goal of the game would arrived in the 80th minute and it would go to the hosts after a miscommunication in defence allowed Chris Donovan to convert from close range.
Cushing's fifth and final sub of the game would enter in the wake of the goal as Gabriel Pereira replaced Pellegrini.
Undeterred by that setback NYCFC continued to push for a route back into the game and they got it in the 86th minute. The move started with some delightful wingplay by Gabriel Pereira.
He danced away from his marker on the corner wing then drove toward goal before cutting the ball back to Jasson. The 21-year-old saw his first shot blocked by Olivier Mbaizo, but followed up with an emphatic second attempt to beat Blake and net his first for the Club.
Pereira was proving a menace and it forced Philadelphia to double and even triple up on the forward. He would earn NYCFC's last chance of note deep into stoppage time after pouncing on a bouncing ball, but Blake would deny him with a kick save.
What's Next
New York City Football Club are back in action next Sunday as they take on Atlas FC in the Leagues Cup on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at Citi Field.
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