MLS New York City FC

Nick Cushing: "The Fans Sang Us Across the Line." 

March 18, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release


Nick Cushing has hailed the Club's home support in the wake of their 3-2 victory against D.C. United at Yankee Stadium on Saturday Night.

The Boys in Blue raced into a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Talles Magno and Santiago Rodríguez in the first half. A response from Christian Benteke narrowed the advantage before Thiago Andrade made it 3-1 in the 89th minute.

An injury-time header from Steve Birnbaum set up a nervy final few minutes with Cushing recognizing the contribution of the fans on a balmy night in the Bronx.

"What I love about our team is we have a real responsibility and an expectation to win in front of our home fans," Cushing said.

"Whether it's here at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field, the atmosphere is so good. Again, I can't praise our fans enough. We're under pressure again tonight and they're singing us over the line and they're showing us their support.

"I've just said to the team we've got to go on the road and win football games. We want to progress from last season and finish higher than third so we have to win points on the road. I believe we have the ability to do that."

Cushing also praised his side's display of character after a battling home victory against D.C. United on Saturday night. Wayne Rooney's team refused to surrender on the night, with NYCFC emerging victors from a feisty contest.

"I was pleased not that we got the ball down and controlled it with our style, but that we showed a different side of ourselves in the ability to fight and go for second balls.

"I think they got maybe one or two chances, so I'm pleased overall, but we have to be better with the ball in the second half."

He later went on to add.

"I hate to shut games out at home," he said. "You have to do it at times. You don't have the luxury of owning every game at home and these teams are really difficult.

"You look at D.C., they go direct into a guy like Christian Benteke - who is of a really high level - and they get crosses in and they get chances.

"For me we have to grow as a team. We have to learn from that and we have to control the football game with the football. We did that really well in the first half. We didn't do that as well in the second half."

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