Notes & Quotes: New York City FC 0 - 1 Portland Timbers
July 7, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release
New York City FC 0 - 1 Portland Timbers
Sunday, July 7, 2019
2019 MLS Regular Season - Game 17
Attendance: 18,363
LINEUPS
New York City FC: Brad Stuver; Anton Tinnerholm, Sebastien Ibeagha, Alex Ring, Maxime Chanot, Ben Sweat; Ebenezer Ofori, Keaton Parks; Maxi Moralez, Valentin Castellanos, Ronald Matarrita (68' Jesus Medina)
SUBS UNUSED: Luis Barraza, Juan Pablo Torres, Danny Bedoya, Justin Haak
Portland Timbers: Steve Clark; Zarek Valentin, Larrys Mabiala, Claude Dielna, Marco Farfan; Andres Flores, Renzo Zambrano (76' Diego Chara), Sebastian Blanco, Diego Valeri (89' Marvin Loria), Dairon Asprilla (64' Jeremy Ebobisse), Brian Fernandez
SUBS UNUSED: Kendall McIntosh, Jorge Moreira, Julio Cascante, Tomas Conechny
SCORING SUMMARY
14' - POR - Sebastian Blanco
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
40' - POR - Claude Dielna (YC - Time Wasting)
44' - POR - Sebastian Blanco (YC - Dissent)
44' - POR - Marco Farfan (YC - Unsporting Behavior)
45'+2' - POR - Dairon Asprilla (YC - Unsporting Behavior)
45'+3' - POR - Zarek Valentin (YC - Unsporting Behavior)
81 - NYC - Ben Sweat (YC - Unsporting Behavior)
88' - NYC - Ebenezer Ofori (YC - Unsporting Behavior)
STATS
Full Match Statistics: click here
RECAP
Missing eight first-team players, New York City FC played their third match in nine days against the Portland Timbers in the Bronx on Military Appreciation Night.
As the team looked to extend their unbeaten streak to 15 matches, Dome Torrent made two changes to the Starting XI, replacing injured duo Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Alexandru MitriÃâºÃÆ with Ebenezer Ofori and Ben Sweat.
Both players, along with Tony Rocha, Héber, James Sands, and Joe Scally were unavailable for the match with injuries, while Sean Johnson and Alex Callens were competing at the Gold Cup and Copa America respectively.
Portland started strong, taking the lead on 14'.
Giovanni Savarese's side earned a free kick which was curled in by Diego Valeri and finished off by Sebastian Blanco after NYC failed to clear.
As the hunt for the equalizer ensued, Ronald Matarrita, who made his return from international duty on Wednesday night, took a shot at goal from well outside the box on 28'. Unfortunately for City, Steve Clark was there to make the save.
Before the halftime, NYCFC earned a corner kick taken by Maxi Moralez in the 42' minute, which was nearly converted by Taty Castellanos, but his near-post shot just flew the wrong side of the post.
NYCFC came out in the second half just as hungry for their first goal of the night and, in the 64th minute, they almost had it when Alex Ring took a shot on goal which deflected back to Castellanos on the rebound but - as he seemed to be all night - Clark was there to make the save.
Midweek goalscorer Jesus Medina was introduced from the bench to try and make an impact in the second half and the Paraguayan was lively and knitted together some promising moves - however, Portland had hunkered in deep by this stage and always seemed to have a man over to make a block or last ditch challenge.
NYCFC never gave up but they just couldn't find a way through the Timbers low block. A late flurry of City corners came to nothing and Ted Unkel blew his whistle for a Portland win.
QUOTES
NYCFC HEAD COACH DOMÃNEC TORRENT
On his overall view of the game...
"I think the team deserved more. I am very proud of them. It is not easy to play so many games without rest. We are missing some players but is not an excuse, it is a reality, but I am very proud of them. They deserved more. In the first half we made one mistake and when you make a mistake in soccer it punishes you. But we have to keep working...I am very proud of them. They played very well, especially the second half we deserved at least one goal, but sometimes that happens in soccer you are just unable to score a goal."
On his outlook going into the open cup in Orlando...
"It is not easy to travel after so many games. We are tired because we have played three or four games in ten days...some of the players we need to rest."
NYCFC DEFENDER ANTON TINNERHOLM
On the team's mindset following today's match...
"Right now, I'm not that positive, but of course we know our record and I think if we continue to play like we did in the second half we'll start a new streak. We were a little bit sloppy in the first half, we gave away one goal. We have to be better from the start especially at home. Here we are going to dominate the games. We have to be ready. We can't be down after every single first half."
On the first half...
"Of course we gave away one goal, but otherwise they didn't create that many chances. We didn't either, but in the second half we showed that we are a way better team. We had a lot of chances, but today the ball didn't want to go in."
NYCFC DEFENDER SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA
On being inconsistent in both halves of matches...
"I don't know why it's been like that to be honest because we prepare the same way. I think everyone is ready. I just think we come out flat. It is something we will have to be aware of and not wait until the second half to try to turn it up."
On being one of the best defenses in MLS...
"I think I have come in and done a decent job role playing while others are out. Filling in that role and doing the job to the best of my ability and keep the team moving in the right motion."
On facing Orlando in the US Open Cup Quarterfinal...
"It is very important to win all the silverware that we can this year. The Open Cup is very important to us. We are definitely looking forward to that game and try to win that match."
PORTLAND TIMBERS HEAD COACH GIOVANNI SAVARESE
On Sebastian Blanco and his early goal...
"I thought Seba had a great game, not only the things he created offensively with the goal, but also what he did defensively. He committed to making sure we had the result, not only him, but everyone on the field worked very hard to make sure we got what we needed, three points from this game. It wasn't easy, New York City proposed some different challenges that we had to deal with. I think the guys did a fantastic job to make sure that we covered, we sacrificed, that we were able to get to balls. If it wasn't one guy, then it was the guy next to him that made it very difficult for New York City to find easy spaces."
On his team's depth...
"I think the depth that we have is just because everybody is a believer of what we are trying to accomplish. Everyone that steps on the field gives everything to make sure that we're getting every single time what we are looking for to be a competitive team. Today it was great to have guys like Farfan and others stepping on the field and getting the job done."
PORTLAND TIMBERS DEFENDER MARCO FARFAN
On tonight's match...
"I don't think it was the prettiest of games, but I just think it shows how much heart this group has. It was a game that we really needed to grind out. We defended a lot during the last couple minutes. I think it just showed how much heart this group has."
On Portland using their depth tonight
"I think Gio and all the coaching staff makes sure that every single player is important, he makes every player feel confident, and so I was lucky enough to get my number called in today. So, I think all the confidence and help from all my teammates really helped me to play a role in this group and on this team."
On his teammates stepping up
"NYCFC is a great team. I just think, like I said, from the start it was a game that we really needed to grind out. When you see players like Blanco who is an attacking player, or someone who creates in Valeri, all those players in attack. They had to defend a lot today, they showed that they had heart and wanted to win this game out and grind it out. I just think it took a full eleven in everybody that came in to grind things out and try to win this game."
PORTLAND TIMBERS MIDFIELDER SEBASTIAN BLANCO
Overall thoughts on the match...
"Today was a very tough game, they've never lost here so we are very happy to beat them. Two years ago we did the same. They played very well, so we need to work very hard and defend well. We had many counter attacks, but we can finish the game, but we feel very happy because these three points were very massive for us."
On breaking NYCFC unbeaten streak...
"They play very well and not everyone can win here. For us it's a very good momentum and we need to continue now because we have many [games ahead of us] that are very important games so we feel happy and we will continue working."
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