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MLS New York City FC

Notes & Quotes: New York City FC 1 - 0 Columbus Crew SC

August 21, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release


SUMMARY

New York City FC 1 - 0 Columbus Crew SC

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

2019 MLS Regular Season - Game 25

Attendance: 19,828

LINEUPS

New York City FC: Sean Johnson; Anton Tinnerholm, Maxime Chanot, Alex Callens, Ronald Matarrita; Alex Ring, Tony Rocha (82' Keaton Parks), Maxi Moralez; Gary Mackay-Steven (59' Alexandru Mitriță), Valentin Castellanos (87' Sebastien Ibeagha), Héber

SUBS UNUSED: Brad Stuver, Ben Sweat, Eric Miller, Jesus Medina

Columbus Crew SC: Eloy Room; Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Alex Crognale, Connor Maloney; Luis Argudo (78' Luis Argudo), David Guzman, Artur, David Accam; Romario Williams (60' Jordan Hamilton), Eduardo Sosa (46' Pedro Santos)

SUBS UNUSED: Jon Kempin, Josh Williams, Will Trapp, Youness Mokhtar

SCORING SUMMARY

36' - NYC - Valentin Castellanos (Assisted by: Maxi Moralez)

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY

12' - CLB - David Guzman (YC - Unsporting Behavior)

49' - CLB - Jonathan Mensah (YC - Unsporting Behavior)

64' - CLB - Eloy Room (YC - Dissent)

68' - CLB - Alex Crognale (YC - Unsporting Behavior)

80' - NYC - Ronald Matarrita (YC - Unsporting Behavior)

QUOTES

New York City FC Head Coach Doménec Torrent

On capitalizing on games in hand...

" I agree with you it's important to get the three points when you have [games in hand]. I'm very happy for the three points, maybe we played one of the best first halves of the season and one of the worse second halves of the season. I'm not happy about that because they were amazing, but when I say at half time play in the same way, but quickly and we have them pressing again, my feeling right now we didn't respect the game and everyone was playing different positions...I have to convince them if they play long ball, they have to have control and have this quality to play. For the effort I am very happy, I love this team and I love the players; they're family."

On moving forward to the Red bull's game...

"We changed a little today, we had some rest during the week and I decided to change Taty the last 8-10 minutes because he has four yellow cards. For me, the most important game is the next so the most important game is the Red Bulls. After Red Bulls the most important is Vancouver and I will have to choose the right players. It is good news for us because everyone is waiting to play against the Red Bulls, so I will have to choose the right players."

New York City FC Defender Anton Tinnerholm

Talk about today's performance...

"Well today we got a clean sheet and we know we're going to score. So today we managed to get the clean sheet and we got the three points, and in the end, that's what matters. But to be honest, we're having a little bit of a down point at the moment. We haven't played as well, but in the end, we manage to get three points. It's the same against Houston. It's the same against Cincinnati. And then today, it's the same. We don't manage to play our best, but we get the three points. You have to be happy with the three points, but we have to improve the way we play.

What improvements does the team need to make...

"I think today it's a completely different half [in the second half]. In the first half, we dominated the game and played exactly the way we want. We just missed a couple of shots on the goal. We hit a couple more of those and the game is over. In the second half, they put the pressure a little bit higher and we need to find a way of how to manage that. Hopefully now against Red Bulls, they're going to push the pressure a little bit higher and it's going to be a completely different game, so we need to find a way to manage that. And we need to win more second balls because we keep missing the balls directly, then we're going to have to play defense again."

New York City FC Forward Valentin Castellanos

On how this victory helps the team going into the derby...

"It's an important victory that we needed. This game gives us confidence going forward, and against the Red Bulls, it's a derby so it's an important game and we need all three points. Hopefully, we can get the three points for the fans."

On his current form...

"Well, I think there is always room for improvement. I don't consider myself a complete player. I think I can still improve and I'm still learning every day from my teammates and coaching staff. At my age I'm happy where I am right now. I'm enjoying it, but I want to continue helping the team."

New York City FC Goalkeeper Sean Johnson

Thoughts on how important tonight's match was...

"I think this was a really important game. I think Dome [Torrent] gave us a message before the game to not look past this game. Obviously with the Derby on the weekend, I think everybody's focus was on this match knowing that we had a couple of games in-hand and knowing we had the opportunity tonight to climb the table. For me it was just necessary to get three points and, like you said, it wasn't easy at times. When the game calls for certain things and having to grind it out is an important lesson to learn. Going forward when games are going to be a little bit more open, teams are going to be pressing to climb the table now that the playoff chase is getting a little bit tight. At the end of the day it's three points. Could we have played better football at times? Yes. But do we fight when necessary? Absolutely. I think it shows were capable of getting a result when things don't necessarily go our way the entire 90 minutes."

On getting a clean sheet in tonight's win...

"Clean sheets are always important, at this point I think the wins are what's most important. With the playoff races starting to heat up a little bit, things are getting tight. We still have a game [in] hand, so I'm doing what's necessary for three points. So, if we have a clean sheet, fantastic. We want clean sheets every game, but we also want to win every game. Whatever the case may be, we have to do what's necessary. So, this is just about winning games."

Do you feel the intensity is starting to pick up this season...

"Oh yeah, you start to see it. Now we're at a point where some teams have eight, nine, ten games left, and games come up quick and fast. So teams that need points, teams that really need to go for it, you'll start to see them open up. You'll start to see teams putting numbers forward, leaving themselves exposed behind. It's just a matter of how you organized yourself because you got a little glimpse of it tonight. Columbus' Pedro Santos came on in the second half and for 15 minutes we didn't really have an answer for it. Finally, we made the adjustment, but I think we'll start to get a little more sharp and quicker on our toes, realize some situations, and we'll be good."

Columbus Crew SC Head Coach Caleb Porter

On the way that NYCFC pressured the Columbus defense...

They didn't get a ton of chances, but we got too low, and then when we won the ball, they were able to counter press us in. They pinned us back in that first half. We needed to do a better job of breaking that pressure as well.

On the Crew's second half turn around...

The second half was a completely different game. We dominated I thought, we pinned them back, it was because we stepped higher and had more energy in the front. It allowed us to win the ball high and keep the ball and we got a lot of chances.

On Pedro Santos providing a spark when he came on...

Well, he is one of our best players. We went with some young guys, some new guys and we want to show faith in them. Like I said I thought it wasn't all bad, but the second half was much better. Pedro certainly gave us some life, his energy, his ability to get the ball between the lines and create, changed the game. I think Jordan as well, Romario was lively, and Luis Diaz, our whole mentality, our energy was much better. We needed two halves like that second half, when you get two halves like that then the result is going to be different.

Columbus Crew SC Forward Romario Williams

On his first MLS start...

"It felt good to be out there. It has been a long time coming. All the hard work over the years since I have been in this league to finally get the first one definitely felt good. At the same time, we didn't come up with the three points that we wanted. That makes it a bit bittersweet."

On moving on after loss...

"We got to have short memories. That's what professionals are. It is a game of chances and we got our fair share of chances. Sometimes it just doesn't go your way. As a group we know that. That's what motivates us each and every day. We know what we are capable of. It is just a matter of capitalizing on our chances because we have been right there. We know we are good. It keeps us pushing, keeps us motivated."

On team performing at high level for 90 minutes...

"We have not been able to put together a full complete game. It has been in batches of 20-25-30 minutes. If we can put together a solid performance and not put ourselves in a hole where we are chasing the game, it is incredible to think what we can achieve as a group."

Columbus Crew SC Goalkeeper Eloy Room

On coming in against a strong NYCFC side...

"We know how they play so it was not a surprise for us, but I think the first half we struggled a bit, I think we were also a little bit nervous in the beginning. I think the second half was a different one and we showed them that we also can play. I thought the second half was better from our side, we had some chances, and too bad we didn't score."

On a tough stretch of games for Columbus Crew SC heading into rivalry week...

"Yeah it is tough, we need the points and we want to win the games. The second half I think was promising for the next game, and especially the important game against Cincinnati. I think we must look to the second half, we played well, we made it difficult. I think we must be confident for the next match."

On a tough run of results recently and its effect on the squad...

"Yeah it is tough, like I said, we want to have the points and we have had some good games, the result was not that good. I think we must work together, stay together, and just help each other and focus on the next games. I still have confidence that we can win the games, because we showed in the second half today that we can play with the best teams."

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