On a warm Saturday afternoon, my cousins and I made our way to Yankee Stadium to enjoy a match-up between New York City FC and Orlando City. Little did we know a player we came to watch for the first time live, would end up playing the last match of his rookie season that very same night.
Malachi Jones appeared on my radar very late compared to other New York City fanatics. I glanced over his maiden MLS goal against Toronto and knew he had promise, but how much?
Goal No. 1 for Malachi Jones! ☝️
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 12, 2024
New York City leads 2-0 on the road. pic.twitter.com/eVkDAUAP7r
It's always a pleasure to see new young talent start to prosper at the club, but I was still wary if he would be able to fill the 6' 1" Joga Bonito-sized hole on the left wing with the forever beaching of Talles Magno.
From the 23 minutes he was on the pitch, Jones took all the uncertainties I had and pushed them aside. He not only displayed his quick thinking and creativity in the attacking half – something I missed watching with the absence of Talles Magno – but was willing to play both sides of the ball with the same vigor, unlike his Brazilian predecessor.
