Penalty perfection sees NYCFC advance in Leagues Cup

The game was not perfect but all of New York City FC's penalty takers were, making the difference in turning a 1-1 draw with New England Revolution in regulation into a 7-6 New York City win in the shootout.

A blustery, rainy summer night at Gillette Stadium did not bring out the highest-quality soccer, though each team had its share of chances to win before requiring a shootout.

Santiago Rodríguez drew a penalty (after a VAR check) and converted to give NYCFC a lead after 35 minutes, but the Revs answered almost immediately, with Brandon Bye splitting the New York City defense with a cross that was turned home by Bobby Wood to level the score at one in the 40th minute.

It remained that way until penalties, though Bobby Wood really should have given New England the lead before halftime, blasting a shot over the bar from a glorious look at goal in the 45th minute.

The Revs also were awarded a penalty kick early in the second half, for an assumed handball violation by Agustín Ojeda, but the penalty was canceled after VAR intervened, a huge let-off for NYCFC. VAR helped the visitors out twice, awarding Santi a penalty and revoking one which could have helped New England grab a lead.

The difference in advancing or ending the Leagues Cup run came down to the shootout, and New York City was precise, poised, and decisive with all seven of its kicks, while New England's Mark-Anthony Kaye clanged his shot off the crossbar. That lone miss was enough to hand NYCFC a date with Tigres in Leagues Cup's Round of 16, with Justin Haak delivering the final conversion to clinch the win.

PK prowess on display

A 14-round penalty shootout is a nervy endeavor, yet all seven of New York City's takers looked supremely confident, converting with ease.

Nick Cushing said after the Querétaro shootout win that assistant coach Rob Vartughian oversees the team's shootout "process" and sets the shooting order, and twice in Leagues Cup, the team's approach has worked to perfection.

It's not just goalscoring attackers converting their kicks. Thiago Martins has gone second in each shootout and has made both his kicks, while Homegrown defensive midfielders James Sands and Justin Haak each stepped up and made theirs in New England after not taking part in the Querétaro shootout.

Haak's clutch clincher had to be a cathartic moment for the 22-year-old from Brooklyn, as he's only started to get regular minutes since mid-July, appearing in all of the team's last seven games.

ROUND OF 16, HERE WE COME 😤 pic.twitter.com/ymRechgt6y

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) August 10, 2024

Santi makes it happen (again)

Neither team made a fluid or aggressive start to the game, but Santiago Rodríguez was again a difference-maker for New York City.

So often this season, he's been the player to pull NYCFC out of its doldrums by scoring, assisting, or in this case, showing a bit of 1-v-1 initiative to draw a penalty.

Santi successfully took on Matt Polster and, though referee Julio Luna didn't whistle for it in real-time, VAR deemed that Polster fouled Santi in the 18-yard-box and New York City had a chance from the spot.

Ice-cold panenka from Santi 🥶 pic.twitter.com/J6WdoMUUIf

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) August 10, 2024

Only one player converted two penalty kicks on the night, and only one player attempted an audacious panenka finish from the spot: Santiago Rodríguez. He took the risk by attempting a chip down the middle on his 35th-minute kick, and it paid off.

Panenkas always look great when they're converted, and always look ridiculous when the goalkeeper stands there and willingly catches a shot with zero power. Santi made no mistake against Aljaž Ivačič, a good omen considering he'd have to kick again in the decisive shootout after the 90 minutes.

New York City FC just said goodbye to a player with individual game-changing potential, but in 2024, their Uruguayan Designated Player has been the member of the squad most capable of putting the team on his proverbial back when it's been necessary.

Defense stabilizes

New York City's defense fell apart at the end of the game in Cincinnati on Monday night. Birk Risa and Thiago Martins looked as fragile as they have since paired up last summer, and Luis Barraza seemed helpless against every Cincinnati strike from outside the box.

That changed in New England, with one big personnel change also made. Nick Cushing abandoned his plan to use backup Luis Barraza as his "Leagues Cup goalkeeper," slotting Matt Freese back into his Starting XI in New England.

Freese didn't have to make highlight-reel saves, and the defense in front of him got cut open in the first half not long after Santi's penalty gave them a lead, but the performance as a whole was a step forward from the mess at TQL Stadium.

New England's attack is far from as potent as Cincinnati's, especially with dangerous attackers like Carles Gil, Giacomo Vrioni, Dylan Borrero, and Tomas Chancalay all unavailable due to injury. Yet Thiago Martins and Risa looked much more aligned than at the end of Monday's loss, and Christian McFarlane had one of his better performances since making his First Team debut over on the left.

The 17-year-old rumored Manchester City transfer target had a busy first half, tested repeatedly by Jack Panayotou and Brandon Bye's overlapping attacks on his side of the field. McFarlane kept his cool and rarely put a foot wrong at Gillette Stadium, completing 92% of his 26 attempted passes. Bye created the one New England goal from the side of the pitch occupied by McFarlane, but that formula was unable to be repeated, as the youngster grew in confidence and put in a steady 90-minute performance.

Given that NYCFC is in a mediocre run of goalscoring form, it will need its defense to play at its peak if there's any hope of pulling an upset over Tigres UANL in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday night.

NYCFC to play Tigres at Red Bull Arena in Leagues Cup Round of 16

Two teams that met in the 2020 Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals will reunite in Harrison, New Jersey on Tuesday, August 13.

Hudson River BlueHudson River Blue Staff