New York City FC player ratings are determined by Hudson River Blue readers — here are your NYCFC player ratings after a determined NYCFC earned a gritty one-goal win over CF Montréal at Stade Saputo. Not only did New York City break their 11-game winless streak, they shattered Montréal’s run of eight consecutive wins at home: Here are your NYCFC player ratings.
Starting XI
Talles Magno (off 71′) – 5.3
It was a frustrating night for Talles Magno in that he didn’t find the back of the net, but I do think there were a lot of positives to take from his performance on Saturday. He had far more opportunities in front of goal than he’s seen in weeks prior – now he just needs to find the finish. Hopefully, once he gets one the floodgates will open. FotMob gave him a 6.6 for the night.
Santiago Rodríguez – 6.3
Yes, he was ruled offside, but WHAT a finish that was to slice that first time on the half-volley into the back of the net. It’s a goal that would’ve been huge for his confidence, and an offside call that I really want to see a better angle on – that was close. FotMob delivered a 7.2 for the rest of the Uruguayan’s efforts.
Matías Pellegrini (off 71′) – 7.7
Boy, did this team need a moment of brilliance.
In a span when everything felt like it’d been going against the Pigeons, they were due for something to go their way. Maybe that was going to be an error from an opposing team’s keeper, or an own goal, or a soft penalty. I would have taken any of those in a heartbeat. But instead, that good break came by way of a moment of absolute magic from Matías Pellegrini. What an unbelievable moment for him and for this team. HRB readers awarded him with his highest score of the season, and FotMob honored his efforts with a 7.7.
NYCFC beat CF Montréal, snap 11-game winless streak
Keaton Parks (off 80′) – 7.0
Keaton Parks is playing with some “you should’ve called me up to the Gold Cup” swagger these days. Along with passing the eye test, Parks boasted a ridiculous 40/41 passing on the night, good for a 98% completion percentage. It looks like FotMob also thinks that Keaton Parks is very good at soccer these days, as they handed the American midfielder an impressive 7.5
Alfredo Morales – 6.7
Alfredo Morales went the full 90 for the fifth time in six matches on Saturday, demonstrating that head coach Nick Cushing still sees real value in this American midfielder who was all but relegated to bench duty earlier in the season. While maybe not quite as influential as Keaton, Alfredo is proving to be invaluable to this team with James Sands away on International duty. Fotmob gave him a 6.7 for his performance.
Montréal vs NYCFC highlights
Maxime Chanot – 7.6
How good has this guy been since coming back from international duty?
Maybe we just needed to see what life was like without him for a few games to appreciate how important Maxime Chanot still is to this team. With the youth and athleticism of Justin Haak and Tavon Gray on either side of the Luxembourgish veteran, I have to say I’m really enjoying how this back line has looked over the last few games, even if not yet at 100% with Thiago Martins still sidelined. FotMob gave Chanot 7.4.
Justin Haak – 7.4
In the last month or so, Justin Haak went from a rotational piece in the midfield, fighting for every minute he could get, to a borderline undroppable, player-of-the-month-caliber center-back. Life comes at you fast. Someone who’s tall, strong, athletic, calm in possession, nd boasts good passing range doesn’t come around too often at the center back position, especially not at just 21 years of age. Don’t look now, but we could be on to something here. FotMob gave the New York native an impressive 7.3.
Tayvon Gray – 6.4
Tayvon Gray and right center-back feel like a match made in heaven. He looks so much more comfortable on the ball there, and playing him in the back-three allows Mitja Ilenič to bomb forward in ways that Tayvon maybe can’t. Getting both young fullback talents into a Starting XI feels like it’s good for all parties, and setting them up this way plays to both of their strengths. FotMob gave Tayvon a strong 7.3.
Mitja Ilenič (off 80′) – 6.5
You can tell the talent this kid brings to the table when he’s freed up to bomb down that right flank and make stuff happen. He was unlucky not to find the back of the net with his thunderbolt following the chaos in the 45th minute was impressively saved by Jonathan Sirois. FotMob gave the young talent a 7.0.
Braian Cifuré – 7.1
There were a handful of matches earlier on in the season where I felt like I was typing the same sentence about Braian Cufré each week, something to the effect of, “You can tell he’s a good player, but I want to see more from him.”
Well, we’re finally seeing that something more these days. His delivery on the night was simply top-notch. The weight and whip he generates are as pleasing to the eye as they are dangerous for opposing defenders. He did well to set up Matí’s acrobatic opener, and was unlucky not to log a second assist on the night when his pinpoint delivery to Santi was ruled offside. Cufré is starting to really find his groove, and that’s great news for us fans. He was awarded POTM by FotMob with a score of 8.1.
Luis Barraza – 7.4
I’m not sure if Barraza was reading Hudson River Blue earlier this week, but the man was playing like he had something to prove out there on Saturday night.
While he’s been consistently impressive with his feet this season, it was his shot-stopping that stole the show on the night, making a handful of really impressive saves to keep Montréal at bay and secure the clean sheet. FotMob was super-impressed, handing Luis an 8.1 to match Cufré’s high score on Saturday.
Report: Algerian striker Monsef Bakrar headed to NYCFC
Substitutes
Gabriel Segal (on 71′)
Gabriel Segal’s 20-minute cameo didn’t wasn’t his most notable performance of the season, which I suppose is understandable given his last appearance resulted in a 94th-minute equalizer in front of the biggest crowd of the season. FotMob gave a 6.1 for his efforts.
Richy Ledezma (on 71′) – 5.8
He was actually unlucky not to score when his late effort was denied by Sirois in added time, but was equally as lucky that his giveaway in his own half wasn’t punished by the home side as the clock expired. So call it even? FotMob gave a 6.5.
Stephen Turnbull (on 80′) – 5.7
Turnbull saw about 15 mins of action as NYCFC saw out the win in squeaky bum time. Job done, lad, job done. Fotmob gave a 6.5.
Nico Benealcazar (on 80′) – 5.7
No love for the debut from the fans, huh? Nico Benalcazar made his first professional appearance with the first team on Saturday, marking a lifetime achievement for the 22-year-old American, who will be hungry for more from here on out. Congratulations, Nico! FotMob didn’t award a score.
No NYCFC players selected for MLS All-Star team
Player of the Match
Matías Pellegrini
When you score a goal like that, you just gotta win Player of the Match, right? Congrats to Matí on his first goal in NYCFC colors — and for his first Hudson River Blue POTM award. Go crazy tonight, Matí. You earned it.
Head Coach
Nick Cushing – 4.6
In what’s actually his fourth-highest HRB rating of the season, Nick brought home a 6.8 from the fans after grabbing a clean-sheet victory on the road against a Montréal side that’s been dominant at home this year.
Given the players at his disposal on the night, I think he got the lineup spot on, and made the necessary adjustments to see out the victory. Would it have been even better if it was 2 or 3-0? Of course, but breaking the winless streak in any capacity is cause for celebration, and I hope the team are enjoying this one.
Trust the Process: Why Nick Cushing’s job is safe
Officiating
Victor Rivas (referee) – 6.1
Maybe the victory lifted the mood of all involved, because this 6.5 score is actually the third-highest HRB rating readers have awarded a referee all season. This high score comes despite the close offside and the penalty shout we had in the 45th minute, so I suppose that shows the power of three points.
Broadcast Team
Tony Husband and Ross Smith (Apple TV) – 5.6
This is the second-highest HRB reader score for the Apple TV announcers, but the second-lowest score of the night. The chatter from the broadcast booth might be improving, but it still hasn’t captured the hearts and minds of our readers.
Apparently Tavon needs to score a hat-trick to earn at least a 7.0 from fans.
Mitja, on one of his worst performances of the season, scoring higher than Tayvon, on a solid performance and clean sheet, is a real head scratcher.
I think people are clinging onto the memories of some previous poor performances from him at RB instead of appreciating improved outings at a more natural position for Gray – hoping that, if this is the case, the memories fade and he can fall into more deserved good graces soon
At first thought I thought Santi was definitely off but looking at the play again he may have been even with the ball. That’s not a call you can overturn without technology, unfortunately. Judging by the stopping point on the replay being slightly before the cross was actually kicked, I’m going to guess he was offside.
Penalty shout–I thought it was a penalty in real time but the replay showed that the keeper got his left hand to the ball first.