Monday, May 29, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Hudson River Blue
New York City FC Official Gear
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • Game Recaps
    • Video Highlights
    • Player Ratings
    • Transfer News + Rumors
    • Tactics + Analysis
    • HRB Interviews
    • International Call-Ups
    • Oppo Research
    • Reader Polls
    • City Football Group News
    • FO News
    • Stadium Saga
    • Preseason
  • Schedule + Results 
    • NYCFC Schedule and Results
    • Game Recaps
    • Video Highlights
    • Game Day Hubs
    • Oppo Research
    • Leagues Cup
    • Hudson River Derby
    • MLS Cup Playoffs
    • US Open Cup
    • Campeones Cup
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Tactics + Analysis
    • False 9
    • Hot Takes
    • Guest Columns
    • Predictions
  • Tri-State Soccer Scene
    • Tri-State Soccer Scene
    • Gotham FC
    • NYCFC II
    • NYCFC Academy
  • Fan Culture
    • Fan Culture
    • Kits + Merch
    • Food + Drink
  • About
    • About
    • Masthead
    • Privacy Policy
    • Opt-Out Preferences
Hudson River Blue
No Result
View All Result
Home CONCACAF Champions League

NYCFC show quality, defeat a physical Comunicaciones 3-1

City win hard-fought first leg of CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals in front of hostile crowd at “home”

Oliver Strand by Oliver Strand
March 9, 2022
in CONCACAF Champions League, Game Recap
A A
0
NYCFC show quality, defeat a physical Comunicaciones 3-1

Los Cremas tried to muscle Taty off the ball. | Photograph by Katie Cahalin, courtesy of NYCF.com

New York City FC returned to their winning ways, outplaying a physical Comunicaciones FC to triumph in the first leg of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals by a score of 3-1.

At first, the NYCFC squad had trouble adjusting to an opponent who went after City with a relentless high press and aggressive man-to-man defending—and to a referee who often seemed to forget he had a whistle in his hand. But the quality of the City players came through. The team kept their focus even if they didn’t get the calls, and because of NYCFC’s creativity in front of goal the squad will travel to face Comunicaciones in Guatemala City next week in a good position to advance to the CCL Semifinals for the first time in club history.

Most importantly, this NYCFC are starting to look like the NYCFC that lifted the MLS Cup last year. Seven weeks of travel, early start to the season, playing on short rest: The team haven’t had the easiest time of it in 2022. But that and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee. Instead of making excuses, NYCFC put up a solid result and rediscovered their form against an unremitting opponent—all good signs with the MLS home opener just a few days away.

A new shape

Last night, NYCFC lined up in 3-5-2 for the first time this year, with manager Ronny Delia taking full advantage of the offseason acquisition of central defender Thiago Martins: With Alexander Callens, Maxime Chanot, and Martins anchoring the backline, NYCFC could flood the midfield and feed the attack. It was the kind of tactical shift the NYCFC faithful have hoped to see in a team with this caliber of talent and this level of depth. Manager Ronny Delia made our Football Manager dreams come true.

It was rocky going at first. Comunicaciones used a high press, running hard at NYCFC’s players and quickly establishing that referee Marco Antonio was going to let this be a physical game to the advantage of Los Cremas. Forward Talles Magno gave as good as he got, but it was hard for him to move inside the attacking third when he was being double-teamed and clipped any time he touched the ball.

Still, NYCFC stuck with the plan. After a Talles Magno goal was voided because of a maybe-I-guess offside call, NYCFC responded with a classic run of play: An Andres Jasson cutback, a Maxi Moralez lofted pass, a Taty Castellanos in-yer-face header.

Taty loves a flying header 🦸‍♂️💥 @tatycaste11anos pic.twitter.com/05FrlLWp0q

— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) March 9, 2022

Composure over chaos

NYCFC started the second half knowing that a 1-0 lead wouldn’t be enough to carry the team through a second leg in Guatemala City. But Comunicaciones continued to harass City, leveling the score in the 60th minute off a set play and a chaotic goalmouth scramble lashed in by Manuel Gamboa, a 23-year-old defender who spent most of the match practicing his grappling holds on Castellanos.

Now that Comunicaciones had their away goal, the Guatemalan side sat back—and the mostly-Guatemalan crowd roared their approval. NYCFC’s response? An elegant run of play at the top of the box: A Talles Magno pass, a Castellanos lob, a Moralez pirouette of a volley over the outstretched arm of Comunicaciones goalkeeper Kevin Moscoso. NYCFC retook the lead in style.

10/10, no notes 🤩 @mmoralezoficial pic.twitter.com/X0xbBrmW4O

— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) March 9, 2022

That second City goal might have shifted the momentum, but Comunicaciones didn’t make it easy for NYCFC—and it didn’t take the crowd out of the game. But the cohesion that NYCFC lacked in recent games came through in this match. City kept their composure, created their chances. A three-on-two in 71st-minute let Castellanos pick his pass to Santiago Rodríguez, who calmly slotted the ball past the charging goalkeeper.

S. Rodríguez cool as you like 🥶 @23SRodriguez pic.twitter.com/KIVzFnswhf

— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) March 9, 2022

Castellanos has been mostly quiet in the two MLS league games this season, but tonight he both scored and created: One goal, two assists. Welcome back.

About that home crowd

NYCFC was forced to play their “home” game at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, CT, a 110-mile drive from New York City, because it was the closest CONCACAF-approved venue the club could secure for the match. 

Fair enough. But that created the circumstances that transformed this match into something closer to an away game for NYCFC: Thousands of fans of the legendary Guatemalan team traveled from the northeast and beyond to support a team that rarely has the opportunity to play in the United States. The NYCFC fans who made the drive to East Hartford were vastly outnumbered by Comunicaciones supporters—anecdotally, between 80% and 90% of the crowd at Prat & Whitney stadium was cheering for the Guatemalan side.

Just met 2 #Comunicaciones supporters in hotel lobby in E. Hartford.

Both worked overnight shifts & then drove 12 hours from Michigan for #SCCL22 last night.

They couldn't believe the lopsided support for their side.

"Where were all the NY fans?" she asked.#NYCFC #MLS @MLS

— Glenn Crooks (@GlennCrooks) March 9, 2022

We could get into a point-counterpoint exchange (NYCFC fans need to support their team! NYCFC can’t play a midweek game two hours outside the city and expect fans to show up in numbers!), but we’d rather acknowledge that last night was something like a semi-away game played in an unfamiliar stadium, and that the team stepped up.

The strong performance brought together elements of 2021’s MLS Cup-lifting run (possession, creativity, grit), with components of what we hope will be 2022’s winning formula: Tactical intelligence, strong teamwork, a nonstop Talles Magno.

If this is what NYCFC could do playing on plastic turf and on short rest, we’re hopeful for how the Pigeons will play this Saturday in the cozy confines of Yankee Soccer Stadium.

Tags: 2022 CONCACAF Champions LeagueAlexander CallensAndres JassonComunicaciones FCCONCACAF Champions LeagueKevin MoscosoLos CremasManuel GamboaMaxi MoralezMaxime ChanotPratt & Whitney StadiumRonny DeilaSantiago RodríguezTalles MagnoTaty CastellanosThiago Martins
Oliver Strand

Oliver Strand

Oliver is the executive editor and publisher of Hudson River Blue. A benchwarmer on the 1985 Culver City All-Stars, he grew up supporting the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Most Popular

Steve Cohen’s Willets Point casino suffers political setback

Steve Cohen’s Willets Point casino suffers political setback

May 25, 2023
Where to eat at Citi Field: 2023 Update

Where to eat at Citi Field: 2023 Update

April 13, 2023
The MLS Table after Matchweek 14.

Why W-D-L is better than W-L-T, and why MLS should change their ways

May 23, 2023
Gotham FC players celebrate after beating OL Reign 4-1

The secrets of their success: Why Gotham FC now top NWSL table

May 24, 2023
NYCFC midfielder Maximo Carrizo has interest from both the USMNT and the Argentine national team.

Four NYCFC players called up to USYNT U-16 tournament in Japan

May 23, 2023
Hudson River Blue

A New York City soccer community
© 2023 Seawall Media LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NYCFC Schedule and Results
  • Game Recaps
  • Video Highlights
  • Player Ratings
  • Opinion
  • Transfer News + Rumors
  • Tactics + Analysis
  • International Call-Ups
  • False 9
  • Kits + Merch
  • Food + Drink
  • Stadium Saga
  • HRB Interviews
  • Long Reads
  • MLS Cup Playoffs
  • US Open Cup
  • Tri-State Soccer Scene
  • Gotham FC
  • NYCFC II
  • About
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Opt-Out Preferences
  • Masthead
  • Login

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}