New York City FC player ratings are determined by Hudson River Blue readers — here are your NYCFC player ratings after NYCFC came oh-so-close to staging an upset win over Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field before giving up a stoppage-time equalizer and ending the night with their second 1-1 draw of the week.
Starting XI
Richy Ledezma (off 63′) – 5.8
It was a good night for Richy Ledezma, but expectations have increased now that we know what the midfielder can do. NYCFC fans don’t want solid, they want elite — and they want Richy to become a consistent scoring threat. FotMob handed him a 6.9
Santiago Rodríguez – 7.1
The Designated Player looked sharp back in the lineup after serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation — Santiago Rodríguez created six chances, and was a major reason why NYCFC looked so dangerous on the night. FotMob gave him an 8.5, and Player of the Match honors.
Gabriel Pereira (off 86′) – 6.3
Gabriel Pereira was back in the Starting XI and came oh-so-close to scoring against a Columbus that doesn’t give up goals early at home. The HRB rating is significantly lower than the 8.0 handed out by FotMob — maybe because the algorithm didn’t register the one-on-one that Gabi flubbed, but that was ruled offside. It didn’t count statistically, but it lingered emotionally.
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Keaton Parks – 6.6
Keaton Parks had a passing accuracy of 90%, a long-ball accuracy of 100%, and one well-taken shot on target: It’s Keaton doing Keaton things. FotMob handed him a 7.2
Alfredo Morales (off 63′) – 5.6
Alfredo Morales still isn’t getting the credit he deserves from HRB readers. A dependable force in the midfield, Alfredo made his eighth consecutive start as he filled in for James Sands, who remains on international duty. Once again, you gave him a rating in the 5s. Once again, FotMob thought better of his night, and gave him a 6.2.
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Maxime Chanot – 7.1
How good is Maxime Chanot? Another solid start anchoring a pieced-together back-three that held their own against the most prolific attack in MLS. That is, if you set aside the stoppage-time chaos. FotMob gave him a 7.5.
Justin Haak – 8.1
Justin Haak more than redeemed himself after a poor midweek performance. The 21-year-old put in an exemplary shift in defense, then moved to midfield when Thiago Martins came on in the 63rd minute. A little bit later, Haak did this:
It was the first goal of his MLS career – the first goal ever scored by an NYCFC Homegrown – and it was a screamer. FotMob handed him an 8.1
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Tayvon Gray – 6.1
Another good day at center back, another difference of opinion between HRB readers and the quants at FotMob. You gave him a 6.1, maybe because the stoppage-time goal from the Crew was deflected in off his foot, while FotMob handed him a respectable 7.4.
Stephen Turnbull (off 81′) – 5.3
Stephen Turnbull might have started the season in NYCFC II, but he is now an integral member of the First Team: This was his ninth consecutive appearance for the club, and his fifth start. You didn’t think much of his night, but FotMob handed him a 7.2.
Kevin O’Toole (off 86′) – 5.3
A rotated NYCFC defense saw Kevin O’Toole get the start. His well-taken header bounced into the hands of Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte — Kevin was this close to being the game’s other hero. FotMob gave him a 6.6.
Luis Barraza – 5.4
Luis Barraza made three saves, allowed one goal, and earned one yellow card for time-wasting. He remains head coach Nick Cushing’s number-one choice between the sticks, but you can see the tension rising between him and Chanot. Luis spends too much time on the ball trying to pick out his pass, but that delay allows the other team to better position themselves; Maxime just wants him to make the simple play, pass him the ball, and get on with it. FotMob gave the No 1 a 6.9.
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Substitutes
Thiago Martins (on 63′) – 5.3
Thiago Martins returned to the lineup on Wednesday after coming back from knee surgery, and returned to the field on Saturday with this substitute appearance. His cameo turned out to be key: Thiago Martins filled in at defense, which allowed Haak to move up into the midfield — and score his goal. FotMob gave him a 6.3.
Matías Pellegrini (on 63′) – 4.9
Matías Pellegrini came on for Richy, and while he didn’t make much of an impact, he was part of an attack that pinned back Columbus. FotMob awarded him a 6.1
Mitja Ilenič (on 81′) – 6.3
Mitja Ilenič came in off the bench to help seal the win — unfortunately, that didn’t go so well. He didn’t play enough for a FotMob rating.
Talles Magno (on 86′) – 4.0
Ditto Talles Magno: When he came on late in the game, you hoped the pace winger would run down a Columbus side reduced to ten players. True, he was subbed in with just four minutes left on the clock, but then there was all of that stoppage time – 14 minutes of it in the end – and HRB readers expected more from the Designed Player. He didn’t play enough for a FotMob rating.
Braian Cufré (on 86′) – 5.4
And ditto Braian Cufré. The late sub earned a yellow card and a poor rating from HRB readers.
Columbus vs NYCFC highlights
Player of the Match
Justin Haak
Let’s hear it for the boy. Haak looked more like the striker NYCFC so desperately need than a No 6 taking a shot because, why not? Check out the quick feet: That first touch and the left-footed shot that lashed the ball past a keeper who had eight saves on the night. Qué gol! Qué gol!
Head Coach
Nick Cushing – 4.8
This NYCFC are looking better and better with every game. Yes, they can’t finish. Yes, they aren’t getting the results they deserve. But the incoherence and lack of chemistry we saw earlier this season have been replaced by elegant runs of play and lethal passing that slice apart the opposition. Cushing’s 63′ substitutions allowed NYCFC to take the lead. And his substitutions late in the game might have thrown off the on-field balance of the team, and allowed a short-handed Columbus to steal the draw.
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Officiating
Sergii Boiko (referee) – 4.2
An odd game for the referee. Sergio Boiko did a good job of managing the match early on – the second yellow shown to Columbus star Cucho Hernandez was deserved, but you could see other refs giving a boldface player a pass. But the red cards he showed to the Columbus coaching staff destabilized the game, and the 12 minutes of stoppage time (which turned out to be 14 in the end), rewarded the home team.
Broadcast Team
Jake Zivin and Kyndra de St. Aubin (Apple TV) – 4.7
Not bad, not great. Kyndra de St. Aubin makes interesting observations, which is good. But HRB readers are still unimpressed on the whole.
