The first three weeks of MLS regular season were a nightmare for New York City FC. Two road losses where the team did not play well and then last week a loss at the last second of the game against visiting Portland. Saturday night against Toronto FC felt like a must win for Nick Cushing and the team to keep the season from careening off the rails early on. The ship got righted with a 2-1 victory at home but not City begin a two game road trip without some of their key players.
It looked bleak early on for the home team when just six minutes in Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty scored off a nice pass from Alonso Coello to put the visitors ahead early. NYCFC responded well to the early disappointment and pulled even off a wonderful set piece goal from Santiago Rodriguez in the twenty fourth minute. It was a beautiful shot from just outside the box that sailed over the wall and past the hands of Toronto keeper Luka Garavan.
Mar 16, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC forward Santiago Rodriguez (10) passes the ball during the first half against Toronto FC at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The game remained tied at halftime and there was even a little dust up as the players where leaving the pitch at the half where head coach Nick Cushing appeared to be shoved by a Toronto player.
It was back to business in the second half and it took City twenty minutes to score the go ahead goal. Kevin O’Toole made a wonderful run into the box and Jullian Fernandez sent a perfect pass into his path allowing him to head the ball soundly off the bar and into the back of the net. Perhaps it was a little pre-St Patrick’s day magic from the young Irish-American. It was also City’s first goal of the season to come from build up in open play.
Controversy struck three minutes later when Keaton Parks was sent off with a straight red card for stomping a player. There did not seem to be any malicious intent in the foul but it was clumsy and earned the booking. Parks will not be available for next weeks’ game vs Cincinnati adding insult to injury because City already will be missing 6 players due to the International break. That is next week, however, for this week, post game the team seemed happy and satisfied with the win at home.
Cushing spoke post match about the importance of the win as a part of the process. “I said in my pre-match (press conference) I was proud of the reaction and the response of the team, and it only confirmed and solidified my ongoing belief that the group is together and that everybody is moving forward in the right direction within the camp. So it gives confidence, it’s payback for good work, and it reinforces the process. That is the most important part, that on the journey when you take the knocks, you have to go through the process. When you enjoy it and you win, you have to go through the process. That’s what we’ll continue to do going into two difficult road games.”
Right Back Mitja Ilenic summed up the game and the task ahead pretty perfectly. “So much relief, it was a hard game and then we got a red card. It feels good to win again, such a good feeling. Now I go to the national team and I’ll be a little bit sad because I will miss the game against FC Cincinnati but hopefully the team will win. After some guys and I come back from our national teams, hopefully we can go and win in Miami (Inter Miami). The game had everything, everything happened – Red cards, goals, and comeback wins.”
The game did indeed have everything and for now the fans and the team can bask in the glow of the first win of the season, banishing the pain of the home opener loss from their minds, but looking ahead two wards two crucial road games in the future against two very good teams.
