New York City FC holds on for 2-1 win against Orlando City
The Pigeons played the last 10 minutes of the match with 10 men, but the Purple couldn’t find an equalizer in the 10th anniversary of the teams’ MLS debuts.
Hannes Wolf heads home the winning goal in New York City FC’s 2-1 win Saturday against Orlando City. Photo by NYCFC.com.
How has MLS let New York City FC play its home matches at Yankee Stadium for 10 years?
The Pigeons pin-balled in a pair of second-half goals Saturday to edge Orlando City’s Lions 2-1 on what has been irreverently called “Foosball Field.”
NYCFC’s pitch is 110 yards long and 70 yards wide, the smallest allowed by FIFA. The maximum dimensions are 120 x 80 yards, but the extra 900 square feet are the difference in the “Beautiful Game” and a mosh pit. I do not enjoy watching matches played in the “House That Ruth Built.”
BUT, enough complaining; both teams have to navigate the ridiculously compact space (imagine playing basketball with eight players on each team. Yeah.)
The teams played a scoreless first half, but the home side came out with renewed energy and more determined defensive pressure, creating multiple turnovers in front of Orlando’s goal.
In the 59th minute, the Pigeon’s Maxi Moralez pinged a shot off the left post that rebound straight into the path of striker Alonzo Martinez, who booted it home.
Orlando City answered 10 minutes later when the Lions cleared a ball to Marco Pašalić, who was running unmarked for perhaps the only time in the match. He passed ahead to speedy Louis Muriel, who beat NYCFC keeper Matt Freeze for his first goal of the season.
New York City answered right away. Just a minute later, usually sure-handed Pedro Gallese saved a shot but spilled the rebound. Julian Fernandez was there to chip the ball to Hannes Wolf, who easily headed home the winner.
The Lions went up a man in the 86th minute when Kevin O’Toole drew his second yellow card, earning an automatic red card and an ejection. Orlando City had several opportunities in the final four minutes of regulation and six of stoppage time, but couldn’t find the net.
New York (1-0-1) notched its first win of the season and the first victory for new coach Pascal Jansen. Orlando City (1-2-0) lost its second match.
The Lions and Pigeons played to a 1-1 draw March 8, 2015, at the Citrus Bowl in the first-ever MLS match for both teams. New York City FC leads the all-time series 10-7-10.
The Lions will travel to play the New York Red Bulls on Saturday and NYCFC will host New England.