Flushing, NY- NYCFC survived Wednesday evening at Citi Field, their slim playoff hopes alive after a late dramatic goal, Beanie Traore off the bench in second half stoppage time for the 2-1 win, A goal that was needed as they await Montreal Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. Montreal eliminated from playoff contention will put up a fight, scrappy and as NYCFC coach Pascal Jansen said, an opponent that will not be handed a silver platter, in essence his team will put up a fight.
Yes it’s survival time with NYCFC facing an uphill battle in their final two games of the season, basically they need three points Saturday with a clear win and await other outcomes in the Eastern Conference MLS standings. A draw is not a win and one point won’t do it, they win against Montreal and it could come down to Decision Day on the road against DC United on the road next Saturday. But this win was sweet, goals finally came their way. And since their return from the World Cup hiatus goals and intensity on the pitch have been slim or none, a stigma around a team that currently sits 12th in the Eastern Conference as they shoot for that final 9th spot. Getting that ninth and final spot is the hurdle they need to climb and it resumes Saturday. Regardless, NYCFC put up a fight in the final minutes and with stoppage time. There was more aggression, defending, and Pascal used his bench player at the perfect time. Traore, a late season addition to NYCFC, significant is the striking ability, 23 year old native of the Ivory Coast and he got the opportunity. Momentum for NYCFC returned and they look for that to continue, it’s win or go home.
Traore got the ball and from outside his second goal as the new addition. Nico Fernadez Mercau opened the scoring with a nice free kick in the 70th minute, a momentum builder. And the Traore goal was another momentum builder coming moments after Breel Emboro equalized the score for Atlanta late in the second half.
NYCFC for the first time at Citi Field won a game this season.
Must wins they are and based on how others fare in the standings, Toronto, Columbus and rival Red Bulls losing also will factor into the equation.
The goals came and followed a 2-2 draw at Orlando last Sunday, a second half Jonathan Shore equalizer off the bench in stoppage time.
That could have also been the momentum builder for NYCFC,
“Not only this game you saw it Saturday late with Johnny (Shore) the fighting spirit has always been there,” said Jansen. “But sometimes you need a little spark in order to get it going again. They (Atlanta) were very aggressive, and we were not recognizing enough to disconnect their momentum.”
Jansen said there had to be a difference in attacking after the first half, it worked as NYCFC was more aggressive, a contrast from the last month, In essence they put up a fight with playoff hopes in the balance.
“Hopefully a lot more of these moments will come,” said Jansen. “This was a massive moment for Beni, a massive moment for the team.”
And without forward Alonso Martinez who had to leave the pitch, his fifth start since returning from surgery to his knee, Jansen inserted Talles Magno, taller and added to the attack to stop Atlanta. There is still precaution and Jansen expects Martinez to be ready Saturday.
As for Traore the goal he said came with different techniques used in a practice session Tuesday. It resulted in the biggest goal of his young and brief tenure with NYCFC that extended those playoff hopes.
“It’s really important,” he said about the goal and win. “We need to give everything. In this game you’re going to focus game by game. Everybody is fighting to change things, we have to be at the top.”
Traore worked on the strategy to make a difference, off the bench in that moment resulted in NYCFC still in play. A loss or another draw could have defined a season ending possibility going into Saturday. Instead they play for more as another 90 minutes awaits.
“Even though they are finished, they won’t hand it over on the silver plan, they have to fight for it,” Jansen said about Montreal.
Rich Mancuso: Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso, X@Ring786, YouTube ring786@aol.com
