Leagues Cup 2024 debuts for the New York City Football Club with a home match against Mexican squad Queretaro FC at Yankee Stadium, a match that could be viewed as a trap game if not careful. The White Roosters, who I wrote about yesterday are a team that’s struggled mightily to begin the Liga MX season (an article I shamelessly put here):
This is a match that the 5th place in the MLS East SHOULD win. And the signs are there, home match on a Sunday night, the team has won 4 of the last 5 at home and Queretaro has 4 losses in 4 matches this season.
However in that, comes the issue. In short first rounds such as these and a road match next week against FC Cincinnati to determine which 2 teams in the 3 team division will advance this is a required win. Cincy has been a curiously weak team at home this season, but just the same they will be rested playing a Queretaro team on short rest (playing on August 1) so one would presume Cincy will take that match. A win for NYCFC this weekend will all but assure advancement to the next round, whereas a draw or worse, a loss complicate their chances. Short version a draw would force a goal differential better against Cincinnati than Queretaro would amass while a loss would mean that NYCFC would have to beat Cincy on August 5th AND have a better goal differential than their Mexican division rival.
So what can we expect here? If they play to their strengths, low scoring, defense first, NYCFC should prevail. Queretaro has struggled to put the goal in the net this season and moreover has been a team that’s struggled passing the ball. For a team that clogs the midfield well like NYCFC that bodes well. But again, Trap Game. So what do YOU think? Can NYCFC win? Lemme know, until next time, stay awesome.
About the author – Scott Churchson has been an actor in every way for the past 14 years, from BG to stand in to stunts and principal, a sports writer for the past 4 and is one of the people that created Stream Punk Entertainment. He’s married to a veterinarian, has a cat with three working legs and is just a simple man trying to make his way in the universe.