New York City FC and Atlanta United play to a 1-1 draw at Citi Field on Saturday, leaving City still near the bottom of the table following a New England victory earlier in the night. The game was frustrating from a City perspective as they produced opportunities but were unable to convert on anything other than a penalty kick in the first half.
To their credit, NYC opened the first half by creating dangerous opportunities. Striker Mounsef Bakrar had numerous looks at goal including in the ninth minute where Brad Guzan made a save and near halftime when a one-on-one chance was put just wide of the far post. It wasn’t until the 40th minute when Santiago Rodriguez was pulled down in the box that City was able to open the scoring. Rodriguez stepped up and buried his chance a few minutes later to send the home team into the locker room with a lead.
Atlanta came out in the second half with more speed and better passing. It took 15 minutes but substitute Edwin Mosquera put a cross onto the head of Jamal Thiare for the game’s equalizer. From there Atlanta pressed forward with counter attack opportunities that either just missed or forced goalkeeper Matt Freese into action.
City continued their own push but didn’t have any of the connectivity that shined in the first half. Instead crosses didn’t find recipients or shots continued to sail wide. Thus, NYC continues their rough stretch to start the season with just one win in their first seven games.
Next for NYCFC is a game against New England at Yankee Stadium with a potential of falling to the bottom of the table should they lose.
STARTING XI:
New York City FC: Freese; Gray (81′ Illenic), Martins, Risa, O’Toole, Parks, Sands, Martinez (56′ Fernandez), Rodriguez, Wolf (81′ Ojeda), Bakrar
Atlanta United FC: Guzan; Lennon, Cobb, Williams, Wiley, Muyumba, Silsz, Saba (81′ Fortune), Almada, Wolff (56′ Mosquera), Thiare (67′ Etienne Jr.)
SCORING SUMMARY:
43′ (NYCFC) Santiago Rodriguez (3) penalty kick
65′ (Atlanta United FC) Jamal Thiare assisted by Edwin Mosquera
DISCIPLINE:
15′ (NYCFC) James Sands – YELLOW CARD
50′ (NYCFC) Tayvon Gray – YELLOW CARD
61′ (Atlanta United) Derrick Williams – YELLOW CARD
74′ (NYCFC) Keaton Parks – YELLOW CARD
photo by Jordan Banks