New York City FC are in the midst of yet another rough spell in the 2024 season, this time being unable to grab a win in any of their four road games. The latest frustration game after a 1-1 draw with Orlando City who, to their credit, have played better of late but are still expected to be a beatable foe for head coach Nick Cushing and NYCFC.
“(We weren’t) enough (of a) threat on goal and we didn’t create enough chances,” said Cushing after the game. “We knew if we put a threat on the goal, we’d have a chance of getting a result here. It’s a difficult place to come. It’s really hot today, really humid. Once we made changes we started to have a threat on goal.”
Both teams played a negative first half that saw little in the way of action. It wasn’t until the start of the second half that the game came alive. As Cushing mentioned, substitutes Talles Magno and Maxi Moralez did give City a much needed boost. However, it came after Orlando opened the scoring less than 10 minutes into the second half.
To their credit, City responded quickly with Hannes Wolf scoring the equalizer. The German-born midfielder has proved himself to be invaluable to the club this season, yet again helping to prop up a City side that seemingly loses its way when playing anywhere but the five boroughs. While the team did press on, their game-winner didn’t come and yet another series of dropped points leaves the club outside of a home playoff game.
“We want to win,” said captain Thaigo Martins. “But at the same time it’s important to get points on the road. We know our league here in MLS. We can sometimes win away but we need to do our job at home and get points on the road. We did a good job stopping them here.”
The club certainly can take the perspective that the draws are positive. Similarly the New York Red Bulls across the river rode their own streak of draws that was finally broken over the weekend. The points are paramount towards returning to the playoffs but a home game in the knockout stages is something that the club and fanbase seek the most.
Their current road form is keeping them from that more than anything else. Six of the club’s nine losses have come away from Yankee Stadium or Citi Field and only nine of the team’s 38 points have come on the road. It shows how important playing at home is to NYCFC but also shows their weakness away from their friendly confines.
NYC will step away from MLS for a short period and participate in the Leagues Cup. Their first opponents will be Queretaro, a floundering opponent who has yet to win a regular season game in the current Liga MX Apertura. Combined with it being a game at Yankee Stadium, City will be expected to win and push for another knockout stage appearance.
photo from NYCFC