Oh for crying out loud. It may seem obvious to the point of insult, but teams don’t win games if they don’t shoot.
On Thursday night, NYCFC demonstrated why this is true on so many levels in their heartbreaking 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union.
The obvious reason, of course, is that a shot can score a goal. Easy to understand.
But there are subtleties around shooting that the casual observer might not discern.
The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot: NYCFC 1-Union 1
For example, when it is clear that an attacking team will always shoot – either on a first touch, or from 30 to 35 yards out – the defense makes it a priority to close in earlier to keep attackers from having enough time to shoot. This results in the defense getting as spread out as the attacking team, which in turn, creates more space in the attacking third. Which in turn creates more opportunities for clearer shots. And more goals. And wins.
A willingness to shoot also, frankly, wears out the defense faster. A defense that knows that a shot, and therefore a goal, may come at any moment, is a defense on edge, a defense under stress. Everything is heightened, every move is more critical, every decision more important. Which means that by the 80th minute they’re the ones struggling to mount an attack, to keep up with a counter, to chase down every ball. Which results in more opportunities for the attacking side. And therefore more goals. And therefore more wins.
If a defense knows you’re not going to shoot, not only will you afford them more time to get back on defense, but you will encourage them to bunch up in the box, to swarm players who they know are odds on favorites to dribble and then pass. Not only does this begin to preclude the involvement of the attacking team’s other players, but it means that an attacking team must rely on a player of almost mind-numbing skill and fortitude to essentially dribble the ball into the net.
You know, like Villa essentially did when he scored NYCFC’s lone goal on 4/11 in PPL park against these same Philadelphians.
And Ballouchy’s goal on Thursday was a beautiful demonstration of all of this. First, the passing that led up to it was exquisite, but it was the right amount of passing. Ballouchy could have attempted to feed Nemec or pass back to Shelton or even to Grabavoy who was calling for it, but he didn’t. He shot. Second, there was the element of surprise – Mehdi Ballouchy? Sure he blew a beautiful feed in the first half from David Villa, but he wasn’t even in the starting 11 last week! No one was expecting him to score. And third, it clearly opened up the play for the subsequent shots on goal that NYCFC failed to take advantage of later in the half.
Now you may point out that the Citizens actually outshot the Union, 17 to 12. Yes, but there were so many times in the second half when NYCFC did not pull the trigger. So many times when fans were on their feet screaming for a shot, only to see one more pass, one more dribble, and then one more Union player with the ball and one more opportunity wasted.
Okay, rant over. For now.
Because there were a lot of good things that happened in Thursday’s game. Indeed, things that actually make that pain of the draw more acute.
For example, NYCFC clearly dominated possession. Much of the first half was played in front of the Union goal, which meant both that Aristeguieta never got his game going and that NYCFC’s back line wasn’t really tested.
And the hustle throughout the game was terrific. Grabavoy was a monster all over the pitch, Nemec worked his ass off, chasing down every loose ball and putting pressure on every defender. Poku was a revelation when he came in. Shelton again provided game-changing opportunities for NYCFC – not only the assist on Ballouchy’s goal, but two brilliant attacks in the first half that showed ball-handling skill and poise well beyond his years. And of course Jacobson showed the passion that fires up the Yankee Stadium faithful.
And speaking of those faithful, the turnout was tremendous. Over 20,000 paid attendance on a cold weekday night in the Bronx. By the way the Rangers, who were kicking off their Stanley Cup playoff run at the same time, managed to lure only 18,000 to the Garden.
Sunday the Timbers come to the field of dreams. Curiously, though both teams sit on six points, NYCFC are just short of the playoff line, while Portland are yet ANOTHER last place team the Citizens face.
So they definitely have a shot. One hopes they take it.
