Editorial — The MLS is back! That includes NYCFC getting back to competition.
For the first time since the second week of MLS action, MLS and New York City FC fans had something to look forward to on Thursday. The MLS is Back Tournament group stage draw occurred and it did not disappoint.
Twenty-six MLS clubs will be vying for 16 knockout stage spots. Here is the outlook on NYCFC’s group stage chances.
Six teams for (as little as) two spots
Per the rules of the tournament, the top two teams in each group move on to the knockout stage. Four wildcard spots will also go out to the four best third-place teams based on points.
To even out both conferences, new MLS side Nashville SC will switch to the Eastern Conference for the tournament, creating 14 Western Conference clubs. Meanwhile, only 12 of those clubs are truly in the west.
The caveat to this would mean the East would have one group consisting of six teams rather than the typical four.
One of the six teams in the unfortunate group was NYCFC. The club joined the Philadelphia Union, Chicago Fire, Orlando City SC and expansion sides Nashville and Inter Miami.
Who’s making it out of the Group Stage in the East? 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wLykm2gZzS
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 11, 2020
A stacked fixture list
In a circumstance unforeseen in tournament play, Group A will still only play three matches even with six teams in the group. With this setup, one club will have the unlucky draw of playing experienced MLS sides like Philadelphia and Chicago, while not being able to have a go versus the expansion clubs.
By a victim of circumstance, NYCFC was the unlucky club.
Group A Matchups 🦁🐍🔥
⚽️ #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/dszV8IPOs6
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) June 11, 2020
A concerning run of form for NYCFC
While the last NYCFC match took place three months ago, it’s important to consider the poor run of form that the boys in blue left off.
Following a fantastic start in the Concacaf champions league, NYCFC dropped its first two MLS matches, then suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss against. Tigres in the first leg of the CCL quarterfinals.
Eduardo Vargas with a BIG goal in stoppage time for Tigres against #NYCFC #SCCL2020 (via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/iksAEg1dqn
— Yahoo Soccer (@FCYahoo) March 12, 2020
Seeing European clubs like Schalke continue their run of form from the break, leaving their season on poor form may be a worry for the club.
Early Prediction
NYCFC has a fairly easy start to the tournament against Orlando. Then, the boys in blue will take on two MLS staples in Philadelphia and Chicago.
It appears that the second match against Philadelphia will determine who finishes on top in the group. While starting off the season poorly as well, it becomes clear that NYCFC and Philadelphia are the two standouts in this group.
I’m expecting Philadelphia to come out on top with the easier schedule. Meanwhile, NYCFC can fit right behind in second while Inter Miami picks up a wildcard spot in third place.
