NEW YORK CITY, NY – Nick Cushing earns his first win as NYCFC head coach with New England committing an MLS record three first-half penalty kicks on the way to a 4-2 Pigeons win.
New England gives NYCFC two first-half goals; set MLS record
NYCFC would find the first opportunity early as Malte Amundsen deflected a pass from Andrew Farrell and managed to push the ball towards Talles Magno. With Magno driving towards goal and Farrell retreating, it would be the New England defender taking down Magno in the box for a 10th minute penalty kick awarded by the match official.
After winning the penalty, it would be Magno to take it and he’d calmly slot it home to grab NYCFC a 1-0 advantage.
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) July 9, 2022
Just minutes later, however, it would be New England finding the answer as a chipped pass to Sebastian Lletget created space for the speedy winger to break towards the touchline and just beat out Amundsen. With NYCFC defenders chasing, a crafty back pass from Lletget would pick out Gustavo Bou from a curling shot that tied the game at 1-1 in the 17th minute.
Tremendous from @SLletget to find @gustavobouok 🫶 pic.twitter.com/gBcVyDkmoL
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) July 9, 2022
Defensive struggles would resume for New England not long after as Amundsen floated a cross into the box in the 31st minute. With Taty Castellanos and Maxi Moralez both tracking the ball, a collision between Henry Kessler and Castellanos which also took out Moralez was whistled for another penalty kick by the official; reportedly due to Kessler making contact before the arrival of the ball.
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) July 9, 2022
But with Castellanos standing to attempt this penalty kick, it would be Dorde Petrović managing a save for New England to keep the scoreline even with some suggesting justice for a poor referring decision.
To round out the half, NYCFC would have one last chance in the 41st minute as Moralez played a ball over the top to be chased down by Castellanos. With the pass landing just inside the box and Castellanos barely beating out Farrell to the ball, a slight shove from the American would send Castellanos to the ground for a third penalty kick awarded to NYCFC and a red card send-off for Farrell.
Stepping up once again would be Castellanos but he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice as he buried this attempt to grab the Pigeons a 2-1 lead heading into halftime.
EMPHATIC. pic.twitter.com/ZBvpZBBCiI
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) July 9, 2022
NYCFC run away for a second-half victory
It wouldn’t take long for NYCFC to extend their lead as Gabriel Pereira picked off a poor pass in the 49th minute and played a breaking Castellanos in on goal with New England defenders chasing and Petrović off his line. The initial shot from Castellanos was well saved by Petrović, however, the rebound would be scooped up by Pereira and after dancing around Kessler, Petrović, and finally, Jon Bell, Pereira would grab his goal to make it 3-1.
ICE COLD. pic.twitter.com/A4n2uuxpiq
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) July 9, 2022
Despite being down to 11 men, New England wouldn’t give up without a fight as they battled back in the 77th minute with some great ball movement as Carlos Gil chipped an inch-perfect pass into the box for DeJuan Jones. With Jones sliding in to beat the NYCFC defense, he’d manage a pass to Bou who knocked it in easily for a brace setting the score at 3-2 with time to spare.
We're back in it!@dejuanjones24 feeds @gustavobouok! pic.twitter.com/8aNI1Z7Lcw
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) July 9, 2022
NYCFC would silence the Revolution come the 82nd minute with Santiago Rodríguez launching a ball forward in hopes of finding somebody and Thiago Andrade quickly breaking to try and track it down. Heavily beating out Kessler, Andrade would have the room for a shot on goal that would be met by Petrović but the rebound once again would prove lethal as Castellanos simply placed the ball in for his own brace and a 4-2 win from Yankee Stadium.
Goal no.12 for @tatycaste11anos thanks to Thiago's ⚡️ run 📈 pic.twitter.com/vV8IPCPvH1
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) July 9, 2022
Last Word: Cushing earns his first win
While no doubt winning three first-half penalty kicks helped the cause, interim head coach Nick Cushing was able to earn his first win in charge of the squad as NYCFC played an overall solid match against a strong New England opponent. Definitely a touch match for New England’s defense and specifically Andrew Farrell garnering a red card. However, as is often the case one or two of these penalty calls were debatable which poses the argument of should the Revolution have been able to fight a closer battle but unfortunately got boxed out by tough officiating?
Either way, NYCFC will take the three points and rise back into third in the Eastern Conference while New England continues to sit on the cusp of playoff positioning in ninth.
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