{"id":1858,"date":"2016-10-29T10:34:09","date_gmt":"2016-10-29T14:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=1858"},"modified":"2016-10-31T01:32:08","modified_gmt":"2016-10-31T05:32:08","slug":"nycfcs-first-playoff-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2016\/10\/29\/nycfcs-first-playoff-game\/","title":{"rendered":"On Yonge Street: NYCFC\u2019s first playoff game"},"content":{"rendered":"

So now we know who New York City FC<\/strong> will face in their first playoff game. And it\u2019s fitting, isn\u2019t it, that a team with such an international pedigree square off against a team from another country? That a team with players from AC\u00a0Milan<\/strong> and Chelsea<\/strong> and Barcelona<\/strong>, face a team with players from Juventus<\/strong> and AS Roma<\/strong> and AZ Alkmaar. <\/strong>Fitting, perhaps, but that\u2019s not why all of MLS<\/strong> is salivating over the match. They\u2019re anticipating Sebastian Giovinco<\/strong> v. Andrea Pirlo<\/strong>. Frank Lampard<\/strong> v. Michael Bradley<\/strong>. Jozy Altidore<\/strong> v. David Villa<\/strong>. So what can we expect in NYCFC\u2019s first playoff game?<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Past is Prologue<\/h3>\n

NYCFC have played Toronto FC<\/strong> five times in their history, and have never lost. Not in New York, not in Toronto. If they maintain that habit over the next two matches, they will undoubtedly see themselves through to the next round. But lets unpack that a little and see what it reveals.<\/p>\n

This year, two draws \u2013 2-2 at Yankee Stadium in March, and 1-1 in Toronto in May. You remember those games, don\u2019t you? In the first one NYCFC gave up a two goal lead allowing Toronto to snatch a point, and in the second, the team\u2019s lone goal was scored by Kwadwo Poku<\/strong>, who was promptly shipped off to Miami FC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

And last year? A win for NYCFC in the Bronx AND at BMO Field<\/strong> \u2013 but the game you\u2019re more likely to remember is the crazy 4-4 draw in July in which eventual league MVP Sebastian Giovinco missed a penalty kick \u2013 one of four awarded during the match.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s hope we don\u2019t see that in NYCFC\u2019s first playoff game.<\/p>\n

And Speaking of Goals<\/h3>\n

I don\u2019t know if you were keeping track of how many goals these teams score when they play each other, but I was. Eighteen goals in five matches, or more than 3.5 per match. Which makes sense since both teams were above the league average for goals scored per match of 1.4 (NYCFC 1.76, TFC 1.45),<\/p>\n

No team scored more goals than NYCFC this season, of course \u2013 who led the league with 62. Toronto had only 51 \u2013 which would have made them second best in the West, but puts them in sixth in the East. But that number may be a bit misleading; how much higher would it have been had Giovinco not sat out five matches with quadriceps and adductor strains<\/a>? Four? That would have put them in third place in the East behind NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls<\/strong>, and tied with Western Conference leaders L.A. Galaxy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So we can expect a lot of goals in NYCFC\u2019s first playoff game?<\/p>\n

Yes, But I\u2019m Not Done Yet.<\/h3>\n

Because not only does this series feature last year\u2019s MVP and Golden Boot<\/strong> winner (up against the guy who came in fourth), but let\u2019s not forget that this year<\/em>, \u201cEl Guaje<\/strong>\u201d and \u201cFormica Atomica<\/strong>\u201d finished second and third in the scoring race with 23 and 18 goals respectively. And by the way, do you know who\u2019s number 11 on FIFA’s MLS scoring list<\/a>? Frank Lampard.<\/p>\n

And one more thing about Frank and Pat\u2019s little boy. He\u2019ll have the best goals-per-90-minutes of anyone on the pitch during NYCFC\u2019s first playoff game. Take a look:<\/p>\n

Giovinco – .63 goals every 90 minutes (17 goals)<\/p>\n

Altidore – .61 goals every 90 minutes (10 goals)<\/p>\n

Justin Morrow<\/strong> – .17 goals every 90 minutes (5 goals)<\/p>\n

Jordan Hamilton<\/strong> – .30 goals every 90 minutes (3 goals)<\/p>\n

Villa – .72 goals every 90 minutes (23 goals)<\/p>\n

Lampard – .84 goals every 90 minutes (12 goals)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Thomas McNamara<\/strong> – .20 goals every 90 minutes (5 goals)<\/p>\n

Steven Mendoza<\/strong> – .40 goals every 90 minutes (5 goals)<\/p>\n

So yeah, don\u2019t leave your seat until that referee whistle blows.<\/p>\n

Home Field Advantage, Shmome Field Advantage<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Over the past 8 home matches<\/a>, NYCFC are 7-1-1 and Toronto are 4-3-2. And you would think that would think would be good for both sides in NYCFC\u2019s first playoff game, right? \u201cDefend this house\u201d and all that jazz.<\/p>\n

But NYCFC have the best away record in MLS, remember? They shipped 24 points on the road! And you know who has the second best <\/em>road record? Toronto, who took 23 points away from BMO Field. In fact, over the last 8 away matches, Toronto actually are tops on the road, at 3-3-2, while NYCFC are middle of the table at 2-2-4.<\/p>\n

So both teams are monsters on the road and strong of late at home. Okay, but over the course of the season, who\u2019s better at home<\/a>? Honestly? It\u2019s a wash. Both teams were 7-6-3 at home and the only thing that put Toronto above NYCFC in the final analysis was goal differential (though Toronto scored fewer they also let fewer slip in).<\/p>\n

The Final Analysis?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Home field won\u2019t matter, goal-scoring ability won\u2019t matter, history won\u2019t matter \u2013 heck, even temperature won\u2019t matter. It\u2019s predicted to be about 40\u00b0 in Toronto on Sunday and 45\u00b0 in the Bronx a week later. And sure, that could easily take a toll on Frank Lampard\u2019s techy calf, but it could just as easily wreck havoc on Jozy Altidore\u2019s dodgy hamstrings, so, who knows?<\/p>\n

What we do<\/em> know about NYCFC\u2019s first playoff game is that it\u2019s historic, and something you\u2019ll not want to miss, whether you\u2019re watching it on Jerome Avenue or on Yonge Street.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n