New York City FC suffered a defeat against Colorado Rapids on Sunday.
The Rapids recorded a 2-0 win at Citi Field.
Here are Five Points from the game…
Early Setback
City started the game well and found themselves in control of possession early on.
That bright start was undone when Rafael Navarro’s curled effort in the 16th minute gave Colorado Rapids the lead. Not only did the goal give the Rapids a one-goal advantage, but it also allowed them to bunker in and try to carve out further opportunities on the break.
City didn’t shy away from the challenge at hand, but that early setback increased the pressure and made it as much a mental challenge as a physical one.
It was no surprise that Colorado’s second goal came in similar circumstances, with Cole Bassett’s overlapping run taking advantage of a New York defence that was stretched and looking for an equalizer. Colorado came with a plan and executed it well - making it hard for City to recover after that early setback.
The Process
Nick Cushing was keen to stress after the game that the path of progress is never linear.
“When you win three games in a homestead you feel like you’re on top of the world,” Cushing said. “You lose one game and you feel like you fell off the edge of a cliff. The reality is you have to continue to work because there will be ups and downs this season. This team is on a journey and is making progress.
“I said three or four weeks ago; progress is disheartening, progress is demotivating, because tonight is part of it. You have to take the punches and figure out how you continue to progress a young team, a new team, and win football games.”
City’s next step on that path takes place in Toronto. They will now have six days to get back out on the training pitch and recalibrate. The reverse fixture against Toronto FC was an important moment for City as they recorded their first win of the season. This next fixture could prove just as influential in charting their progress as a group.
Dogged Defending
Colorado came into Sunday’s clash boasting an impressive away record of just one loss in their last five.
Much of that success has been built on a cohesive team work ethic, and on Sunday Colorado presented City with a narrow and compact team shape that offered little in the way of space to attack.
City not only outshot their opponents but also produced double the number of passes, with the expected goals also landing in their favor.
Unfortunately, Colorado proved clinical on the day and while the players left the field frustrated they can take some comfort from the fact that fortune evaded them on the day that their opponents produced a dogged defensive display.
Brave The Rain
Whether it was Sunday against Colorado, or any of the five consecutive home games, the players and staff have a tremendous appreciation for you the fans.
The backing you give the players never goes unnoticed and has been remarked upon by countless players as being a driving force behind them. The team will now head out on the road for back-to-back games before returning to the World’s Borough for the derby.
"The fans have been incredible across this home game stretch," Matt Freese said on Sunday. "As I always say, they're the 12th man and they always give us confidence and energy."
While it will be hard to predict what will happen across the next few weeks one thing is for sure – your support will not waiver - and for that we say thank you.
Homestead
While Sunday’s result was not the one that New York City were chasing, it should not distract from the fact it was overall a solid set of results.
The team took 10 points from a possibly 15 and still sit above the playoff line. The team showed multiple positive qualities across this run including, resilience, determination, attacking quality, and defensive strength. These traits will all play a vital role in the next few months as City look to establish their position above the playoff line.
The group have set the standard for their play and the challenge they now face is to return to that level every time they step out onto the field.
