New York City FC recorded a 1-0 victory against Chicago Fire on Wednesday to boost their chances of reaching the playoffs.
Here are Five Points from a big night in the Bronx.
Keep Your Cool
The game against Chicago Fire was always likely to be defined by fine margins, and that put extra pressure on Taty Castellanos when the team earned a penalty in the 55th minute. The striker could be forgiven for succumbing to that stress, but he stayed calm and dispatched the ball with his trademark confidence.
Castellanos was already enjoying his best season in front of goal for NYCFC before Wednesday’s penalty, but if his spot kick against Chicago reaffirmed anything it is that we are witnessing a player ascend to the next stage of their development.
A man for the big occasion, Castellanos will likely be a big part of the team’s success come the playoffs.
Shutout
While the attacking play of Saturday was exhilarating, teams rarely achieve success without the backbone of stern defensive play.
Wednesday saw NYCFC record their third clean sheet in five games, and their second in consecutive games. That’s a sharp improvement from the five games prior to that, during which the Boys in Blue failed to keep a single clean sheet.
Credit goes to the whole team for their hard work, particularly those at the back. Alex Callens and Maxime Chanot have formed a formidable partnership in front of goalkeeper Sean Johnson, while James Sands has found success more recently in a new right-back role. The Boys in Blue will be keen to maintain their clean sheet streak towards the end of the campaign, and if they are successful, that stern approach at the back will have gone a long way to securing their spot in the postseason.
Malte & Santi Shine
A key theme of NYCFC’s last two games has been exploiting the opposition down the left.
On Saturday, Malte Amundsen and Santiago Rodríguez combined to create Thiago Andrade’s opening goal after 36 seconds, and against Chicago Fire the duo again caused problems. Amundsen is an attacking left-back, and the recent tactical shift we discussed earlier this week has afforded him the opportunity to get forward on a more regular basis.
It was that combination that earned NYCFC a penalty, and while the duo’s attacking output was influential, their willingness to carry out their defensive duties was equally as important. Rodríguez was a constant nuisance when Chicago attempted to attack down the left, and while it may not grab headlines, it was vital in NYCFC keeping their opponents at bay.
Look Up
There was a point when NYCFC found themselves below the playoff line, and it was very much about securing a spot in the postseason.
The last seven days have seen a big turnaround in form for NYCFC, and after a series of results elsewhere went in the Club’s favor leaving them fourth in the Eastern Conference. With two games remaining Ronny Deila’s side could easily finish the season as high as second place.
A place in the top four would secure NYCFC a home game in the First Round of the playoffs, and that should be the team’s focus moving into the final two games.
Character
It’s not unfair to say the game against Chicago Fire was frustrating in parts. The visitors did not make it easy for NYCFC, and arrived in good form.
Frank Klopas has done a tremendous job organizing Chicago, and while Ronny Deila was not pleased with his team’s level in the first half, credit must go to the opposition for the part they played in proceedings.
Regardless, after a barnstorming performance like the one against D.C. United the team was always likely to be scrutinized, particularly if they did not emerge with a victory. NYCFC’s identity on the field is well defined, and the players adhered to that on Wednesday, but above everything was the need to emerge as winners.
This group have been tested a lot this season, and on Wednesday they passed.
