New York City Football Club recorded an impressive 1-0 win over FC Dallas on Wednesday night.
Here are Five Points from a great result in Texas.
Energy Sapping
The thermostat told the story on Wednesday night with temperatures reaching 100 degrees as kickoff approached.
That energy-sapping heat put an even greater emphasis on controlling possession and holding onto it. During the first 25 minutes, NYCFC had 60% of the ball, and that had a two-pronged effect. It helped them conserve energy and also drained their opponents while establishing a rhythm that culminate with Héber’s strike in the 29th minute.
Wednesday’s game was a challenge both physically and mentally for the players, but they passed it in no small part to how well they controlled the ball.
Before the Break
While traditionally it’s said that just before half-time is a great moment to score, on Wednesday, NYCFC timed their opening goal perfectly.
Héber’s close-range finish came just before the hydration break and stopped FC Dallas mounting an instant response. Those few minutes taking water onboard and talking was the perfect opportunity to reset and focus before the end of the first half.
First Start
Wednesday night will always hold an extra special significance for Justin Haak.
The Homegrown midfielder made his first start in MLS for NYCFC, and played the full 90 minutes en route to a victory. To step in during such a challenging fixture in difficult conditions is no small feat, and he can be pleased with his showing overall.
“I think it was a good performance,” Nick Cushing said afterward. "I think when we put young players in our expectation has to be realistic. We know they're going to make small mistakes. We know they're going to have to be supported and have to be helped along the way because they have talent and they have potential but they have to go through these experiences. Justin knows that he played well today but he knows that there are certain areas and certain moments in the game that he has to learn from.”
Heber Shows Up
When discussing Keys to the Match one thing we touched on was Héber seizing his opportunity.
The striker did that both figuratively and literally. On a night of few chances in front of goal for either side, Héber showed his intelligence and timing to sneak in and tap the ball home. The matchwinner is well-liked among his teammates and his tireless running embodied the team spirit shown to take three points.
Mission Accomplished
We’ll turn this one over to Club Captain and MLS All-Star Sean Johnson.
