It’s back to the BX for more footy at 161st Street, Yankee Stadium. This time we have Peter Vermes’ systematically stout Sporting Kansas City squad coming to New York for a battle with the Boys in Blue.
Mutual Respect
Peter Vermes is the longest-tenured coach in MLS and the fifth-winningest coach in MLS history, having won the U.S. Open Cup three times, and the 2013 MLS Cup.
Sporting has loomed large in the modern era of MLS – and much of that is down to the consistency implemented by Vermes and his staff.
Ever the footballing teacher and student… none of this is lost on Domé, even given his relatively new status in the league.
Leaders & Legends
Despite Sporting’s somewhat slow start in the League this year (they currently sit 10th in the Western Conference), NYC will be happy to see Alex Ring & Maxime Chanot back in the fold after each serving one-match suspensions for yellow card accumulation last weekend.
Getting a win in Colorado without those guys was great, but we will need two of our biggest leaders in blue as we power through the dog days of summer in Major League Soccer.
Take The Ball, Pass The Ball
New York City’s Football Club has been playing beautiful stuff all season long, and the numbers are there to back it up.
NYCFC lead MLS with an average of 61.7% possession in home matches. The #10, Maxi Moralez, has eight assists since June 1st, two more than any other player in MLS. And finally, New York City FC has gotten four goals from substitutes since June 1st, tied for second most of any team in that time.
All this works to show that we have a squad full of players, and all of them can play the City way.
Looking Up
After a brief mini-skid in the league and the exit from the Open Cup, NYC got back in the win column with the 2-1 victory over 10-man Colorado last Saturday night.
Héber became the first NYCFC player to score in four consecutive appearances since David Villa, and Alexandru Mitriță came up clutch with a trademark finish form outside the area to secure all three points.
Let’s keep the momentum going at Manhattan Borough Night on Friday.
Last Time
Fighting to the end is built into the identity of this football club, and we’ve seen it time and time again.
It’s been a minute since Sporting has pulled up to the BX. Last time they came to town it was a late, wet, winner from former New York City-man Jack Harrison to get the W at Yankee Stadium.
More fireworks Friday? Come through to find out. #ForTheCity
