Crown Legacy FC Goals: Sardinia 10', Agyemang 18', 34', Cambridge 68'
New York City Football Club II Goals: Elias '22, 43' PK, Arévalo 79'
Quick Read
NYCFC II suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Crown Legacy FC on Sunday. The hosts took the lead in the tenth minute through Nicholas Sardinia. A weather delay of over two hours followed, and upon play restarting Crown Legacy doubled their advantage in the 18th minute through Patrick Agyemang. NYCFC found a route back into the game through Piero Elias four minutes later. Agyemang would restore Crown Legacy's two goal advantage in the 34th minute, before Elias struck back with a penalty in the 43rd minute. The second half saw a similar goal rush. Brandon Cambridge extended Crown Legacy's advantage before Ronny Arévalo found the net from close range. An eventful cameo would see him hit the crossbar before being dismissed in injury time. That would be the end of the goals, and see Crown Legacy take all three points.
Match Recap
Matthew Pilkington took his side to North Carolina on Sunday to face table-topping Crown Legacy FC.
Pilkington made several changes to the side that recorded a draw with Chicago Fire II last time out, introducing Steve Bednarsky, Jonny Lopez, and Francesco Di Ponzio to the starting XI for Christian McFarlane, Rio Hope-Gund, and Nico Benalcazar.
A quick start to proceedings saw the deadlock broken early on. A goal for Crown Legacy FC in the 10th minute handed them advantage - Nicholas Scardinia putting them ahead.
Proceedings were then halted due to a weather delay. The game would eventually restart, and when it did the home side doubled their advantage in the 18th minute - Patrick Agyemang the beneficiary.
NYCFC II needed a response and they found it four minutes later thanks to Piero Elias. A freekick from the left was whipped in by John Denis, and on hand was Elias running toward the front post to guide the ball in.
The momentum had now shifted, and NYCFC II capitalized on that in the 28th minute by winning a penalty - Jonathan Jiménez the man felled in the area.
Denis placed the ball on the spot, but his shot low to the right was saved by Crown Legacy's goalkeeper and that kept the score at 2-1.
Crown Legacy were keen to reestablish their two goal advantage, and they proved successful in the 34th minute as Agyemang secured his second goal of the afternoon.
An entertaining first half showed no sign of slowing down as Jiménez once again found himself the beneficiary of a penalty in the 43rd minute.
This time it was Elias that stepped up to the penalty spot and converted from 12 yards out.
The second half began with a pair of changes for NYCFC II - Drew Baiera and Jonny Shore entering the game in place of Jack Beer and Jonny Lopez.
NYCFC II wasted no time in trying to level the scores. In the 53rd minute, Elias combined with Denis to let the latter fire off an effort at goal, but he was unable to hit the target. Just shy of ten minutes later Jiménez was granted the chance to find the net, but his header from close range was well saved.
Pilkington again turned to his bench in the 63rd minute as Ronny Arévalo replaced Di Ponzio.
Crown Legacy netted a fourth goal five minutes later through Brandon Cambridge after work from Agyemang to create the opportunity allowed Cambridge to convert from close range.
The 79th minute would see the seventh goal of the game arrive as NYCFC II once again found the spirit to fight back. This time it was the substitute Arévalo that found the net after Matt Myers pounced on a loose ball, drove to the byline, and squared the ball across goal for his teammate to tap in.
Arévalo was now proving a constant threat and he almost drew the sides level in the 89th minute with an effort from close range that rattled the crossbar. He was subsequently dismissed in injury time.
His strike would be the final goal of the game and confirm an unfortunate 4-3 defeat for NYCFC II on the road.
How We Lined Up
What's Next
Next up for NYCFC II is a road game against Huntsville on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
Watch live on AppleTV and follow our official @NYCFCII Twitter page for updates.
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