NYCFC Goals: Moralez 6', Tajouri-Shradi 49'
Montreal Impact Goals:
Summary
NYCFC earned a second consecutive road victory off the strength of strong attacking starts in both halves, with Maxi Moralez and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi netting the goals for a Boys in Blue side that was stout defensively and in control throughout.
Recap
NYCFC was back on the road today kicking off a four week away stretch against the Montreal Impact. The teams previously met at Yankee Stadium on April 6th for a goalless draw. This time was different though, as the Boys in Blue brought the goals out and locked down the Impact attack to bring back all three points #ForTheCity.
Sebastian Ibeagha was the headline and only change in a New York City XI that was without James Sands for the first time all season. Ibeagha last started in Dome Torrent’s XI against this same Impact team a month prior, and he played a pivotal role in what would be another clean sheet for NYC.
The attack was in fine form from the jump. After an opening five minutes of pressure in Montreal's half, City opened up the scoring with a beautiful team move that saw Anton Tinnerholm slide a perfectly weighted through ball out to Ben Sweat, whose lefty strike could only be parried right into the path of an on-rushing Maxi Moralez to tuck away his first goal of the season.
Montreal Impact worked there way back into the game a bit as the first half went on, nearly finding a chance off of a Harry Novillo free kick in the 23rd minute, but front-man Héber was there to head away the danger.
A foul by Daniel Lovitz earned NYCFC a set piece opportunity of their own in the 34th minute, and the take from Tajouri-Shradi was nearly knocked in by Maxime Chanot to double the lead, but last week's MLS Player of the Week Evan Bush, was there to clean up the remaining danger in front of goal.
The defense was strong and compact throughout the first half, limiting the Impact to only three shots, including a header by Saphir Taider in the 36th minute that Sean Johnson was able to keep out of his net and send the Impact into halftime goalless.
The second half got off to a hot start very reminiscent of the first. Anton Tinnerholm busted up the right wing once again. He refused to go down under pressure and fought his way into the area, where the ball found the feet of Ismael Tajouri-Shradi who took on touch and... bang. His third goal of the season came in the 49’ minute, a trademark left-footed curler that doubled NYCFC's lead.
There would be more chances for City as the game opened up in the second half.
What looked like a third goal of the night came as Ring squared for Héber in the box, who helped it on towards the Jesus Medina for a tap in, but the young Paraguayan was flagged offside.
The two goals would be all Domenec Torrent's men needed, as Sean Johnson and the Boys in Blue at the back would hold on for the fifth clean sheet of Season 5 so far.
NYCFC.com Man of the Match
Ismael Tajouri-Shradi
The Libyan international settled into the match fantastically, buzzing between the lines to create countless attacking opportunities, and scoring a trademark left-footed curler early in the second half to put a NYC sized stamp on the match.
How We Lined Up
NYCFC XI: Johnson, Ibeagha, Chanot, Callens, Tinnerholm, Sweat, Ring (C), Ofori, Tajouri-Shradi, Moralez, Héber
Subs: Stuver, Rocha, Bedoya, Parks, Medina, Lewis, Castellanos
What's Next
NYCFC heads to the West Coast to take on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and LA Galaxy as the hunt for a third straight road win is on. Stay tuned for more! #ForTheCity
