NYCFC Goals: Castellanos 9'
Chicago Fire Goals:
Summary
New York City FC made it two wins in a row on Bronx Borough Night against the Chicago Fire.
The team scored their lone goal early in the first half as Valentin Castellanos found the back of the net on an assist from Héber.
Maxi Moralez missed a late chance to double the winning margin from the penalty spot but Dome Torrent would be content with another victory which sees NYC climb above Chicago into seventh place in the East.
Recap
New York City FC made their return to the Bronx after getting the first win of the season just three days ago vs. D.C. United.
With the fire in their belly and the comfort of being in front of their home crowd, the Boys in Blue came into Bronx Borough Night looking to move up the early standings after a tough start to the year.
Dome Torrent’s XI saw one change coming into tonight’s game with Alexandru Mitriță missing out with ankle injury he suffered against D.C. United. In Mitriță’s place, Valentin Castellanos made his return from concussion protocol after a head to head collision against Minnesota United.
Taty’s return paid off early for the City boys, as Héber broke through the right side of the Chicago Fire defense, crossing the ball for Castellanos to find the back of the net on the slide for his second goal of the season in the 9th minute.
Once again Héber’s speed and ability to hold up the ball up front created the opportunity, as it did vs. D.C. on Sunday.
After that lightning start, the game slowed down after a couple of lengthy stoppages for treatment to players and, after one such break, Ronald Matarrita was subbed out in the 30th minute with a knock.
NYCFC held the 1-0 lead going into halftime but Chicago had the ball in the back of the net early in the second period. It was CJ Sapong who found the target from close range but the goal was disallowed by the officials for offside.
Substitute Sweat found himself in some promising positions after coming into the game and he was able to get the ball to scoring position for Héber who was close to scoring his first home goal for City, but unfortunately David Ousted was there to keep the ball out of his net.
Not long after, NYC had a great chance to double their lead with Héber coming away with the ball in the middle third, pushing it through the midfield to Taty, who set Maxi Moralez up for a strike which rebounded back off the underside of the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
There was another golden opportunity to score the second goal in stoppage-time but unfortunately, for the second game in a row, Maxi Moralez missed from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Bastian Schweinsteiger. This time his shot from 12 yards was on target but Ousted guessed right and pushed it away.
It wasn’t quite as pretty as Sunday but NYCFC came away with the 1-0 victory, their second win in a row and their first at home in 2019, on a night where we celebrated the Boogie Down Bronx.
NYCFC.com Man of the Match
Héber
For the second game in a row, Héber has come away with the title of Man of the Match in his first start at home in the Bronx. The striker set up the lone goal of the night as NYCFC came away with a 1-0 win.
The Boys in Blue have now won both games the Brazilian has started in and he has completed assists in each.
How We Lined Up
NYCFC XI: Johnson, Chanot, Sands, Callens, Tinnerholm, Matarrita, Ring (C), Ofori, Castellanos, Moralez, Héber
Subs: Stuver, Sweat, Ibeagha, Rocha, Medina, Parks, Tajouri-Shradi
What's Next
NYCFC is at home Saturday as they face off Orlando City SC for the second time this season. After settling for a draw in their first meeting on the opening day, the Boys in Blue look to lock in their third win in a row. Come show your support for New York City's Football Club, #ForTheCity!
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