New York City FC Goals: Castellanos 61’
Pumas UNAM Goals: Rogério 72'
Quick Read
New York City FC were in Leagues Cup action on Wednesday night as they faced Mexican opposition in the form of Pumas UNAM. The Boys in Blue saw two goals ruled out by VAR before a header from Taty Castellanos gave them the lead in the 61st minute. They were pegged back a little over 10 minutes later by a Rogério strike, and that forced the game into penalties. After eight kicks the scores were tied at 2-2. A missed attempt from Maxi Moralez allowed Sebastian Saucedo to win the game for Pumas.
Match Recap
New York City FC were hoping for some cup success on Wednesday evening as they took on Liga MX outfit Pumas UNAM at Yankee Stadium.
The game fell victim to the elements early on, with thunder and lightning forcing a three-hour weather delay.
That saw kickoff take place just before 11:00PM ET, but that didn’t dampen the excitement of the passionate home crowd.
Head Coach Ronny Deila named a strong XI for the game - opting to make several changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Toronto FC.
That saw Tayvon Gray, Keaton Parks, Nicolás Acevedo, Jesús Medina and Maxi Moralez take the place of Anton Tinnerholm, Alfredo Morales, Thiago Andrade and Ismael Tajouri Shradi.
The first real chance came from a corner in the 18th minute when a skimmed delivery found its way to Keaton Parks at the top of the box, but he could not direct his effort on target.
It was followed up quickly by a rasping effort from Jesús Medina from just outside the area that stung the palms of the Pumas goalkeeper.
NYCFC thought they had the lead not long after when a Taty Castellanos run in behind allowed him to cut it back for Parks to slot home – VAR ruling the initial run was offside.
That early pace continued throughout the first half, and in the 36th minute, Acevedo fired a shot just wide of the goal.
The second period almost brought an instant breakthrough for NYCFC after Gudi Thórarinsson ventured forward but he was unable to bring the ball under control inside the six-yard box.
The Boys in Blue thought they had taken the lead a second time when Santiago Rodríguez raced through and dinked it over the goalkeeper, but VAR once again called the play back, this time for handball.
NYCFC remained relentless in their pursuit of a goal, and in the 61st minute the pressure finally told when a Moralez corner found Castellanos free in the box to head home.
Moralez would come close not long after from a freekick, with his effort going over the bar.
The visitors were still proving to be a threat and in the 72nd minute they earned a surprise equalizer through Rogério. They would follow that up with a point blank effort in the 79th minute that Sean Johnson did well to parry away.
Sensing a need for change, Ronny Deila turned to his bench to introduce Thiago, Tajouri-Shradi and Morales in place of Medina, Acevedo and Rodríguez.
It almost had an instant imapct with Thiago making a devilish run that failed to produce a chance at the end of it. There was time for one final change during regular time with the impressive Gray being forced off through injury in place of Chris Gloster.
The final chance of the game fell to Castellanos after a great breakaway by Gloster, but the striker dragged his effort wide of the goal.
With both sides unable to be separated during the 90 minutes that forced the game to penalties. After eight kicks the scores were tied 2-2. A missed attempt from Moralez allowed Sebastian Saucedo to score and give Pumas a 3-2 victory.
How We Lined Up
What's Next
Next up for New York City FC is a meeting with Inter Miami CF on Saturday, August 14, at Red Bull Arena. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00PM ET (YES Network/NYCFC.com/Radio)
