New York City FC Goals: Medina 40’, Tajouri-Shradi 53', Moralez 65', Amundsen 79', Castellanos 82'
Orlando City SC Goals:
Quick Read
New York City FC were aiming to make it back-to-back wins on Sunday evening as they took on Orlando City SC. A strong first half from NYCFC resulted in a 40th-minute goal by Jesús Medina after fantastic hold-up play by Taty Castellanos. The second half saw NYCFC add four further goals through Ismael Tajouri-Shradi in the 53rd minute and Maxi Moralez in the 65th minute, Malte Amundsen in the 79th minute, and Taty Castellanos in the 82nd minute.
Match Recap
New York City FC were back in the Bronx on Sunday evening hoping they could build on a midweek success against CF Montréal with a win over Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC.
Head Coach Ronny Deila opted to make two changes to the team that overcame Montréal, introducing Keaton Parks and Malte Amundsen in place of Nicolás Acevedo and Gudi Thórarinsson.
The game began at a frenetic pace with both sides keen to press high up the field. That left the midfield a congested area, especially during the early exchanges, with NYCFC enjoying more of the ball.
In the 14th minute, a strong run down the right from Parks finished with a clipped cross that surprisingly landed on the head of Maxi Moralez – his effort drifting just wide of Pedro Gallese’s right-hand post.
That was followed up with a great chance for Ismael Tajouri-Shradi after some good pressing allowed Moralez to square the ball to the Libyan inside the box.
Unfortunately, the presence of Orlando defender Emmanuel Mas did enough to put Tajouri-Shradi off and his effort went wide.
In response, the visitors created a good chance down the left-hand side for striker Silvester van der Water – the Dutch striker stinging the palms of Luis Barraza.
NYCFC grew as the half wore on and almost took the lead in the 35th minute when an Amundsen cross was flicked into the path of Tajouri-Shradi.
He poked the ball towards goal but Gallese produced a brilliant stop at point-blank range. Not long after NYCFC earned a second chance from the same route, but this time it was Taty Castellanos that the Peruvian denied.
When NYCFC did eventually take the lead in the 40th minute there was nothing the shot-stopper could do about it.
It started with a long ball up the field that was brilliantly held up by Castellanos. His effort was rewarded with a supporting run by Medina, who after pushing the ball forward with his first touch unleashed a fierce drive into the roof of the net.
NYCFC started the second period with the same intensity and it resulted in an early chance.
A pass from Alex Callens into the feet of Moralez allowed the veteran playmaker to flick it around the corner to Medina.
He attempted to find a teammate in the middle but his pass was cut out. The ball eventually landed at the feet of Moralez who fired low into the arms of Gallese.
Orlando were quick to respond with a ball down the channel that allowed Benji Michel to square it to Andrés Perea, but his effort was well-saved by Barraza at the near post.
The next major action in the game saw NYCFC double their lead In the 53rd minute. The move started with a long diagonal pass by Amundsen that found Tajouri-Shradi in space.
After squaring up Rodrigo Schlegel he drove inside and unleashed a fierce effort that Gallese could only palm into the net.
That would be the Libyan’s last act and he was substituted in place of Thiago Andrade in the 57th minute.
NYCFC were now firing on all cylinders, and in the 63rd minute a through ball from Moralez allowed Castellanos a run in on goal, but his effort was well-saved by Gallese.
A third seemed close and it arrived in the 65th minute thanks to another well-worked team goal, that saw Thiago play Castellanos in behind the Orlando defence before he squared it to Moralez in the middle.
The 70th minute brought with it a trio of changes from Ronny Deila as Anton Tinnerholm, Alex Callens, and Medina departed in place of Tayvon Gray, Santiago Rodríguez, and Acevedo.
NYCFC were now flooding forward with regularity, and they found a fourth in the 79th minute through Amundsen.
The Dane started the move by playing a quick one-two with Moralez who clipped it back into his path for him to volley past Gallese.
A fifth goal was not far behind and it arrived in the 82nd minute. This time it was the turn of Castellanos to add his name to the scoresheet after a Moralez shot could not be contained by Orlando’s goalkeeper.
Castellanos would be withdrawn a minute later to a chorus of cheers in place of Andres Jasson. The Argentine's strike would round out the goals on a brilliant night in the Bronx.
Heineken Man of the Match
How We Lined Up
What's Next
Next up for New York City FC is a meeting with Columbus Crew on Friday, July 30 at Yankee Stadium with kickoff taking place at 7:30PM ET (YES Network/NYCFC.com/Radio).
