Seattle Goals: Roldan 36', Svensson 51', Schipp 86'
NYCFC Goals: Medina 68'
Quick Look...
New York City FC’s four-game win streak came to an end at CenturyLink Field vs. Seattle Sounders on Sunday afternoon.
Goals on either side of the halftime interval from Cristian Roldan and Gustav Svensson got the Sounders off to a good start in City’s second road game inside 72 hours.
Jesus Medina replied on 68’ for the Boys in Blue, briefly putting the result in doubt until the hosts scored the clincher on 86’ through Harry Schipp.
Match Recap...
NYCFC kicked off one of their toughest road games of 2018 aiming to extend a run of 398 minutes without conceding a goal in MLS play.
Domènec Torrent’s men rarely looked in danger over the course of the first half, starting strong and asking questions of the Sounders’ backline from the first kick.
Jo Inge Berget, starting for the first time since his recent injury, was close to giving the away team the lead on 14’ when he got in front of his marker at the front post to receive Ben Sweat’s delivery but the ball was shot was deflected wide.
Maxi Moralez smacked the crossbar with an almost-perfect arcing free-kick on 22’ as NYC’s strong start continued but this early good work was undone on 36’ when Torrent’s side conceded for the first time in 434 minutes.
Roldan was the man who got it, taking an excellent first touch and driving past Sean Johnson.
Medina was close to drawing his side level with the first opportunity of the second half but his header cleared the crossbar but the clinical hosts seized the initiative by doubling their lead on 51’ through an unstoppable drive from Svensson which beat Johnson for pace.
With a mountain to climb to prevent a first MLS defeat in a month, City rallied, with Torrent introducing Jonathan Lewis and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi for the final quarter of the game.
The fresh legs made an immediate difference to the flow of the game but it was two men who’d been on all along who combined for the deficit-reducer.
A selfless performance from Berget went rewarded with an assist as he drove past his defender and delivered a cross which just had to be tapped home by Medina for his fifth goal for NYCFC.
With 20’ to go and goal needed to get something out of the game, City committed numbers forward and they were indebted to their goalkeeper for staying in the match on 79’ when Johnson made an incredible save from Nicolas Lodeiro.
Rodney Wallace was introduced for Kwame Awuah as Torrent went for broke but Schipp ended the road team’s resistance on 86’ with a hammer blow into the top corner.
NYCFC.com Star of the Match
Kwame Awuah
A player who has had to be patient for his first start, the Canadian youth international fought hard on his big day, anchoring the midfield and taking some classy touches to get NYCFC on the front foot.
A day to remember for a likeable, positive personality who does wonders for this squad’s spirit, as well as being a very promising young footballer with more days like today ahead of him.
Social Post of the Match…
Stats and Milestones
- Kwame Awuah started an MLS game for the first time
- NYCFC conceded a goal for the first time in 434 minutes
- Jesus Medina scored his fifth goal for the Club
- City lost for the first time since June 30's 3-2 loss at Chicago (4 wins since)
How they lined up…
NYCFC XI: Johnson, Tinnerholm (Lewis 60'), Ibeagha, Callens, Sweat, Ofori (Tajouri-Shradi 64'), Awuah (Wallace 82'), Moralez, Medina, Matarrita, Berget
Subs: Stuver, Abdul-Salaam, Chanot, McNamara
What’s Next…
We're back in the BX on August 4 when the Vancouver Whitecaps come to town. Get your tickets below...
