Khiry Shelton is carving out a niche of late as a super sub.
Two games after coming off the bench to record a pair of assists in 11 minutes to secure a 3-2 win over D.C. United, the second-year forward headed in the late equalizer in a 2-2 draw with FC Dallas Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
With NYCFC trailing 2-1, Shelton was brought on in the 63rd minute for RJ Allen, as NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira switched to three in the back in search of the equalizer.
That equalizer would come off the head of Shelton, who nodded in a perfect cross from Jack Harrison in the 78th minute.
“The moment I saw Jack on the ball, I knew I had to get in the box and it’s my job as a striker or winger to get in the box and try to be dangerous,” Shelton said. “That was the biggest thing and I was able to get on the end of it and put that one away.”
Harrison said he picked out Shelton and Shelton did the rest.
“I just saw myself with a bit of open space on the left-hand side, I saw Khiry making a run from the far right,” he said. “I tried my best to pick him out on the cross. He did very well, it was a great finish for him. He’s very good in the air and he finished it off nice.”
Shelton now has three goals and six assists on the season, including one goal and two assists off the bench in the last three games after an almost four mouth scoring drought while he battled injury.
It is a good sign for NYCFC as they continue to inch closer to a first-ever MLS Cup playoff berth.
“He’s been amazing for us coming off the bench,” Harrison said. “He had such a big impact on the game. He showed that the past couple of games, scoring goals and getting on the end of crosses.”
Vieira likes what he’s seen, too, but he’s not quick to put a label on Shelton.
Super sub could soon be back in the starting XI.
“Today he was a late sub, but he may start the game on Friday,” Vieira said. “It’s all going to depend on how hard and how well he will be working during the week, but I’m really happy with Khiry. Every time he comes on, he brings some energy, he brings some things to the team and that’s what I want from a sub.”
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