Nick Cushing hailed his side’s show of character as they overcame Toronto FC on Saturday.
A first-half freekick from Santiago Rodríguez and a first goal for Kevin O’Toole handed New York City FC a 2-1 victory against a tricky Toronto side at Yankee Stadium.
City were reduced to ten men midway through the second half when Keaton Parks was dismissed, but City were able to hold on and claim all three points against an in-form TFC side.
After the game, Cushing commended his players, saying, “I’m really happy with the result given it is our first win. I’m really pleased with the way that we won because we showed real character under pressure.
“We played really well in the first part of the game. We created chances - there’s still some frustration we didn’t take them - but to then have to defend the game and show character and togetherness, it only reinforces what we believe in as a group.
“I think in football you have nothing without the spirit and togetherness. You have nothing without a real spirit and presence in the group, and we’ve had that, win or lose.
“When you win like this it only reinforces that. When you go down a goal and you go down to ten men then everybody has to give a little bit more."
City fell behind to a 7th-minute strike from Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty but then drew level in the 24th minute thanks to a brilliant freekick from Santiago Rodríguez. A moment of magic from the Uruguayan, Cushing praised Rodríguez and his ability to be the team’s focal point in attack.
“Santi is the guy that can be the talisman,” Cushing said. “He came back with a huge desire this season to score more direct free kicks - to add goals to his game - because he is dangerous in offensive moments.
“He has been practicing that one on the training field and we just want him to continue. We rely on those moments and his brilliance. I was really pleased for him.”
The Boys in Blue created a host of chances on the night and eventually took the lead in the 64th minute through Kevin O’Toole. The defender's well-timed run into the penalty area allowed him to connect with a brilliant cross from Julián Fernández to head home his first goal for City. It was a moment Cushing was keen to praise after the match believing it is a testament to O'Toole's continued development with City.
“Kevin O'Toole is improving as a defender, he is showing more grit and more guile, and I think that is really important for him,” Cushing said.
“He is a very technical player. He can show his quality when he has the ball and I think for players in his position goals and assists are going to reinforce the progression they're making.
“I think it's a great header. I think the ball from Julián is almost the making of the goal, and I think that moment is a great testament to the team. It's probably not the moment that we practice; putting our left back in between the posts for a header, but the desire was there from the team all game.”
Next up for City is two testing road games against FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami CF. City will hope to pick up further points on their travels and Cushing believes Saturday’s result can provide the perfect platform to do just that in the coming weeks.
“I think there is always an element of the game where you have to absorb pressure and you have to suffer,” he said.
“That’s probably needed more on the road, so it's good that it comes before two road games. We need to be more ruthless in the moments when we're on top. We showed that we can create chances but we need to take them.”
