Head Coach Patrick Vieira has opted to make one change to the team which takes on Philadelphia Union tonight.
Following the road defeat to DC United last weekend, Vieira has brought Ethan White back into the lineup in place of Frederic Brillant.
That change could see NYCFC return to the 4-3-3 formation which was last seen in the 2-1 victory over San Jose Earthquakes at Yankee Stadium two weeks ago.
White looks to be lining up at right-back on the opposite side to Ronald Mataritta, with Alexander Callens and Maxime Chanot in between.
Alex Ring and Andrea Pirlo are anchoring the midfield, while Rodney Wallace, Jack Harrison and Maxi Moralez will hope to load the bullets for David Villa up front.
NYCFC XI: Johnson, White, Chanot, Callens, Matarrita, Ring, Pirlo, Moralez, Harrison, Wallace, Villa
NYCFC Subs: Johansen, Brillant, Sweat, Herrera, Camargo, McNamara, Shelton
READ: How to Follow Philadelphia Union vs NYCFC
Key Stats
- The series between Philadelphia and New York is almost as close as it could possibly be. In their five previous meetings, each side has won twice and drawn once. The Union has narrowly outscored NYCFC (8-7).
- Philadelphia has won just one of their last nine home games (5L-3D), allowing multiple goals in seven of those nine contests.
- NYCFC has lost six of their last nine regular season away games, including three in a row after last weekend’s 2-1 loss at D.C. United. They have allowed an average of 2.0 goals per game in those matches.
- The Union’s C.J. Sapong is one of four players this season with 3+ goals and at least 75% shooting accuracy in 2017.
- NYCFC’s David Villa has created eight chances (inc. assists) in NYCFC’s two away games this season. The rest of the team has combined for 12.
- Only two teams have conceded more than Philadelphia’s nine goals this season.
- Five of NYCFC’s eight goals this season have been scored in the first half, tied for the fourth-most
- in MLS.
- This will be Andre Blake’s third career game against NYCFC. In his two previous games against them, he has kept a clean sheet once, and allowed three goals in the other match.
- NYCFC keeper Sean Johnson holds a career 58.3 save percentage in 14 regular season appearances against the Philadelphia Union, his second-worst against any MLS squad.
- NYCFC’s Ronald Matarrita and Alexander Callens each have recorded 428 and 424 touches respectively, the second and third-most by a MLS defender this season.
