Taking a break from MLS play, NYCFC took home a 2-0 victory against Mexican opponent Santos Laguna in the Leagues Cup. Goal scorers were defenders Tayvon Gray and Nico Cavallo show just how potent this New York attack has been recently.
Head Coach Pascal Jansen made two changes to the starting line-up after the 1-1 draw against Toronto FC. 24-year-old defender and debutant Max Murray came in for captain Thiago Martins and Kevin O’Toole made his return to the squad from an April injury and played instead of Nicolas Fernandez, who ended the Toronto game with discomfort.
The game got off to a slow start as neither team looked very dangerous. No one had registered a shot on target for the first 35 minutes of the game. Both teams came out of the first half water break reenergized and began to break down the opposing defenses.
Augustin Ojeda created the first real chance of the game after a nice backheel pass from Tayvon Gray. Santos Laguna goalkeeper Carlos Acevado made his first save of the game after Ojeda’s low effort.
After this shot, the game began to open up; Santos created their first sense of danger after some link-up play in the midfield resulted in Jonathan Shore taking down attacker Diego Gonzalez right outside the box. Gonzalez’s freekick effort was saved by Matt Freese. Freese was the player of the match and had six saves.
After the two chances, the first half ended 0-0. NYCFC had control of the game with 58% of the ball.
Jansen looked to the bench for changes at halftime. Hannus Wolf, Nicolas Fernandez came on, and new Brazilian signing Luighi made his NYCFC debut.
“Benie [Traore] was struggling in the 1st half to make us play through the middle as well. We were quite dominant on the side of {Ojeda}, but, Malachi didn’t really find this game, that was also the case for Traore. But with Luigi coming on in the second half, you see presence, you see connecting, also, with the impulse of Nico {Fernandez} coming back into the team. He saw dynamics get on and some good play,” Jansns said post-game.
The forward changes made their mark quickly. In the 48th minute, Fernandez found Luighi, who passed it with one touch to Andres Perea, whose square ball to Ojeda led to a blocked shot which fell to Tayvon Gray, who fired it off the top crossbar into the back of the net.
New York kept the momentum going shortly after as Ojeda found himself in space and squared it to Perea who unfortunately shot it right at the keeper.
Then, in the 66th minute, after Luighi played it out wide to Perea, he found Cavallo’s run with a well-placed through ball, and the fullback was able to double the lead. This was Cavallo’s first goal for the club.
Freese’s stellar play led to New York keeping a clean sheet and securing the win in the opening game of Phase One in the Leagues Cup.
“Even though you dominate quite a few games, an opponent will always get, one or two moments, and these were big moments, then we’re very happy to have Matt Freese, backing up the back line. I think he’s showing his quality, his presence, his personality. He’s the captain now when Thiago’s not available. This doesn’t come as a surprise for me, because I see him every day. But there’s still more room for more improvement, and that’s what he’s working on,” Jansen said post-game.
The team continues their campaign in the Leagues Cup against Cruz Azul on Saturday.
