New York City Football Club secured a big win against Toronto FC on Sunday.
Goals from Andrés Perea, Andres Jasson, and Julián Fernández gave the Boys in Blue a 3-0 win.
Here are Five Points from the game…
The Job's Not Done
Following the latest positive set of results, the message has been clear from the camp; the job's not done.
Invoking memories of Kobe Bryant's famous quote from the 2009 NBA Finals, the players and coaches are both in agreement that until the team has secured a playoff spot nothing is to be celebrated. That mentality is important in refocusing the group with another big test coming this Saturday against Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi.
In between then and now the team will be back on the training pitch working hard to improve because, ultimately, the job's not done.
Five Games
Sunday's victory over TFC helped NYCFC secure back-to-back victories for the third time this season and extend their unbeaten run to five games.
The team have undoubtedly made the most of their run of home games, building form at the perfect point of the season. The team have also benefited from favorable results elsewhere and now find themselves above the line.
They won't consider that job done, however, but the motivation to keep their unbeaten run going and close out the season with three wins is higher than ever.
Jasson Goals
Patience is a word Andres Jasson used a lot when talking to the press this week.
The forward has never by short of talent or hard work, but Nick Cushing challenged him to be more decisive in games. It is fair to say Jasson has risen to the challenge, notching three goals and an assist in his last six outings.
His latest goal was a great example of quick thinking and good execution, with the forward spinning on a dime in the box to fire low into the goal. His awareness to anticipate the ball coming across and react is also commendable.
Jasson's fine form is a testament to his own hard work, and symptomatic of a group that has continued to try and better itself in the face of adversity.
Perfect Start
Nick Cushing admitted after the game he felt the first goal would be important.
Toronto FC entered the contest with one win in their last five outings. That success came against Philadelphia Union which highlights the quality TFC still possess in their ranks. Thankfully for Cushing & NYCFC they found the opening goal inside 90 seconds.
Andrés Perea has become an important asset in midfield, and although he is traditionally known as a defensive midfielder, he has shown in the last two games that he can be an asset in the final third.
His header in the second minute was not only his first for NYCFC, but it was also the product of a late run into the box - one of several he would make during the game - and was just reward for his hard work since joining the Club. That set NYCFC off on the right foot, and they didn't look back - reinforcing just how important that first goal was.
Clean Sheets
A big seven days for NYCFC saw seven points come to the Five Boroughs.
One of the main reasons for that success is the team's increasing defensive strength. NYCFC have now kept four clean sheets in their last five outings, and that has helped them collect 11 points from a possible 15 available points.
Keeping a clean sheet is often a team effort, and that was no difference on Sunday. Whether it's Matt Freese pulling off brilliant saves like he did against Red Bulls, or the back four limiting Toronto to only a few chances on Sunday, the group's collective determination to keep a clean sheet has been central to this recent run of form.
The key now is to keep that streak alive as it could be a valuable habit come the end of the season.
Sign-up for MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app - and never miss a moment of the 2023 season. Stream every regular-season, playoff, and Leagues Cup match. Every Screen. No Blackouts.
