New York City FC returns to Yankee Stadium for the Season 5 Home Opener on Sunday afternoon vs. D.C. United.
One road point in the first match away to Orlando last weekend has New York City’s Football Club hungry for the full three when we take the Etihad Pitch for the first time in our new home kit.
Here are the Keys to the Match for NYC’s first home game of 2019, presented by Tri-State Ford…
Home Cooking
It feels good to be home, baby! After getting going against our expansion cousins Orlando last Saturday, it’s back to the Bronx for a celebration and start to our fifth home season in Major League Soccer.
The last time we welcomed D.C. to NY for a Home Opener, we won 4-0.
NYCFC is 3-0-1 in Home Openers at Yankee Stadium all time, so let’s keep that going protect this house together.
Dangermen from The District
The only constant in MLS is change – so it’s only natural D.C. United has undergone a period of building that has them dreaming of glory days past. A new soccer specific stadium and additions like Wayne Rooney, Luciano Acosta, and Paul Arriola have the Black & Red looking more dangerous than ever to the current crop of MLS elites.
It will be a total team defensive effort to keep the DC attack under wraps.
Blue Bows
New York City’s Football Club boasts a host of new Boys in Blue set to potentially make their Yankee Stadium debuts.
Fans are in line for a first live look at New Designated Player Alexandru Mitriță – who will be on the hunt for his first competitive goal for NYCFC in his first Home Opener.
New signings Tony Rocha and Keaton Parks made NYC debuts last weekend, and the rest of the new signings will look to follow suit and earn a home debut for the Boys in Blue.
Strength in Numbers
Squad depth was big point of focus for Doménec Torrent this offseason, as he also added Juan Pablo Torres and Justin Haak to a strong midfield that also saw loan returnee Ebenezer Ofori and Homegrown James Sands earn starts at the Orlando City Stadium last Saturday.
With five instances this season when NYCFC will play three games in a single week, the youngsters will certainly get a chance to show their mettle #ForTheCity.
With options abound and fingers crossed for a clean injury report, Sunday’s squad will undoubtedly be a strong one looking to prove a point vs. the visitors.
Bronx Bounce
What really makes our home openers special so far? You – the fans! As the weather starts to turn in the City that Never Sleeps, we’ll need a sea of blue behind us as we continue to dream big.
So Come On New York! Let’s get the first W of Season 5…
