Philadelphia Union Goals: Bedoya 67'
New York City FC Goals:
Quick Read
New York City FC were in Chester, PA, on Wednesday night as they took on Philadelphia Union. Despite enjoying the better of the game NYCFC found themselves behind when Alejandro Bedoya headed in a Kai Wagner cross in the 67th minute. That proved to be the only goal of the game and that handed NYCFC a disappointing defeat on the road.
Match Recap
New York City FC were aiming to maintain their unbeaten run in MLS to seven games on Wednesday as they faced Philadelphia Union.
Head Coach Ronny Deila made four changes to the team that beat Inter Miami CF on Saturday, introducing Nicolás Acevedo, Jesús Medina, Santiago Rodríguez, and Alex Callens in place of Alfredo Morales, Keaton Parks, Maxi Moralez and Thiago Andrade.
The Boys in Blue would start the game the brighter of the two sides, and moved the ball quickly from back to front via some beautiful passing moves.
At the other end, a swift counter-attack by the Union down their right forced James Sands to cut across and clear a delivery from Alejandro Bedoya.
NYCFC were causing the Union problems down the right, and it almost produced their first goal in the 23rdminute.
The chance came when a cross from Anton Tinnerholm deflected into the path of Rodríguez, but his curled effort from 12 yards out ended up just wide of Andre Blake’s post.
The half would close out without either side able to celebrate a goal.
In the second period it was the visitors that started the stronger of the two sides, and that forced the likes of Sands, Chanot, and Callens to make some important interceptions.
At the other end, a freekick in the 59th minute allowed Rodríguez to cut it back to Malte Amundsen on the edge of the penalty box – his effort deflecting wide.
A minute later, a delightful chipped pass from Medina allowed Taty Castellanos to attempt an audacious bicycle kick, but he failed to make a sufficient connection with the ball.
It would be the hosts that took the lead in the 67th minute, however, after a cross from Kai Wagner was headed in by Bedoya.
Ronny Deila turned to his bench in the wake of the goal and introduced Gudi Thórarinsson and Thiago Andrade in place of Amundsen and Rodríguez.
It did not take the Brazilian long to get involved, and in the 70th minute he picked up the ball on the left before driving inside and firing a shot at Blake's goal.
Sensing a need for greater change, Deila called upon Keaton Parks, Andres Jasson, and Talles Magno in the 77th minute to replace Sands, Medina, and Castellanos.
The 79th minute saw Thiago almost restore parity after a deep cross from Thórarinsson was only narrowly headed wide by the Brazilian forward.
NYCFC continued pushing right until the end, and in the 90th minute Tinnerholm fired off a shot from the edge of the box that took a deflection before going behind.
Unfortunately, it wasn't to be and the game finished 1-0 to Philadelphia Union forcing Ronny Deila's men to suffer their first defeat in MLS since July 17.
Heineken Man of the Match
How We Lined Up
What's Next
Next up for New York City FC is a Hudson River Derby meeting with New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, August 21. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00PM ET (FS1/NYCFC.com/Radio).
