The Boys in Blue are rolling on the road.
It was another professional, full-team performance vs. LA Galaxy on Saturday afternoon at Children’s Dignity Health Park in Carson, California.
Here are Five Points on the surging City Boys.
Max Points
The main image that sticks out from Saturday is that of #10 Maxi Moralez, who after scoring from the spot let out the primal scream of a footballer who had hit the woodwork and failed to convert on multiple penalties in the early stages of the season.
The strength on display from Moralez to take the ball with a two-goal lead on the line heading into halftime was stellar, and as the man himself explained, it’s the only way to go forward…
🎙️ | @mmoralezoficial: "I'm not the first player to miss a penalty. It's all about continuing to try. I've always said, if you don't try, you'll never know if it'll go in or not." #NYCFCpic.twitter.com/YQ6RqciUc4
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) May 12, 2019
Poacher’s Delight
Hebér’s third NYCFC goal was his second off the rebound, and it’s not the first time the Brazilian 9 has shown his poacher’s instincts in front of the opposition’s goal.
After playing a winger’s role with a phenomenal strike rate during his two years at Rijeka, the 27-year-old is happy to be back in his natural position at New York City. Hebér has found opportunities for himself and others in front of net to the tune of three goals and two assists so far in City blue.
His strike on Saturday was the result of perfect timing as Anton Tinnerholm cracked a shot on target that David Bingham could only parry into the goal scorer’s path.
Three in five starts for the number 9⃣ @Heber__Araujo#NYCFCpic.twitter.com/ytRW9WwRuv
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) May 11, 2019
Here's to more tap-ins for everybody.
Defensive Depth
Four out of the last five league matches have been clean sheets for the Boys in Blue – and it has been nothing short of a total team effort.
In addition to Dome’s system shift, a number of players have stepped up to strengthen our spine when called upon as we continue to attack our opponents with more fluidity.
Ronald Matarrita, Ebenezer Ofori, James Sands, Alex Ring, and Anton Tinnerholm started this staunch defensive road run in the Nation’s Capital on April 21, and in the games following
several other players have stepped up to the call, including Ben Sweat and Sebastian Ibeagha in starting and substitute roles over the course of the past weeks.
It was Tony Rocha on this day who put in a fantastic shift vs. Galaxy in midfield, earning his second start and handling the ever-changing challenges of the game with composure and class throughout.
Another test of depth passed with flying colors.
Caged Lion
In the closing stages of Saturday’s match Sean Johnson was taken down in the area by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, resulting in a dubious double-yellow for both players.
On the matter Johnson, had this to say:
“I think you guys will watch the replay and decide for yourselves," Johnson told the media. "But at the end of the day, in the heat of the battle, you want to do what you can to protect the guys, make sure we see the game out no matter what and make sure they know we are here to play, we are not going to be walked over.
"I think in any moment, anybody is up for the challenge, including myself," Johnson continued. "And you know, Zlatan is a talented player, he obviously knows what he is doing, he is a clever boy and you know, it is a part of the game. I would be frustrated if I were him too, you know. Can’t blame him for his frustration at that point in the game.
"Obviously our boys did a job today to keep him off the scoresheet and he is only happy when he is scoring, so job done, we will take the three points and go back. I think we can look back and say we got the best out of the whole situation today.”
#JohnsonSaves
R&R
New York City’s Football Club gets a little break now before getting back to the road grind on May 25th in Bridgeview, Illiinois vs. Chicago Fire.
Road Blues – take this time to rest your vocals, we’ll be back to game action before you know it #ForTheCity
