3 things we learned as NYCFC's draw with Orlando City is still a failure

Entering the Orlando City SC game, New York City FC had won only once in the last 13 games. The players knew the pressure was at an all-time high to win, as the postseason was slipping away. The loss to Inter Miami CF and draw with Los Angeles FC the previous week did not help, and the earlier games did not go the way that the Pigeons needed them to go. Oh, and they did not get that needed win.

Instead, NYCFC shared the points with Orlando, scoring two goals each in a 2-2 draw. Alonso Martínez and Jonathan Shore scored for the visitors, while the home team’s goals came from Antoine Griezmann and Martín Ojeda. In fact, the Boys in Blue were on their way to losing, but Shore’s late goal secured a point.

Of course, one point is not good enough. If the Bronx side wanted a chance of making the postseason, then they had to win in Florida. Instead, the team is another step closer to not making it. But still, even if they, by some miracle, found a way to end the season in ninth place and play the Wild Card game, even that would not be good enough. Fans expect more, especially when the roster is strong enough to be better than the results.

So yes, the evening ended with a comeback draw, but it was still disappointing and a failure. Here are three things we learned from the match between NYCFC and Orlando City SC.

NYCFC needs Matt Freese to be okay

During the first half, Matt Freese was having a good game. He had only one save, but it was a big stop, as Griezmann tried to head the ball into the goal early in the match. He was also alert to where players were, helping the NYCFC backline even when his goal was not directly attacked.

Unfortunately, Freese suffered a likely injury to his shoulder and was not able to continue the game. He departed the pitch after 28 minutes, and Orlando scored their first goal a few minutes later.

Now, it is not known whether the goalkeeper would have kept a clean sheet. But it is easy to wonder what would have happened, especially since the first goal given up was a clear mental slip where the Pigeons let the home side take over for a few minutes. Nevertheless, it would not be good if the injury is a serious one, as the outfield players need Freese in goal. Tomás Romero is not a bad second-choice goalkeeper, but there is a reason he is not the starter.

If Freese is not available, then that is another thing that can mark NYCFC’s season as being over.

Alonso Martínez’s goal is another step in his recovery

While the Pigeons did not win, Martínez was a big part of why they left with a point. The striker scored his first goal since he returned from his ACL injury, and that marked a vital point in his recovery.

Yes, the NYCFC player is not 100%, as he will likely not be until some point during the Sprint Season or even the summer. Players can be healthy enough to play after a knee injury, especially involving the ACL, but sometimes, they can take multiple games to get back to the talent level that they had prior to the injury.

Martínez’s goal, which was a tap-in right in front of the net, is a critical step in that recovery and likely took a weight off his shoulders. That should help his confidence level, and maybe he can score at least one more time before the final whistle is blown on Decision Day.

NYCFC cannot catch a break

Some might argue that Shore’s goal meant that NYCFC finally caught a break in a year of mistakes, scoring issues, and the inability to hold on to leads and draws. However, the result, while better than a loss, was not good enough. The failure to earn all three points instead highlights that the team cannot catch a break.

They were the better offensive team, outshooting Orlando 17 to nine. NYCFC also had six shots on target, and Pascal Jansen even told the Apple TV crew at halftime that they should have had a few more goals. Moreover, Talles Magno’s missed penalty, which came after he accidentally kicked the ball and scored before the referee’s okay and had to redo the shot, was just another laughable moment to describe the season.

If NYCFC had caught a break, Magno would have scored. Or someone else would have taken the kick and scored. Or the team would have scored another goal in open play. But that did not happen, and the game ended in a draw.