3 things we learned from NYCFC's second draw with Toronto FC this year
On Saturday, New York City FC traveled to Canada to face Toronto FC for the second time this season. In the last meeting, the two finished with a 1-1 draw, and this time, it was no different. Once again, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. The difference this time was that the Pigeons had a lackluster offensive performance.
Nicolás Fernández Mercau scored in the 29th minute despite the missing attack. NYCFC only had six shots throughout the entire match. The Reds were stronger in the attack with their 14 shots and forced Matt Freese to make five saves. Still, they found a way through in the 70th minute after Dániel Sallói scored the tying goal.
Nevertheless, NYCFC did well defensively. The entire team worked as a unit, and that is why they are leaving with a 1-1 draw. If the backline was weaker or made the silly mistakes that they have made in the past, then this easily could have been a 3-1 or 4-1 loss. Hence, the Boys in Blue were not terrible. One can argue this was a mixed performance.
Three points would have been nicer, but a point on the road is not the worst outcome. Alas, it is still not good enough. Here are three things we learned from the draw between NYCFC and Toronto.
NYCFC dropped points rather than gaining one
While one point is not the worst thing, the match was still one where points were lost. The Pigeons went up in front first, and then the Reds salvaged a point. It was not like the New England Revolution meeting last week, when NYCFC scored second to secure the draw.
As such, the team once again failed to hold on to the result. While it was not fully due to the Pigeons, as the Toronto goal was a very good one, the self-inflicted wounds that Head Coach Pascal Jansen constantly brings up have been a major theme of the season. Mistakes have led to way too many goals. This time, though, the wound could lie with the coach.
Pascal Jansen might be at fault
One of the reasons why Sallói scored was due to the superb pass by Alonso Coello to the running Theo Corbeanu, who put the ball in the path of the goal scorer. But why was there space to create the run-up on the right side?
Jansen had recently taken Nico Cavallo out, and at first, he put substitutes Kevin O’Toole in the attack and Raul Gustavo as the left-back. But Gustavo was constantly beaten during the brief period he played in that position. Cavallo had mostly done well, so it was intriguing that he was taken out.
Gustavo’s poor defending and whatever madness Jansen tried to produce ultimately failed, and he had to return to the initial tactics soon after. This obvious error in the head coach’s substitution decision might have been the difference between one point and three. Nevertheless, the home side constantly attacked NYCFC, so a goal was bound to occur.
NYCFC might fall down the table
In some ways, a draw on the road is acceptable. In other ways, it was not good enough. The Bronx side desperately needed a win, but instead, the winless streak in Major League Soccer has now extended to five games. The sad part is that the streak might continue, and NYCFC might begin to fall down the table.
The Pigeons face Nashville SC and the New England Revolution next, which means the Boys in Blue are going to have some tough matchups. At a time when they need wins, the high probability of more draws and losses means they could fall down the table.
NYCFC is in a tough spot once again. It has been repeated often, but the players are better than they have played, despite the injuries. How can Jansen fix this, and can this be fixed? Only time will tell.
