NYCFC Has Found Their Stride After Lackluster Start to 2024
New York City FC was second-to-last in the Eastern Conference after its 2-1 loss to the Portland Timbers, which also ended the club’s undefeated record in home openers. NYCFC picked up their first win of the season the next week, then suffered another defeat, followed by an impressive point on the road against Inter Miami. New York City had an upcoming five-game homestand and desperately needed positive results to fix its poor start to the season. NYCFC started off the homestand with a disappointing 1-1 tie with Atlanta. Santiago Rodríguez scored New York City FC’s first penalty of the season, and Matt Freese had another impressive day between the pipes with five saves.
From there, NYCFC found momentum and never took their foot off the gas pedal, starting off with a 2-0 win over Eastern Conference bottom-feeders New England. Agustín Ojeda, in his first-ever start for New York City, netted the game-winner followed by a consolation goal in stoppage time from Julián Fernández. Despite the strong win, NYCFC had a tough test in their next game, with Christian Benteke and DC United coming to town. At the time, Benteke had six goals and was in fine form, having scored one goal in his last two games. New York City shut Benteke down and cruised to the 2-0 win, with Rodríguez and Fernández finding the back of the net.
NYCFC’s next opponent, Charlotte FC, was a team they were yet to beat in six meetings. Charlotte got out to an early 1-0 lead in the Bronx, but a thunderous Keaton Parks header made it level right before halftime. New York City pushed for the game-winner all throughout the second half, but it took until the dying minutes for the breakthrough chance to come to life, as Rodríguez whipped a cross into Alonso Martínez, who flicked the ball into the back of the net to make it three straight wins for NYCFC.
New York City is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, only three points behind its Hudson River rivals, the New York Red Bulls. Up next for NYCFC is a Western Conference showdown with the Colorado Rapids at Citi Field. New York City will need striker Monsef Bakrar to find the back of the net, as the Algerian international is yet to score in nine matches. Expect Rodríguez, Ojeda, and Fernández to be the keys offensively, and Freese to have another solid performance in goal yet again. If NYCFC can finish off their homestand with four wins and one draw, that would be seen as a great outcome heading into the summer stretch of the season.
