Callens Gets Red Card Early, May Have Cost NYCFC A Spot In Eastern Conference Finals
Every single year we all say the same exact thing, is this the year for NYCFC? Well after last night’s game I can easily say no. NYCFC fell to the Columbus Crew 4-1 on Tuesday in Leg 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi Finals.
Columbus in this last 9 week of the MLS season have had the best stretch compared to any other team. Forget the end of their regular season, let’s talk the Crew in the postseason. First off, they defeated one of the newest and most up and coming teams in the whole MLS, Atlanta United AT HOME. Let me repeat that, AT HOME. IN A SHOOTOUT. Then to beat NYCFC in Leg 1 is pretty impressive.
No doubt I can tell you right now, that Columbus came out the better team in the first half. The 9 days off the NYCFC had off, you think Patrick Viera would have had them mentally and physically prepared, and they weren’t even close. You would think after last year NYCFC would finally pull the stick out of their rear end after losing to Toronto FC 7-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. But no, they played the same old NYC playoff soccer for the first 75 minutes. Pass the ball back, sit on the ball wait for it to come to you, lack of creative play, overthinking things, it’s just textbook for NYC to play like that I the playoffs. NYCFC did not play like a 2 seed, they seemed overwhelmed and now they have dug themselves into a huge hole, and they gotta find a way out.
David Villa, Jack Harrison and Rodney Wallace all had chances early on, but sloppy touches, hitting posts and second guessing cost NYC. They could have easily had 4 goals in the first half. Eventually their sloppy offense would lead to sloppy defense and the Crew scored in the 6th minute off of a sloppy rebound. Two goals in the last 10 games is a huge issue for NYCFC, and it is hurting them significantly.
I haven’t even gotten to the worst part yet that caused 3 more goals by Columbus. Alexander Callens got a red card on video review that wasn’t called originally after he elbowed a player on the cross.
NYCFC eventually did something right in this game, they got the one road goal they needed, by who other than David Villa. The confidence game after that but by then it was too late and they couldn’t convert and put any in the goal.
Its only uphill from here, unless NYCFC can win by four goals, they will need to win 3-0 at home in order to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship. Leg 2 is Sunday at Yankee Stadium kickoff set for 5PM.
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By Jake Martino
