New York City FC escaped the frigid New York City weather and has been camped in Los Angeles this pre-season. The team played the LA Galaxy tonight in their second pre-season friendly in Carson, California.
Tonight’s’ starting lineup was a typical pre-season lineup for NYCFC including a mix of veterans, recent signees, trialists and youth players. 17-year-old Vini Lansande was a surprise inclusion for Patrick Vieira’s squad. Lansade is currently a high school senior and has impressed Patrick enough to earn himself a start.
LA came out pressing and putting the New York City defense on their back foot early on. The Galaxy had a tremendously disappointing season last year and are looking to re-establish themselves as a top MLS Cup contender under head coach Sigi Schmid. The Galaxy drew first blood in the 9th minute with Ola Kamara getting a hold of a shot that went off the crossbar and finding the back of the net against rookie keeper Brad Stuver.
FINAL: LA Galaxy 0 – 3 NYCFC
A first half red card changed the complexion of the match and Patrick Vieira switched to a VERY young lineup in the second half. The result wasn't what many wanted but players got minutes and no one was injured.
— NYCFC Nation (@NYCFCNation) February 11, 2018
The lack of familiarity was evident on the goal and was seen further on in the offense as well. Maxi Moralez was yelling and gesturing for right-back Saad Abdul-Salaam to run and overlap him on the attack before eventually playing it out for a corner. Both Maxi Moralez and Ronald Matarrita were leading the team with Matarrita setting up the defense and Moralez pushing the midfield forward with both players adjusting well to their roles as veteran leaders on this squad.
The most confusing part of the night happened in the 41st minute when Ronald Matarrita was shown a red card for what appeared to be a relatively benign tackle on LA’s Romain Alessandrini. Matarrita came in for a tackle and seems to have inadvertently kicked his leg up as he bounced off the ball. Referee Drew Fischer immediately reached for his pocket and sent of the NYCFC captain. Maxi Moralez was irate at the call and vehemently voiced his disdain towards LA’s players.
Patrick Vieira’s side came back out with no changes to start the second half, however Kwame Awuah was instruction to play the left back role and Abdul-Salaam moved over to cover for Ronald Matarrita. More changes came in the 64th minute when Vieira summoned academy players Justin Haak and Joe Scally alongside Andre Rawls. The changes meant NYCFC was momentarily playing with an attacking front led by Maxi Moralez, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and three teenagers: Vini Lansande, Joseph Scally and Justin Haak.
The teenage trio lasted until the 72nd minute when David Villa entered the match for Lansande, Dante Polvara entered for Maxi Moralez and Ryan Felix came on for Alexander Callens. The changes meant NYCFC’s midfield was being manned by three teenagers who weren’t even old enough to vote. The final substitute of the day was Tyler Shaver who came in for Ismael, which left 4 teenagers on the pitch for NYCFC.
The game was clearly just a run out for the academy players, who held their own against the bigger and older LA Galaxy players. Justin Haak looked in especially fine form as he held off the defense.
Despite the team’s best efforts it wasn’t enough as NYCFC fell 3-0 to the LA Galaxy. The baby blues got their playing time and no one came away injured which is exactly what coaches want at this point in pre-season.
Medina on his goals: “I’d like to play as many games as possible and score as many goals as possible”
— NYCFC Nation (@NYCFCNation) February 11, 2018
reparto says
Thank you for getting in touch, Chris P.!