NYCFC lose win in final moments
A starless — and then injured — Toronto FC gave New York City FC just what they needed — until the 90th minute.
With stars Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, along with Justin Morrow, away for U.S. national team duty in the Gold Cup, the absence of former MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco for much of the match appeared to allow NYCFC to squeeze past Toronto, until a penalty kick stole three points in a 2-2 draw on a hot Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
With NYCFC leading 2-1 heading toward extra time, they committed a sloppy penalty in their box in the 90th minute. Toronto FC midfielder Victor Vasquez converted for his fourth goal of the season to grab a valuable away point, ruining NYCFC’s night.
“The way we conceded the second goal, it was bad defending,” said frustrated NYCFC head coach Patrick Vieira. “You have to give [Toronto] more credit. If I was in their shoes, I’d be really disappointed to go back to Toronto with only a point.”
It was a disastrous start for NYCFC, which had no luck on the night. Before Giovinco hobbled off injured in the 39th minute, Toronto FC (39 points) held an early lead when forward Ben Spencer lofted a cross back post where defender Ashtone Morgan sat unmarked and put the ball past defenseless NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson in the 11th minute.
While NYCFC had early chances, they couldn’t capitalize, and it proved costly. In the 22nd minute, midfielder Tommy McNamara missed two clear scoring opportunities. Others, like captain David Villa, missed as well. Part of that frustration resulted in Toronto often clogging centrally in the midfield. But just when things seemed limp heading into halftime, it was Villa who once again found a way to walk away with something from a frustrating first half.
Off a quick counter attack near the 45th minute, NYCFC midfielder Jack Harrison teed a sitting ball for Villa, whose shot from outside the box skipped past Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono.
Fortunately for NYCFC, Toronto’s misfortune lingered like the humid night into the second half. In the 50th minute, forward Jay Chapman appeared to put Toronto in front when his deflected goal was ruled good. But after much deliberation with the sideline official, referee Jorge Gonzalez ruled the goal offside.
The no goal resulted in Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney getting booted from the match for arguing, and as a result, turned the momentum in NYCFC’s favor.
In the 56th minute, midfielder Maxi Moralez scored his third goal of the season off a deflected effort that bounced past Bono.
“Managing to win 2-1 with the way we were playing tonight, I was going to be satisfied,” said Vieira on NYCFC’s poor display. “Sometimes you need to accept that the other team is playing better.”
Moralez’s heroics proved not enough, and with NYCFC (34 points) dropping a valuable three points, they now head toward a vital match against the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
“We have to put ourselves in positions to go forward and see out games,” Johnson said. “It’s not going to get any easier.”