Sloppy NYCFC bailed out by steady signee
If there’s been anything consistent all season for New York City FC, it’s been the play of Ismael Tajouri-Shradi.
The Libyan’s moments of brilliance Saturday night overshadowed the Patrick Vieira-to-Europe coaching rumors — and his hapless 3-5-2 formation — as NYCFC got past Orlando City 3-0 at Yankee Stadium.
With David Villa not starting — a personal decision by Vieira — the 24-year-old Tajouri-Shradi, inked in the offseason, once again displayed his prowess by picking up the scoring slack on a night when NYCFC (27 points) didn’t seem all that threatening, at least for the first 75 minutes.
In the 35th minute, he made defender Donny Toia stumble with a vicious cutback move before bending in the game’s first score.
The goal was largely created by Tajouri-Shradi, whose awareness of the vacant near side of the field allowed him to have space and link up with Anton Tinnerholm.
“I saw Anton was 1against-1. I ran behind him and he gave me a really good pass,” Tajouri-Shradi said of the first goal. “I [put] it on my left foot, and it was a very good goal and good work from the team.”
When Villa eventually came on as a second-half substitute, it was still the TajouriShradi show — this time when he bent in a free kick past Joe Bendik in the 79th minute.
The newcomer’s two scores Saturday night give him seven goals on just eight shots this season, including three against Orlando City.
“The three-nil doesn’t really reflect the game,” Vieira said. “Sometimes you need luck, and the luck was on our side.”
Vieira threw NYCFC into the fruitless 3-5-2 formation, a structure he’s tinkered with in recent weeks but which too often leaves NYCFC exposed on defense and disorganized on offense, evident with multiple scoring chances wasted — including several by Jo Inge Berget.
Fortunately, Vieira switched to the 4-3-3 formation in the second half, and after a botched Orlando City penalty kick missed by Sacha Kljestan, NYCFC’s attack started to retain possession and create the overlap on both wings.