New York City fell at Yankee Stadium for the first time this season after Cyle Larin once again proved decisive.
New York City FC fell to Orlando yet again in a 2-1 defeat as Cyle Larin continued his impressive form against the boys in blue to score a goal on either side of the break before David Villa pulled one back. NYC’s late spell of pressure was not enough to find a second goal and earn a point in their first home defeat of the season.The defeat sends NYC down to sixth in the eastern conference standings and only a single goal keeps them above Toronto on goal difference.
Patrick Vieira’s men began brightly and forced Joe Bendik into an early, but comfortable save, through Jack Harrison’s shot from outside the box.
NYC had struggled to break out of their own half throughout the early stages of the first half, but slowly began to assert themselves after Maxi Morales was unable to beat Bendik with a header from Jack Harrison’s cross.
Tommy Macnamara then arrived a second too late to tap in Ethan’s White’s cross and just missed the ball.
NYCFC were made to pay for their missed opportunities shortly after when Cyle Larin finished from close range off a fine move from Orlando to score yet again against the New York club.
The hosts struggled to threaten as the first half concluded. Villa’s soft shot ended right into Bendik’s hand before Alexander Ring’s long range effort ended up both high and wide of Orlando’s net.
Orlando doubled their lead shortly after the break after Cyle Larin’s header beat Sean Johnson. It was Larin’s third goal in two games against NYCFC this season.
The home side then carved out a few decent chances. Rodney Wallace’s headed over the bar before Villa sent a curling effort just wide as their side searched for a way back into the game.
They found a lifeline a few moments later, however, from a clever set-piece play. Maxi Morales produced a clever pass from free kick to Villa, who slotted from a tight angle to bring New York within a goal of leveling the score.
Consolation in the end, but another classy @Guaje7Villa finish. #NYCvORL pic.twitter.com/8nwnwQEJDl
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 23, 2017
NYC pushed on, but were unable to break Orlando’s defense down in the following minutes. They nearly ended up two goals behind again, but Sean Johnson’s fine save kept out Larin’s header to maintain the score.
A final chance fell to Villa, but the Spaniard’s close range shot was blocked, and his side were unable to level the score afterward.
After the match, goalkeeper Sean Johnson suggested that though his side maintained great technical ability, their failure to challenge Orlando on a physical scale cost them.
“They’re a team that works hard,” said Johnson. “They were better physically today.”
“They’re level of intensity for longer stretches was better…We have to be able to match the level of intensity of physical teams.”
“We’re a team that’s a very…solid technical team.”
His teammate Jack Harrison praised his side’s control of the match and felt his side were unlucky to earn nothing from the match.
“We were unfortunate not to get the second goal,” Harrison said. “We created a lot of chances. I feel like we were a bit more dominant today.”
Like Johnson, he criticized his side’s level of physicality throughout the clash.
“At the end of the day, we do need to be a bit more intense,” added Harrison. “They were just more aggressive than us. They wanted to win the ball back more than us.”
“That’s something we need to work on,” said the midfielder.