It’s a dark, painful time in New York, the MLS fans rooting for either local squad are yet again suffering from a playoff exit.
The World Series is on, the NBA season just started, Halloween is right around the corner, MLS playoffs games are on television, and there we go again, New York is neither red nor blue.
But black.
New York Red Bulls and New York City F.C. yet again suffered a harsh exit from the MLS playoffs. The Red Bulls lost to Philadelphia Union, 4-3, in extra-time after taking a 3-1 lead in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Eastern Conference league toppers NYCFC bowed down to Toronto F.C., 2-1, in the conference semifinals because of two unacceptable mistakes from their defenders. Alexander Callens headed the ball back to TFC superstar Alejandro Pozuelo in the box, gifting him a goal.
And Ronald Matarrita unnecessarily fouled Richie Laryea in the box to give away a penalty, which Pozuelo converted.
This was supposed to be The Pigeons’ dream year. They ended the regular season on top with heaps of hope. However, everything was shattered by just two mistakes at the back.
Their supporters felt it:
It feels like I'm being stabbed with a butter knife. What a waste, of what should have been, a magical season. #NYCFC
— Andrés Emilio Soto (@TheAndresSoto) October 24, 2019
It’s the fourth consecutive time the club was knocked out in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In the midst of that pain, the fans can’t escape the fact that their team is still playing on a baseball pitch.
Some NYCFC supporters are even threatening to cancel their season tickets:
@NYCFC 4 years of playoff failures. 5 years without a stadium and none in sight. I’m cancelling season tickets.
— Oscar Javier Sanchez (@oscarito_wins) October 24, 2019
Same story when you go from NYCFC supporters to Red Bulls diehards.
No longer a #RBNY season ticket holder. I wasn't kidding.
— Andrew Timoni ???? (@AndrewTimoni) October 24, 2019
For RBNY, it’s been 25 years for the franchise without an MLS Cup. That’s 25 years of painful playoffs exit—they did make it the final once in 2008.
Their entire 2019 season was rough, they finished in sixth place with a 14W-14L-6T record. One thing the fans have been begging the club to do all-season long is to sack their head coach Chris Armas.
Some RBNY supporters would even ask for a complete makeover to stop the pain:
Team needs a revamp… new coach, new team, new everything… get rid of the rubbish and bring in bigger players. This club hurts me, but I guess it’s on to next season…
— Dustyy || Dylan (@DylanDusteh) October 20, 2019
All this pain in the Big Apple, or in New Jersey, will only make it sweeter when a New York team finally lifts an MLS Cup. Maybe next year, again.
