NYC FC Draw With Atlanta United

The boys in blue faced off against Atlanta United Saturday in Yankee Stadium. The match follows Wednesday’s NYCFC defeat against the Red Bulls, in the US Open Cup. Even though the boys in blue lost their match against the Red Bulls, head coach Vieira explained the significance of Saturday’s game. He explained the importance of the match, especially since it is the last game before a break.

NYCFC began the match remaining steady in the first minutes of the first half. The momentum of the first half peaked in the 27th minute when Moralez faced Atlanta United GK Guzan one on one and failed to maintained composure and couldn’t produce a goal.

NYCFC didn’t back down after that close goal, that made the crowd go wild, and in the 30th minute the boys in blue came close to another possible goal when Anton Tinnerholm connected with David Villa , but the ball was deflected to the upper side of the post by GK Guzan.

Atlanta united stepped up, as they attempted to score in the 43rd minute but failed as GK Johnson caught the ball. NYCFC closed the first half by staying dominant, but the score remained 0-0.

In the second half of the game Atlanta United scored their first goal of the match in the 48th minute . NYCFC kept attacking and on the 58th minute Ben Sweat approached the goal post and made a swift right pass to Villa who was stopped by GK Guzan.

On the 77’ Alexander Callens saved the day for the boys in blue with a goal. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.

On their last meeting facing each other NYCFC and Atlanta United concluded the match with a 2-2 tied game. After the match David Villa had a few comments about the progress the team has made.

“We are a strong team, we can lose because this is soccer… like against the Red Bulls or in Portland, but finally we have identity. You can win, you can lose, you can draw in a good game like today, but we have identity. You see the team, it is only 3 and a half years old, we’ve become strong. I’ve been here from the start, and it seems like it’s been ten years worth of progress, but it’s only been 3 and a half.”