South Couch Report – NYC v Toronto

NYCFC as the Generals

The Part I Write Before :

I don’t know if you all are like me, but I for one am relieved with Major League Soccer being back on television. Like that World Cup thing is just a pretentious mess. There’s no salary caps. There’s no TAM. There’s no GAM. And with a distinct lack of MLS players in the World Cup, how uninteresting is it?

Very.

Feels like it’s been forever, but hopefully very long Corner was turned in the game against DC United. We’ll see who’s healthy, who’s competent, and if they finally figured out what they need to start doing to win games.

On to the Match :

14′ – Morales takes a ball from David Villa, shakes Hagglund and gets a solid shot off, forcing Bono to make a save.

15′ – have the other way, Osorio breaks past the defense and gets a shot off beating the keeper, but not the crossbar.

23′ – Tinnerholm picks up a loose ball, takes a touch on the right side and fires that cool, Bono stays big and makes the save.

26′ – Hasler with a cute ball through Giovinco beating the defender, holds up tries to pass it back, Vasquez takes a half-volley and ends up out for corner.

27′ – YELLOW – Aketxe gets a booking for a tackle from behind.

37′ – GOAL – Oh that’s so pretty. Vazquez takes a long ball from Auro Jr., one touch pops it over Johnson and a bounce or two later, it’s in.
PIZZA RATS 0, ROBINS 1

42′ – Tajouri-Shradi picks Van der Weil’s pocket, streaks down the side, instead of shooting, he crosses it and misses two or three blue shirts in the box.

Halftime Mood : it’s no Japan v Senegal, but it’s fine.

45′ – SUB – Zavaleta on for Auro Jr.

51′ – GOAL – Tajouri-Shradi turns and burns Van der Weil, puts it across and after a struggle of ‘is anyone going to get on the end of this’, it somehow finds the foot of Berget.
PIZZA RATS 1, ROBINS 1

57′ – SUB – Aketxe off for Delgado.

68′ – GOAL – Dammit. On the counter, Morales slots it for Berget, one touch, slots it past Bono into the far corner.
PIZZA RATS 2, ROBINS 1

69′ – SUB – Ricketts on for Vazquez.

83′ – Morrow is down for the second time. He’s playing still.

89′ – Toronto caught with 2 at the back as NYCFC attack with 4 and Tajouri-Shradi got greedy and fires it over the bar.

90′ – Ricketts gets a ball from Giovinco, fires and Johnson saves it, but rebound comes to Giovinco who fires it right at Johnson. Damn.

3 mins of extra time

Full Time : New York City 2, Toronto 1

This was sooo Serbia v Switzerland, except less dramatic and less political ramifications.

Man of the Match : Vazquez
Goat of the Game : nah
Ref Rating : 5 out of 5.
I Am Not The Gaffer, But… : I’m either overdosing on footie or just out of ideas.
In Case You PVR’d It : Watch the Vazquez goal and I think you’re good.

Felt like there were very good individual efforts throughout the match, but the ‘team’ part was left for wanting. Bradley was muted for large chunks of the match. The defense looked like they were taking turns, letting the others down. Giving up the ball every other foray into the final third was in order. Shame to see it all play out.  Also, forgive the revisionism, but the subs that came out were some of the more reliable ones (you can @ me, I probably deserve it), but I understand that Vazquez was gassed when they subbed him.

Really enjoyed Hasler tonight as he had a very good game. Great touches… I’m going to say it : the new NYCFC gaffer is better than the last one… If one was to take a shot for every reference to the ‘small pitch’, you’d have been hammered before the half… Tinnerholm has been having TFC’s lunch all game. Must be hungrier #completeAnalogy... Cannot wait for this Miño kid to get a run out.  He’s going to be outstanding and exciting, I can feel it…

Player Ratings: Bono 6.5, Van der Weil 6, Morrow 6, Auro 6 (Zavaleta 6), Hagglund 6, Bradley 6, Aketxe 6 (Delgado N/A), Hasler 6.5, Vazquez 7 (Ricketts N/A), Osorio 6, Giovinco 6.5

Unused Substitutions: Irwin, Chapman, Telfer, Miño

Author: Mark Hinkley

Mark is a full-time graphic designer, full-time smart ass and full-time logo, stadium and kit nerd. When he isn't writing ridiculous match reports or redesigning logos for his own amusement, he's salivating over the day that promotion and relegation occurs in MLS. You can follow him @kitnerdmark on the twitterz.

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2 Comments

  1. Ok, so it is clear some on the roster want to be elsewhere other than on this team or maybe should not have been put on this roster. Now, this is on Bezbatchenko. What is he going to do about it?

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    • It’s a bizarre malaise. Hard to tell if they’re going through the motions, or waiting for the side to get healthy (or healthier) (which would be messed up as that starting XI might have been missing 2, at least 1). At this stage, it has to be mental.

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