Fireworks on the pitch: NYCFC wins sixth consecutive match against Toronto FC | OneFootball

On a warm Thursday night, New York City FC welcomed Toronto FC to the Bronx for their second match of the season between the two sides.  The Boys in Blue previously beat the Reds in Canada, and subsequently were looking to beat them for the sixth time in a row in all competitions.  Thanks to a clinical performance in the final third, the home team won 3-1.

Before the game, there were a few questions about whether Alonso Martínez would start since he returned from playing with Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.  Clearly, Pascal Jansen felt enough time had gone by between Sunday’s game and Thursday’s NYCFC match, and that the player was ready to go.  The Pigeons needed their striker, but surprisingly, he did not play his best game and was scoreless on the night.

Meanwhile, Jansen went with Birk Risa at left-back, leaving Kevin O’Toole and Nico Cavallo on the bench.  This has been an interesting decision, for this move has not always worked out.  Nevertheless, that was the coaching decision, and it did work out in this match.

While NYCFC was not constantly threatening Toronto, the difference between this fixture and the loss to CF Montréal was that the Bronx team was clinical in the final third.  The effort was not lackluster by any means, and they actually won a game that they were supposed to win on paper.

NYCFC’s goals lead to 3-1 win

Heading into the match, fans wanted the stadium to light up with goals, like many places around the country will light up with fireworks this weekend.  They wanted to be entertained and for NYCFC to win.

At first, while the Pigeons led in possession, the team struggled to maintain possession in their attacking third.  Toronto FC did well, even throughout the full game, to limit the home side’s chances.  However, that did not stop the fireworks on the pitch.  The Boys in Blue did enough to score multiple times.

In the 20th minute, NYCFC finally found the back of the net after going scoreless in the last game.  Mitja Ilenič picked out Hannes Wolf and fired the ball toward the winger.  With one touch, Wolf shot the ball toward the goal, and it hit the right post.  Thankfully, the ball bounced right to the left post and went past the line in a pinball-like fashion.  This was the Austrian’s sixth goal in six matches, and the hope that he will be consistent throughout the season continues to grow.

That was not the craziest goal of the night, though.  In the 49th minute, Aiden O’Neill sent the ball flying to Agustín Ojeda, who speedily ran up the right side of the pitch.  He made it close to the end line and sent the ball into the box.  However, and this is debatable, Ilenič was standing there and awkwardly deflected the ball into the goal.  Whether it was intentional is questionable, but the young right-back secured the team’s second of the night.

The Slovenian was not the only defender to score.  Kevin O’Toole, who came on as a substitute in the 70th minute, scored just four minutes later.  Wolf’s pretty pass to the left-back allowed him to run right at Sean Johnson and stick the ball between the former NYCFC goalkeeper’s legs.

This win was exactly what NYCFC needed.  They will play their next four league games on the road, so winning at home will help the Pigeons during this tough stretch.  Sure, it was not perfect, since they allowed an own goal.  But they got the job done, and now fans can enter the long weekend happy.