Substitute Jesus Medina finalized the first MLS brace of his career when he converted a game-winning penalty in second-half stoppage time, lifting New York City FC into first place in the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 victory over the 10-man New England Revolution at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The victory lifts the Cityzens two points clear of the Philadelphia Union and still with a match in hand, which they'll play this Wednesday at home against Toronto.
Medina's penalty followed the second influential Video Review of the match, during which Silviu Petrescu ruled Andrew Farrell had taken down Alexandru Mitrita inside the area. The first resulted in the ninth-minute dismissal of Antonio Mlinar Delamea for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity when he brought down Valentin Castellanos. Petrescu initially ruled the infraction only worth a caution.
Medina entered the game in the 60th minute and leveled the game in the 70th minute, smashing in Alex Ring's service tantalizing service from the right flank.
Juan Fernando Caicedo gave the Revs a dream start when he put the visitors in front after only two minutes, but New England's ranks were reduced only seven minutes later. The defeat leaves the Revs missing a chance to move above the New York Red Bulls into fifth place in the East.
SeatGeek has great deals for upcoming MLS matches
GET TICKETS
Official Ticketing Partner of Major League Soccer
Goals
- 2' - NE - Juan Fernando Caicedo | WATCH
- 70' - NYC - Jesus Medina | WATCH
- 90'+6' - NYC - Jesus Medina (PK) | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: City may finally be in the lead in the East, but the job is far from complete. After facing Toronto, the remaining teams on NYCFC's schedule all currently sit above the playoff line in their respective conferences, and the last two are on the road.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Aside from Ferrell himself, there wasn't much argument on the result of the afternoon's second Video Review. The first, however, had Revs' manager Bruce Arena visibly angry, and undeniably changed the flow of the remaining 81 minutes plus stoppage time.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Jesus Medina. Until the dying moments, it looked like this would be given to Revs goalkeeper Matt Turner, who finished with nine saves, including a few of the sensational variety. But Medina showed the composure the hosts needed with striker Heber out injured. The steel necessary to drive home an emphatic, game-winning penalty in his first action in a month should not be underestimated.
Up Next
- NYC: Wednesday, Sept. 11 vs. Toronto FC (7 pm ET | TSN 4/5, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US)
- NE: Saturday, Sept. 14 at Orlando City SC (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US and on DAZN in Canada)
