NYCFC are rollin'.
Dome Torrent's side went to Dignity Sports Health Park and defeated the LA Galaxy 2-0, behind first-half goals from Heber and Maxi Moralez. They have now won four of their last five matches, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Galaxy are trending in the opposite direction, losers of three consecutive games.
Heber gave NYCFC the lead in the first half, tapping home a rebound following an Anton Tinnerholm shot. He has three goals and three assists in his first seven appearances (five starts) since joining the club. Then, just moments before halftime, NYCFC doubled their advantage as Moralez converted a penalty after twice missing from the spot previously in 2019.
The second goal was subject to a VAR check for both offside and a potential penalty, eventually ruling that Tinnerholm was onside and that Uriel Antuna was guilty of a handball on the Swede's attempted cross. Prior to NYCFC's goals, Ibrahimovic thought he broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 27th minute, but the offside flag raised as the 37-year-old tapped into an empty net.
Fresh off their injury absences and snubs from the US U-20 World Cup roster, teenagers James Sands and Julian Araujo each started for their clubs. Recent Galaxy signing Giancarlo Gonzalez made his first start for the club, as Guillermo Barros Schelotto opted for a back three from the start, before switching to a back-four at halftime.
Goals
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: Are NYCFC back? It certainly feels that way. They have just one loss this season and are starting to turn those frustrating draws into wins, particularly on the road with victories at Montreal Impact, D.C. United and now the Galaxy away from Yankee Stadium.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: After surprisingly struggling from 12-yards, Moralez scoring from the spot surely helped exorcize some demons.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Anton Tinnerholm. He dominated the right flank and created both goals, even if he wasn't credited with assists. It's been a stellar campaign so far for the Swede.
Up next
- LA: Sunday, May 19 vs Colorado Rapids (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN in US, on DAZN in Canada)
- NYC: Saturday, May 25 at Chicago Fire (3:30 pm ET | Univision in US, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
