By Juan Carlos Maygua
Decision Day arrived for NYCFC as they hosted Philadelphia Union in the Bronx. The final game of the regular season still had things to settle with the Boys In Blue. The golden boot race for Valentin Castellanos, and the option for a better ranking position with a win or a draw. The playoffs may be secured, but the team wanted to close the regular season positively.
NYCFC started aggressively, attacking from the wings and having Santiago Rodriguez dribbling in that part of the field. In a strange transition, by the 15th minute, Philadelphia was able to settle down and began to pull the strings in midfield. They combined this with high pressure, causing NYCFC to have less possession of the ball. Gedion Zelalem made an unfortunate tackle in midfield and left the game with a red card in the 21st minute. The play was originally ruled with a yellow card but the VAR quickly overturned that decision. An unfortunate situation for Zelalem, he was given the chance to start and saw the red. Playing with 10 men would have an immediate impact on the game. Philadelphia would open the scoreboard in the 26th minute with a tap-in by Przybylko. Philadelphia opted to turn the game physical and started a series of fouls for and against them. Causing tension among the fans in the stadium. NYCFC held off Philadelphia for the remainder of the half, but things didn’t look well. The team looked frustrated and it needed halftime to assess the situation.
The second half resumed and NYCFC started on the attack. A corner kick connection between Maxi and Castellanos forced a good save by Philadelphia’s goalkeeper. It would be a sign for things to come. The visitors continued to dominate the midfield and used substitutions to either remain in control or go for the win. NYCFC kept attacking down the wings with Santiago Rodriguez and Medina, keeping Castellanos as the main target inside the box. It was NYCFC’s moment and the golden goal would arrive in the 53rd minute thanks to another great connection between Maxi and Castellanos. The stadium saw Taty’s 19th goal of the season with a header that was impossible to reach by the goalkeeper. It was a great cross by Maxi nonetheless.
The tie was a dangerous result to play with, but Medina was denied a second shortly after the equalizer by Castellanos. Philadelphia continued to create dangerous opportunities, but Johnson alongside the defense was able to neutralize the danger. One thing I highlight from Philadelphia is their counterattack speed. A very dangerous asset for sure. Despite all of their dangerous opportunities, the game ended in a draw. The result secured a home game for the boys in blue and awarded Castellanos this season’s golden boot.
The striker enjoyed his best season in the club. He won the award with 19 goals and 8 assists. “I’m happy with the award, it’s a collective effort. But it’s also been a very long season. Now we have two weeks to prepare for Atlanta United”.