I think it’s safe to say NYCFC dominated their Wednesday match against Charlotte FC.
The home side certainly passed the ‘eye test’, as the Citi Field faithful were treated to some sweeping, side-to-side, back-to-front football from the hosts, resulting in cross after cross, shot after shot and ultimately, missed chance after missed chance for the Pigeons.
The stats tell the same story. NYCFC led xG battle by 1.85 to 0.19, the possession struggle by 58% to 42%, and outshot their opponents by an incredible 21 to 3.
The result? NYCFC’s league-leading 10th draw of the season, with the scoreline finishing 1-1.
To say finishing played a role in this result would be an understatement, but to sit down and write an entire article on NYCFC’s need for a true number 9 feels downright unoriginal at this point. Hell, that conversation has been all but beaten to death in MLS circles of late.
But, given how this match played out, and given the rumors swirling on Twitter recently, the narrative feels impossible to ignore at the moment.
This match was truly a center forward’s dream. Charlotte all but abandoned the flanks, giving wing-backs Braian Cufré and Mitja Ilenić all kinds of space to bomb down their respective touch lines and serve balls into the box.
In total, NYCFC whipped in a whopping 17 crosses. But, without the proper runs being made, and without a natural no. 9 to attack these balls, all 17 of these opportunities went begging.
Beyond the crosses, NYCFC (and Talles Magno in particular) found some good space in-behind the Charlotte back line on a few occasions, but just couldn’t convert their 1v1 opportunities either.
Regardless of how the chances came, City’s attackers just never looked poised enough to put them away.
But among the usual chatter in the NYCFC Twittersphere about team performance, stadium atmosphere, refereeing decisions, and general game-day banter, there was another set of conversations swirling in ways the City faithful aren’t used to of late: transfer rumors.
Better yet – transfer rumors for strikers.
According to NYCFC.Source and others on Twitter, there are actually two names linked with a move to the blue half of New York, with both coming out of Croatia.
The first is the Algerian center forward, Monsef Bakrar, who plays his club football at NK Instra, and tallied 8 goals and 3 assists at age 22 in SuperSport HNL, Croatia’s top division.
The second name, Matija Frigan, carries a bit more weight by virtue of his recent Golden Boy nomination. His impressive campaign with HNK Rijeka saw the 20-year-old tally 14 goals and 3 assists at just 20 years of age.
While the status of these bids and the potential of these transfers still appear to be very much pending, the necessity for these signings feels like they’re at an all-time high.
With just 12 matches left in the MLS calendar, and with the playoff line looming larger and larger with each passing week, NYCFC has serious work to do if they’re to keep their 7-year post-season streak alive.
But, without a proper center forward in the door soon, matches like these against Charlotte could continue to feel all too predictable.
So, my fingers are crossed for Bakrar or Frigan … or anybody. Because at this point, it feels very possible our playoff hopes lay in the hands of a striker who’s yet to don NYCFC colors.
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