NYCFC were back in MLS action on Saturday afternoon as they faced off against Toronto FC. The hosts took the lead when Jesús Jiménez was found with a through ball. They added a second via an own goal from Thiago Martins in the 43rd minute. The Boys in Blue would earn a consolation goal in injury time through substitute Héber. That would finish out the scoring for the day and hand TFC a 2-1 victory on the day.
New York City FC headed north of the border in the search of three points against Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday.
First Half
Head Coach Ronny Deila made two changes to the team that started last time out against Philadelphia Union, with Chris Gloster and Nicolás Acevedo replacing Andres Jasson and Malte Amundsen. It would be the hosts that earned the first real chance of the game when a cutback found Jesús Jiménez free in the box but he failed to keep his effort on target.
NYCFC thought they had earned a penalty moments later in the 9th minute after Talles Magno had his heels clipped. After consultation with VAR, however, the decision was overturned. Undeterred by that setback the Boys in Blue continued to push for an opener as they attempted to control possession in midfield.
In a game of few clear-cut chances it would be the hosts that upset the odds at sbobet and snatched a first-half lead when a through ball by Jonathan Osorio freed Jiménez to slot home. They would double their advantage in the 43rd minute when a whipped delivery by Alejandro Pozuelo was flicked in accidentally by Thiago Martins.
Second Half
The second half saw one change for NYCFC as Gabriel Pereira made his NYCFC debut by replacing Talles Magno. NYCFC continued to push for a route back into the game and in the 58th minute, a well-worked breakaway finished with Keaton Parks driving an effort from distance.
Parks was proving a consistent outlet for NYCFC chances and twice more fired off efforts from the top of the box that forced TFC goalkeeper Alex Bono into good saves.
In the 75th minute, a smart run by Taty Castellanos allowed him to sneak in down the right and fire the ball low toward Santiago Rodríguez, but the Uruguayan could not sort his feet out in time. Deila then turned to his bench for the second time to introduce Thiago Andrade and Gedion Zelalem in place of Maxi Moralez and Parks.
They were joined on the field by Héber in the 84th minute as he replaced Chris Gloster. The Brazilian would earn a consolation goal for NYCFC in the 92nd minute after connecting with a great Alfredo Morales cross to head home. Unfortunately, that would represent the last notable act of the game and confirm a 2-1 loss for NYCFC on the road.
Next up for New York City FC is a Concacaf Champions League first leg game against Seattle Sounders on Wednesday, April 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 PM EST (FS2/NYCFC.com/Radio).