NYCFC produced a stirring comeback – and survived a late scare – to defeat Toronto FC 5-4 in a wild nine-goal thriller at Citi Field.
Goals from Taty Castellanos, Thiago, Santiago Rodríguez, Keaton Parks and a first goal for Gabriel Pereira secured a deserved win after Toronto had raced into a two-goal first half lead.
That made it 11 goals in two games for Ronny Deila’s side and continued NYCFC’s rise up the Eastern Conference after they held on despite Alfredo Morales’s red card and two late Toronto goals.
Full highlights from a wild win in the World's Borough 🎥💥 #ForTheCity pic.twitter.com/rSdeddrpws
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) April 25, 2022
Following the 6-0 win over Real Salt Lake last Sunday, Head Coach Ronny Deila made one enforced change to the XI for one.
Keaton Parks came into the XI in place of the injured Thiago Martins for the Boys in Blue as they returned to host a game at Citi Field for the first time since the heartbreaking 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs defeat to the same opposition.
First Half
Despite a dominant opening to the game, NYCFC somehow found themselves two goals down in the first half as Jesus Jiménez continued his excellent form with a brace, with the goals arriving either side of a VAR-disallowed strike from Castellanos.
A lesser side may have buckled but Castellanos would not be denied, sliding home a goal from close range to reduce the deficit seven minutes before the halftime break.
Second HalfThat goal proved to be perfectly timed as NYCFC shot out of the blocks from the second half’s first whistle, scoring four straight goals to turn the match around in explosive style.
Thiago was a constant menace down the right flank throughout and got the goal his showing warranted with a tap home from close range on 49’, arriving onto the assist from his compatriot, Talles Magno.
Two became three just five minutes later when Rodríguez rifled into the far corner after a stunning interception from Alexander Callens promoted a lightning counter attack deep in Toronto territory.
Keaton Parks was next to tally with a close range finish four minutes later on 58’, making it three goals in 10 minutes, before second half substitute Pereira sublimely stroked in his first NYCFC goal to surely put the home team out of sight.
However, the visitors had other ideas, netting two late goals on either side of Alfredo Morales’s second yellow which saw his side reduced to 10 men. Despite the man deficit and some late long balls into City territory, NYC held out and secured back-to-back wins.
UP NEXT
San Jose Earthquakes are the visitors to Yankee Stadium next Sunday at 1pm. TV Schedule here.