“Knee-Jerk Reactions” is Hudson River Blue’s series of what we were thinking throughout the match. We’ll share our unfiltered thoughts on the game at hand — no editing, no revisions. Just raw, pure emotion.

Here were my real-time reactions to New York City FC’s bout with Los Angeles FC, which ended in an exciting 2-2 draw.

First Half

PG: Sebastien Ibeagha getting the start tonight over Maxime Chanot. Must be an injury thing...

4’: Those LED boards are awfully close to the field, aren’t they?

8’: Can already tell that a lot of soft fouls will be called tonight

13’: Nice alley-oop, David Villa! 1-0

15’: That clearance from Anton Tinnerholm was clutch

19’: Villa probably should’ve taken a touch on that one

22’: Welp.

26’: This could get ugly if NYCFC don’t get over that own goal

34’: WAKE UP!!!!!

45+3: Bob Bradley just pronounced VAR as “vahr” as opposed to “V-A-R”.

Second Half

48’: NYCFC still on their back foot at the beginning of the half. They need to get some offense going

50’: Almost took the lead there

54’: ALMOST DID IT AGAIN!!!

60’: This game is getting scrappy

63’: That was close

67’: Annnnnd LAFC takes the lead. Perfect.

71’: Every LAFC attack has been dangerous in the second half

75’: What goal from Tajouri-Shradi off the bench! 2-2

77’: Jesus Medina almost had a goal there

84’: This game has gotten super physical

90’+5: I honestly don’t know what that VAR replay was all about, but the good news is that our two-year streak of not losing two games in a row continues on. Fair result.

Thank you for reading my mid-game ramblings. See you all next week!