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FT: NYCFC leave San Carlos with a big 5-3 win in the away leg!
It started off great, got ugly for a bit... but the Boys in Blue composed themselves and will return to the States with 5 away goals and a two-goal lead on aggregate. It wasn’t the prettiest game ever. But the Deila Era is off to a cracking start!
90’+1: PENALTY! Maxi draws it!
The diminutive Argentinian will step up to take the spot kick and... it’s saved.
BUT... Alexandru Mitrita puts in the rebound! 5-3 NYCFC, what a game. Phew!
87’: Game is wide open now.
79’: San Carlos’ Browne scores a stunner. NYCFC have let this slip away a bit since the fourth goal. It’s 4-3, NYCFC are hanging on
75’: Big save by Johnson!
72’: Assuming Chanot is OK, NYCFC can’t afford an injury. They are all out of substitutions.
63’: San Carlos is hanging in there and scores a second. Sands looked kinda out of it there. 4-2, NYCFC
61’: GOOOOOOOOOAAALLLLL!!!! The good times keep on rolling!
Mitrita delivers a delicious ball on the wide free kick. Alex Callens runs onto the end of it and pushes it in, easy as you like. 4-1 NYCFC. I love this!
61. THAT'S FOUR! #ForTheCity
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) February 21, 2020
1-4 pic.twitter.com/yjZi6JWgaw
56’: Crowd is almost dead silent. Goes to show how dominant NYCFC have been so far. Everyone is pulling their weight and the chances have piled on.
51’: HANDBALL IN THE BOX! The referee has pointed to the spot!
Héber will step up to take it and... NAILS IT!!! Hat trick for the Brazilian, and NYCFC pulls further ahead 3-1!
52. He's got his hat-trick from the spot! ⚽️⚽️⚽️
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) February 21, 2020
1-3 pic.twitter.com/YMdPgbNMqQ
Second half is underway! Can NYCFC keep the magic going and pull away?
HT: NYCFC lead San Carlos 2-1 after a mostly-great first half!
Despite switching off for a second towards the end there, City will be mostly satisfied with their performance in the first half which saw star striker Héber grab a brace to give his team two of those precious road goals.
Should they stay solid at the back and continue to give San Carlos fits in transition, this could be an explosive second half to this one.
45’: San Carlos pulls one back before the half. NYCFC still lead 2-1.
35’: GOOOOOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! Héber grabs his brace!
Tinnerholm finds the space on the right to center a ball. The Brazilian forward redirects it into the far post and extends NYCFC’s lead to 2-0. Things could literally not be going any better for the Boys in Blue right now.
Big @AntonTinnerholm x @Heber__Araujo pic.twitter.com/3xzp71Udzs
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) February 21, 2020
33’: Anton Tinnerholm plays some emergency defense there. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked. City still lead
22’: NYCFC continues to apply the pressure! Is it too soon to say that this is the best they’ve looked in a long time?
13’: GOOOOOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! New York City get their first CCL tally!
Matarrita slips a ball towards the six-yard box where star talisman Héber taps it home. Phenomenal start to this game!
Héber like he never left.
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) February 21, 2020
Mata with the assist in his old haunt. pic.twitter.com/FLVQ5vIpET
4’: Yikes. First, Medina is denied by the keeper. Ring would soon have a chance after that which was also saved. The rebound fell to Keaton Parks, who pops it too high. You need to score there.
And here we go! NYCFC in blue, San Carlos in red. The CCL has officially begun!
Lineups are out! Maxi Moralez will start this one on the bench. Other than that, a very strong lineup for the Boys in Blue in this one!
Rosters
New York City Starting XI:
XI | Johnson; Tinnerholm, Chanot, Callens, Matarrita; Sands, Ring, Parks; Medina, Héber, Mitriță
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) February 21, 2020
Subs | Stuver, Ibeagha, Scally, Thórarinsson, Moralez, Castellanos, Mackay-Steven#NYCFC | #SCCL2020 pic.twitter.com/azxMRClGXI
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International Duty: None
- Injury Report: N/A
San Carlos Starting XI:
Así alinean Los Toros para el partido de esta noche
— AD San Carlos (@adsancarlos) February 21, 2020
Octavos de Final @TheChampions 2020
⚽️ San Carlos - @NYCFC
⏰ 7:00 pm
Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.
General ₡ 2.500
ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/F2QB8uNcD5
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
- Injury Report: N/A
- Referees: N/A
How To Watch
Match date & time: February 20, 2020, 8:00 pm ET
Venue: Estadia Alejandro Morero Soto, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Online streaming: Fox Sports GO
TV: FS2
Local radio: N/A
The story: The first competitive match of New York City FC’s 2020 campaign is upon us, as the club travels down to Costa Rica to take on AD San Carlos in their debut CONCACAF Champions League appearance. This will be the first leg of the two-legged Round of 16 tie.
NYCFC’s descent down south also signifies Ronny Deila’s first competitive match as manager of the club since being given the position last month. First impressions are everything, and you better believe that a strong start against San Carlos would inspire tons of confidence from the club’s supporters as we transition into a new era.
A good away leg could put NYCFC firmly in the driver’s seat when they travel back to the States to play their “home” leg at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
This post will update with highlights and information as we receive it.
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