FT: NYCFC 1, Montreal 0

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FT: NYCFC breezes past Montreal in a tidy 1-0 contest!

It wasn’t a barnburner by any means. But NYCFC had a very good performance that got better as the game progressed. I feel that most fans will be satisfied with it.

The only thing that remains a concern is the finishing — it needs to be better. One goal was good enough for three points tonight, but it won’t be a majority of the time. Taty needs to get out of his head or take a seat.

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Three minutes of stoppage time!

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82’: Double substitution! Thiago comes on for Taty Castellanos while Malte Amundsen comes on for Gudi Thorarinsson.

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72’: First change. Keaton Parks comes on for Cacha Acevedo.

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56’: Another big chance! Medina feigns a big touch and lays it off to Shradi. He takes a a good shot on goal, but it strikes the bar. Very unlucky.

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48’: City almost double their lead! Tajouri-Shradi crosses the ball to the far post. Maxi Moralez is there to head it into the middle where Medina meets the ball, but can’t force it past the keeper.

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The second half has begun. Does City have the juice to keep the goals coming?

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HT: NYCFC go into the halftime break with a 1-0 advantage over Montreal.

It was an up-and-down first half for City. Both teams had significant chances to grab the opening goal. But ultimately, it was Ismael Tajouri-Shradi who found the net first and gave his club a much-needed 1-0 advantage.

But NYCFC cannot afford to take their foot off the gas. Scoring multiple goals has been an issue for the past two matchups. Distance is needed.

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34’: Big save from Barraza to stop the shot on the counter. He’s having quite the night tonight. I hope I didn’t just jinx him.

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29’: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAALLLL!!! Shroddy Doddy nets the first!

Luis Barraza lays a big ball down the pitch on a goal kick. The Montreal defender misjudges it, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi bodies him, then chips the keeper to give City the much-needed 1-0 advantage.

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11’: Early on, and both teams are still feeling each other out. Both City and Montreal have threatened, but nobody has seized control of the pace of play yet.

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We’re off in Jersey. I really hate saying that.

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Rosters are out! After sitting last week in place of Thiago, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi returns to the starting lineup against Montreal. Elsewhere, Alfredo Morales gets the start at the 8 over Keaton Parks.

The only real surprise is seeing Luis Barraza back in the lineup. He’s been a bit suspect in Sean Johnson’s absence and maybe tonight would’ve been a good time to see how Mizell does.

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Rosters

New York City FC Starting XI:

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International Duty: Sean Johnson, James Sands
• Injury Report:
• OUT: Heber (knee)
• OUT: Talles Magno (knee)

CF Montreal Starting XI:

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Kiki Struna, Rudy Camacho
• International duty: Samuel Piette, Kamal Miller, Romell Quioto
• Injury Report: N/A

Referees: Ted Unkel (referee); Adam Wienckowski, Ryan Graves (assistant referees); Joshua Encarnacion (4th official); Jose Carlos Rivero (VAR)

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How To Watch

Match date & time: July 21, 2021, 7:30 PM ET

Venue: Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ

Online streaming: YES App (live stream), ESPN+ (out of market)

TV: YES (tape delay)

Local radio: NYCFC.com/radio

The story: New York City FC are a team in desperate need of a win. Having lost their last two games, NYCFC currently find themselves in 7th just barely holding on to a playoff spot. Yes, there is plenty of season left. But should City go into a funk over the summer, it could be difficult to challenge the higher seeds come the fall.

CF Montreal, on the other hand, have had a bit of a turnaround recently. Their current form finds them in 4th place in the Easter Conference and a win tonight could see them go as high as 2nd. Montreal defeated City in a scrappy 2-1 contest a few weeks ago. Expect NYCFC to be seeking revenge.

This post will update with highlights and information as we receive it.