Halftime Notes: NYCFC vs. Orlando City

New York City FC currently lead 1-0 over Orlando City after 45 minutes. Here are some key takeaways:

• Funky Cold Medina! Jesus Medina scored his team-leading 7th goal to give City the lead. While you could argue that Taty Castellanos did all the dirty work, it was a stone cold near-post finish from Medina. A big goal indeed.
• Have a spine. NYCFC’s backline have been great thus far. The combo of Anton Tinnerholm, Alex Callens, Maxime Chanot, and Malte Amundsen have kept Orlando from getting any significant chances thus far, keeping backup goalkeeper Luis Barraza from having to do much to this point.
• Maxi-mum effort! For the second straight week, manager Ronny Deila has deployed attacking midfielder Maxi Moralez on the left wing while allowing Medina to fill in the No. 10 spot. Supposedly, this is to get more mobility in the middle. And so far, it looks like a decent shout. Maxi has been good distributing from the wide area while Medina’s goal seems to suggest he knows what he’s doing in the attacking midfield. Still early, but encouraging.
• City’s game to lose. With that precious lead going into the second half, NYCFC control their own destiny. With options like Thiago and Santi Rodriguez waiting on the bench, it can only be presumed the Bronx Blues will continue to be dangerous going in the nitty gritty. So long as the mistakes are kept to a minimum, NYCFC have three points staring them in the face.