Offense shines, defense struggles in NYCFC win over Dallas

New York City FC edged past FC Dallas 4-3 on a sweltering night in Frisco, Texas. It was a glaringly bad performance from the defense, but the offense delivered just enough to secure an ugly but vital win.

The result wraps up a long road trip in which NYCFC exceeded expectations and looked like a much-improved squad compared to the one that started the season.

Next up for NYCFC is Leagues Cup, offering a chance to rest and rotate – or make a statement – before the final stretch of the MLS regular season.

NYCFC Player Ratings: Rate the New York City FC players

NYCFC squeezed past FC Dallas in a wild 4-3 road win thanks to a hat trick from Alonso Martínez, ending their season-long road trip on a high note.

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Shore, he’ll score

Jonathan Shore opened the scoring in Dallas with his first goal of the season - a historic moment that also made him the youngest goalscorer in NYCFC's history. The 18-year-old midfielder nodded home a perfect cross from Maxi Moralez, who put in another superb performance with two assists on the night.

Shore has impressed this season with his composure and passing in midfield, but he hasn’t been a scoring threat until now. Entering the match, he averaged just 0.6 shots and 0.09 shots on target per game with a modest 0.62 expected goals (xG) total on the year. Cut the young midfielder some slack, though, because he doesn’t have as much MLS experience as others on this squad.

Despite only seeing the first half against Dallas, he delivered the goal with his one shot, with a surprisingly low 0.07 xG. His impact was undeniable, and he got NYCFC going in this game. His goal also ensured that NYCFC secured a critical win and 7th place in the Eastern Conference heading into Leagues Cup play.

He's quickly becoming a fan favorite – and with good reason.

Can we talk about Alonso and Maxi?

The long-awaited debut of new designated player, Nico Fernández, came against Dallas when he entered as a substitute in the 61st minute – replacing Hannes Wolf, who had registered an assist of his own. Fans saw glimpses of what they expect from Nico, who assisted late in the match, but the real standouts of the night were Maxi Moralez and Alonso Martínez.

Both Moralez and Martínez had spectacular, game-saving performances. Moralez put on a masterclass, assisting twice with precision and trademark vision.

Even more impressive, though, were the three goals from Martínez that beat Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes with confident, creative finishes. His first goal: he controlled the ball with a silky first touch, proceeded with an explosive burst through the defense, and topped off with an awkward finish, but it worked.

His second came from a well-timed run followed by a clever near-post shot. He sealed the win – and a hat trick – in the 84th when he ran behind the Dallas defense, got picked out by Nico, and rounded Paes to score into an empty net.

Martínez even thought he was being subbed off after that, only to get another opportunity on goal before exiting. It was spoiled, but it was another sign of his relentless energy and ability to create moments of danger.

The Costa Rican’s finishing ability continues to wow and prove that he is indispensable to NYCFC. A nice first assist by Nico, who will likely have a more involved role the rest of the season, but the linkup between Martinez and Moralez is alive and well.

We saw Nico enter on the wing, but there is little doubt that he will eventually be deployed in the middle as the central playmaker. With Moralez playing at this level, though, this transition might not happen as quickly as expected. There might only be room for one of the two Argentine playmakers – and Moralez isn’t going quietly.

A very leaky defense

There was a collective groan when, midweek, the club announced that defender Thiago Martins would be out for four-to-six weeks after undergoing knee surgery. There was speculation over who would replace Thiago Martins for the time being, with Strahinja Tanasijević the defender expected to get the nod. When the starting lineups were announced, however, Tayvon Gray had been shifted from right-back to center-back instead, with Tanasijević on the bench.

What followed was a defensive performance that felt more like damage control than strategy, with NYCFC conceding three goals. They made error after error – and it was a collectively poor performance from the backline, Matt Freese included. Usual standouts Justin Haak and Kevin O’Toole struggled under pressure. Haak lacked his usual intensity and solidity, and O’Toole struggled under pressure, making rushed decisions and looking indecisive.

New York City 4-3 Dallas: 4 Thoughts

New York City FC heads into Leagues Cup with the momentum of a wild 4-3 win in Dallas and a three-match unbeaten run to close out their longest road trip of the season.

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When Tanasijević replaced Mitja Ilenič at the start of the second half and Gray shifted back to his natural right back role, it was clear that Pascal Jansen didn’t believe the Gray-at-CB experiment worked. The vibe is that there isn’t much belief in Tanasijević right now – for many fans, the arrival of Raul Gustavo can’t come soon enough.

Despite the defensive frailty, this is a significant result: NYCFC can win a game on the road without key players and show the kind of grit and resilience they’ve lacked at times this season.  It was messy, but it’s the kind of fight and the mentality needed to build belief for a playoff run.