3 things we learned as NYCFC dropped more points at home from Toronto draw | OneFootball

On Friday night, New York City FC welcomed Toronto FC for the teams’ first meeting of the season.  The Pigeons entered the game having won against the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire FC convincingly.  The Reds entered Friday winless in their last 12 games, having last won in Major League Soccer back in April.  And while the home side extended the visitors’ streak to 13, their winning streak of six games against Toronto came to an end.

NYCFC and Toronto FC split the points in a 1-1 draw, which kept the Pigeons’ unbeaten streak against the team alive and extended it to seven matches.  Nevertheless, two points were dropped at home, and the result ultimately felt like a loss.  After all, the Canadian side is once again struggling this year; on paper, this should have ended in a win.

Nicolás Fernández Mercau scored the only goal for the Boys in Blue, and that was due to a penalty kick.  Then the Reds tied it up right before halftime thanks to a goal from Djordje Mihailovic, who scored on a rebound.  The Bronx side had multiple chances to score in the second half, but as a whole, they were somewhat lucky not to lose in the end.  The play throughout the game, especially in the first half, had too many poor periods.

The draw at home is not ideal.  So, here are three things we learned from the game between NYCFC and Toronto.

NYCFC and Toronto likely hated the referee

One of the things that NYCFC players and fans and Toronto FC players and fans might agree on is that some of the game was ruined by the referee.  Ramy Touchan did not call multiple fouls committed by both teams, and let play continue too often.  These were clear fouls, and this was more prevalent in the second half.

On the other side, he also blew his whistle on fouls that were barely fouls.  This hurt some of NYCFC’s offensive sequences that should have led to chances at goals. It was like he was being too lackadaisical with certain calls and too harsh on others.  In other words, the referee was not good for either team.

Pascal Jansen’s formation change failed

When Head Coach Pascal Jansen tries something different, he usually will fully adjust his game plan when it does not work.  Against Toronto, he pretty much went with a 4-1-4-1 formation, as Jonathan Shore stayed in the defensive midfield while Andrés Perea played more in the attack.  Then, Talles Magno played as the striker while Bénie Traoré stayed on the left side.  Fernández Mercau also played deeper, which was not the correct move for him.

As such, slight changes were made at the beginning of the second half.  It was clear, though, that the initial plan failed from the start of the match.  It was surprising that Jansen did not direct his team to play more in the 4-2-3-1 formation, the one they are used to, in the middle of the first 45 minutes.

After all, he had the players on the pitch to do so and did not need any subs.  But then when he made the small adjustments in the second half, he should have avoided making substitutions, for something was clicking.  Yes, Traoré might still be on a minutes’ restriction, and that is why he came off for Malachi Jones.  But taking off Agustín Ojeda was clearly the wrong move, for Hannes Wolf was just okay.

Truthfully, Jansen’s substitution choices kept on derailing the energy of what NYCFC had in those first 15 minutes of the second half.  The head coach did not have his best game by any means, and he might be partially to blame for the draw.

NYCFC continues to drop points at home

It has been repeated often in the lead-up to Friday’s match, but on paper, the Bronx side was the better team.  Yes, Toronto is finally getting healthy again.  However, especially at home, NYCFC should have taken all three points.

The fact that they have dropped points at home, again, is kind of upsetting.  Then, to see them not play as well against a 12th-place side that has not won since April after the strong performance against Chicago Fire FC, who remains in fourth place right now, does not make sense.

Now, NYCFC is 4-3-3 at home, meaning they have only won 15 points out of a possible 30 points.  That is not good for the team if the players want to fight for the MLS Cup down the road.  And it does not match what fans are historically used to with the club.  Yankee Stadium and Citi Field used to be fortresses.  Now, that idea seems to be a thing of the past.