Three points are finally in the bag for New York City Football Club (NYCFC) after a nervy, come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Toronto FC at Yankee Stadium.
Goals from Santiago Rodriguez in the 24th minute and a header by Kevin O’Toole in the 64th minute — his first-ever MLS goal — overturned an early deficit after Toronto’s Jahkeele Marshall-Ruty struck just seven minutes in. This was NYCFC’s first win this MLS season after three straight losses.
“I’m just so happy for the team,” O’Toole said. “Obviously, it wasn’t the start that we wanted to the season, and to be able to contribute to it with a goal, my first goal in MLS, it’s an unbelievable feeling. I just feel so proud for the guys and it’s a great launchpad to continue from here.”
New York’s win did not come without a suddenly familiar tinge of foreboding uncertainty down the stretch. Just four minutes after O’Toole’s goal, midfielder Keaton Parks was shown a red card for a late stomp to the ankle of Toronto’s Kobe Franklin to put NYCFC a man down for the final 22 minutes.
This came just one week after a late collapse against the Portland Timbers in which they squandered a 1-0 lead in the final minutes, giving up two goals in the 85th and 97th minutes for a demoralizing loss. But one week of what head coach Nick Cushing described as “constructive” work, New York held firm to stifle the hot-starting Canadian squad
“I was proud of the reaction and the response of the team, and it only confirmed and solidified my ongoing belief that the group is together and that everybody is moving forward in the right direction within the camp,” Cushing said. “So it gives confidence, it’s payback for good work, and it reinforces the process. That is the most important part, that on the journey when you take the knocks, you have to go through the process.”
Despite losing those three points painfully two weeks ago, Cushing’s side has shown significant improvement in terms of its aggression and intensity. Over its last two matches, New York has put 15 shots on goal compared to just three over its first two games of the MLS campaign.
“I think it’s just development,” Cushing said. “We’re really pleased with many areas of our offensive game, but ultimately, the most important, critical area is shots on goal and the chances created… We had a really good 68 minutes today [before the red card], so we’re improving [and] we’re going for 90. We get 90 out, then we make you guys really happy.”
