NYCFC looks to bounce back against MLS leaders Inter Miami on Saturday after a 5-1 defeat to the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday evening.
NYCFC found itself down 3-1 at half-time, with striker Alonso Martinez pulling one back for the hosts just before the break. The team looked better in the second half, testing Union keeper Andrew Rick six times but was unable to find a way through as the Union added two more in the 74th and 85th minutes.
“The result is the result, and we have to accept that,” NYCFC head coach Nick Cushing said. “You have to use the frustration and the impact of it as fuel for the reaction. They have to not overlook the good bit, but to also fix those areas that need fixing quickly. And I think the one thing that our group has shown is, when the big pressure games come around, they can deliver. And, there’s no bigger game than this.”
NYCFC remains sixth in the Eastern Conference and are 13 points adrift Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in the top spot. They are also wary of falling out of the playoff spots, with only seven points separating them and 10th place D.C. United and five matches to go.
The team have found itself in a rut of form of late in the league, going eight games without a win since a 2-0 win against the Montréal Impact.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese believes a win against a star-studded Inter Miami side that also contains the likes of Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, will be the spark NYCFC need to push for a top four finish — which guarantees two home games in the first round of the MLS Cup.
“I think it’s one of those situations where we need a little bit of an ignition, a switch,” Freese said. “As soon as one of these games goes our way, I think we’re going to go on a run, and we need to put ourselves in position to do that.”
The last time both sides faced each other, NYCFC fought for a 1-1 draw where Martinez canceled out an early Suarez goal.
“It’s kind of every young player’s dream, and it’ll be a privilege to share the field with him again we did last year in the Noche D’Or match,” forward Kevin O’Toole said of facing Messi. “To do it in a real, meaningful game is going to be exciting. Definitely relishing the challenge and excited to see him on the field.”
Messi recently returned from an injury suffered in the Copa America Final, coming back as a starter against the Union on Saturday, Sept. 14, and scoring a brace. Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino confirmed Messi’s involvement against Atlanta United, in which he came on as a second-half substitute on Wednesday evening, and against NYCFC, although his involvement in the match is yet to be determined.
The match, to be kicked off at Yankee Stadium at 2 p.m ET., is expected to be a sell-out, with many neutral fans expected to see one of the biggest, if not the biggest, names in the global game. However, Cushing believes this shouldn’t be a factor for his team.
“We’ve got guys that have played in front of big crowds, whether it be the MLS cup or different games around the league,” Cushing said. “ But for this group, it’s more of a driver and an opportunity, that it would be anything that would breed fear or anxiety.”
“I think we’ll be welcoming new fans, so the best we can do is just put out a performance for them that’ll keep them excited and wanting to come back.,” O’Toole said. “Obviously, the result is the most important thing and I think if we can capture a result against that team, the fans will be eager to come back.”
