NYCFC blew a 3-1 lead, falling disastrously in a 4-3 defeat to Atlanta United on the road.
Before the match, manager Pascal Jansen stressed that his squad needed to remain consistent in every aspect of the game to climb the table. A solid run of results over Orlando City, the New England Revolution, and Columbus Crew showed that the team had made slight progress from its early season struggles.
Though Jansen emphasized consistency, all pre-game platitudes were forgotten as City’s backline conceded multiple goals despite initially taking a 3-1 lead.
NYCFC started the game sharp, controlling possession early and pressing high to keep Atlanta on the back foot. The intensity paid off in the 15th minute when a failed clearance from the Five Stripes allowed Alonso Martinez to get on the loose ball and take a shot. Hannes Wolf quickly buried the rebound to put the Pigeons up 1-0.
As the game progressed, the Boys in Blue stayed defensively compact, limiting Atlanta’s attacking chances while maintaining 58% possession in the first half. Martinez had another golden opportunity to extend the lead in the 32nd minute but failed to sort his footwork out in time to get a clean shot.
Despite City’s dominance, Atlanta found an equalizer right before halftime, with Aleksey Miranchuk slotting one home in the 42nd minute.
NYCFC responded in quick succession when Martinez won and converted a penalty, followed by Wolf’s second goal of the night in the 48th and 52nd minutes, respectively.
The momentum shifted in the 62nd minute, however, when a Keaton Parks own goal gave Atlanta a lifeline, cutting the lead to 3-2. Miguel Almiron pulled them level in the 75th minute, and Emmanuel Latte Lath sealed the comeback with a game-winning goal in the 84th minute, handing NYCFC its second loss of the year.
“Yeah, it’s something we didn’t anticipate, especially if you look at our squad coming out of the dressing room in the [second half],” Jansen said when asked about defensive failures.
“We had the momentum, then obviously there was the own goal, which brings a little bit more energy to the opponent, but still there was nothing going [for Atlanta offensively]. Then there was a phase defensively where we switched off and allowed them to get crosses into the box. We didn’t defend the box well enough like we did last weekend in Columbus, and you get punished for a few errors made.”
Even though NYCFC had more shots on target (seven) and controlled 59% of possession, defensive mistakes were costly. Ultimately, lapses in concentration and a lack of composure at the back were the difference between three points and zero for the Pigeons.
“I thought we didn’t respond well enough after we conceded the second goal,” Jansen stated.
“Like we did last week, [against Columbus where] we were very decisive in defense. That [defensive toughness] was off in the final part of this game, and that’s why you concede a few unnecessary goals today.”
As the team looks to brush off this poor result, there is one positive to take away.
Offensively, NYCFC looked its most threatening to date, amassing an expected goal tally (the probability a shot will result in a goal) of 1.99 to Atlanta’s 1.71. While statistically, City created better chances, the game outcome fell short of manager and fan expectations.
As the team prepares for its next match, finding a balance between attacking prowess and defensive stability will be crucial.
NYCFC will resume its MLS campaign on April 6 at Yankee Stadium against Minnesota United.
