NYCFC found an equalizer twice but poor set piece defending doomed them to another road loss
Life on the road remained unpleasant for New York City FC as they suffered a second straight away loss, falling 3-2 to Charlotte FC. Defensive errors on set pieces once again doomed NYCFC, as Charlotte scored twice on dead-ball deliveries, including a 74th minute free kick that led to the match-deciding Richy Ledezma own goal.
This was a match NYCFC lost despite twice finding an equalizer. Charlotte have now won all three of their meetings with NYCFC, with former NYCFC assistant and current Charlotte coach Christian Lattanzio dominating his ex-employers in the early head-to-head.
That first NYCFC equalizer of the night became a necessity when Charlotte jumped out to a lead only eight minutes in, with Enzo Copetti splitting two NYCFC defenders and emphatically finishing a low cross sent in by McKinze Gaines.
Gabriel Pereira found the first leveler for NYCFC in the 37th minute, the result of a good run onto a well-weighted pass from Richy Ledezma, plus a cool finish by Pereira past Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.
The positive feelings around Pereira’s goal proved to be short-lived, as Charlotte reclaimed the lead almost immediately after the restart. Enzo Copetti got his brace off a corner kick, as he was allowed to run unimpeded through the 18-yard box to attack the delivery, then beat two NYCFC defenders to the ball in the air.
NYCFC started the second half much more brightly than it did the first and got a deserved second equalizing goal in the 57th minute, this time from the penalty spot. Braian Cufré made a rare foray forward into the box and got wiped out by Charlotte defender Adilson Malanda, a clear foul given instantly by referee Chris Penso. Santiago Rodríguez stepped up and powered the spot kick home, and it looked as though NYCFC might be in position to finally steal a first road win this season.
That was not to be, as NYCFC’s attack stagnated in the period right after the Santi PK. Charlotte struck the final blow through yet another NYCFC set piece failure, as Richy Ledezma’s attempt at clearing a free kick turned in to him scoring past his own keeper.
There were perhaps a few more positives to be found in this loss than the dreary, self-destructive one NYCFC suffered last weekend in Toronto. Yet it’s another in a worrying string of losses outside New York City. It’s also a second consecutive defeat to a team that did not qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs a season ago, and one that did not enter the match in one of the nine Eastern Conference playoff spots.
The road ahead does not get easier, as it’s right back into action for NYCFC on Wednesday night away to FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup’s Round of 32–and that’s just an appetizer to the weekend’s Main Event, the first Hudson River Derby of 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. The matches now start coming in rapid succession, and none of them take place in New York until May 27th, so NYCFC will need to find a way to start getting some positive road results if they want to keep the season on track.
Source: hudsonriverblue.com
