Cushing Reaction: “Maxi Moralez Was Exceptional.”

June 29, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – New York City FC News Release

New York City Football Club Interim Head Coach Nick Cushing has hailed Maxi Moralez’s influence after his side’s spirited comeback draw against FC Cincinnati.

The Boys in Blue fell to a three-nil deficit inside the first thirty minutes on Wednesday before rousing to score three goals in seven minutes to enter the half all square. Goals from Talles Magno and Héber evened things up, with Maxi Moralez the chief architect on the night registering three assists. That fact was not lost on Cushing and speaking to reporters after the game he was keen to celebrate the veteran playmaker.

“I thought Maxi was exceptional in the game with and without the ball – the leadership that he’s shown I thought was top level,” he said before later adding. “He was a real heartbeat of the team and really spurred us on and dragged us over the line at three nil down to get back in the game.”

The 37-year-old also praised the spirit and resilience of his team on a night when they scored four unanswered goals to lead the game midway through the second half – Gabriel Pereira scoring a sensational effort from distance to give NYCFC an advantage before Brenner later equalized.

“We’re pleased with the point because we were three-nil down, but we also know that this is not the game that we want,” he said. “We want more control, we don’t want to give teams a three-nil head start, But the spirit of the group, the heart of our group, that togetherness, just shows that they won’t be beaten and they’re not going to lie down.”

“Even when we missed the penalty that could have taken the life out of us, but it didn’t, it just spurred us on. Of course it was a crazy game that had a little bit of everything, but after two days rest I think we should be pleased maybe with a point.”

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