Five Points: a Stroke of Genius

March 5, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – New York City FC News Release

New York City Football Club picked up our first point of the 2023 MLS season with a 1-1 draw at Chicago Fire.

Gabriel Pereira was on the scoresheet at Soldier Field, breaking the deadlock before Fabian Herbers leveled with 15 minutes remaining.

Here are Five Points from Saturday’s encounter…

Shoots Of Progress

Following the opening day defeat to Nashville SC, Nick Cushing had called for improvement with his side having struggled to control the game in Tennessee.

With a week on the training pitch to have ironed things out, the difference was immediately noticeable with a much-improved first half display in Illinois.

City looked much more threatening in the final third – more direct and playing at a quicker tempo – and were unlucky not to have gone ahead through Andres Jasson who struck the woodwork, before Pereira broke the deadlock, finishing off a nicely-worked team move.

Chasing a route back into the game, Chicago were fired up in the second half and clawed themselves level when Herbers smashed in a deflated effort after a free-kick had only been half-cleared.

Though the Boys in Blue will have been disappointed not to have maintained the lead to hold out for the win, and will be frustrated to have conceded from another set piece, there were most definitely encouraging signs of better things to come.

Precision From Pereira

Another Gabby golazo!

The Brazilian loves trip to Chicago… and just like he did in 2022, he bagged a glorious effort in Illinois. While last season’s strike had been an outrageous long-range rocket, this one was a beautifully-crafted curling effort that caressed the post on its way in.

Pereira had already looked lively, dancing down the right flank, before the opener, and produced a moment of magic to bag the Club’s first goal of the new campaign.

Employing the high press, Cushing’s side twice won the ball back in the Chicago half through Keaton Parks and Braian Cufré, and the ball was helped on to Pereira just inside the area. Showing excellent composure, 21-year-old opened his body up and angled the perfect finish into the far corner – a finish that is quickly becoming his trademark, and set the City Boys and running for the new campaign.

Head Coach Cushing highlighted Pereira as a key cog in NYCFC’s attacking machine, and after tallying nine goals and four assists in his debut campaign, the Brazilian will look to emulate his 2022 return this term. Watch this…