MLS

NYCFC Edges Out D.C. United 

Defender Alexander Callens Departs New York City Football Club 

March 18, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS)New York City FC News Release

New York City Football Club Goals: Talles Magno 17′, Rodriguez 36′, Thiago Andrade 89′

D.C. United Goals: Benteke 46′, Birnbaum 90′

Quick Read

New York City Football Club were hunting for a second successive win on Saturday night as they welcomed D.C. United to Yankee Stadium. A 17th-minute goal from Talles Magno opened the scoring after a slick team move involving Keaton Parks and Braian Cufré. NYCFC doubled their lead 19 minutes later after Santiago Rodríguez was played in down the right to calmly slot the ball home. A second-half header from Christian Benteke reduced the deficit before Thiago Andrade restored the two-goal cushion. Steve Birnbaum would find the net from a corner to make for a nervy final few minutes.


Match Recap

Returning to Yankee Stadium for the second week in a row NYCFC were keen to build on their first win of the season last time out against Inter Miami CF.

Standing across from Nick Cushing on Saturday night was Wayne Rooney. The former England international has guided his side to an identical 1-1-1 record after the opening three games of the campaign.

The game started at a quick pace, and when the ball did settle it did so with the Boys in Blue. Talles Magno was the first man to put the ball in the net, but he was denied by an offside flag.

The Brazilian thought he had been denied for a second time in the 17th minute after a defence-splitting pass by Keaton Parks and a low cross from Braian Cufré found him free in the box to convert.

Once again the assistant’s flag was raised, but following consultation with the Video Assistant Referee the decision was correctly reversed and the goal awarded.

NYCFC were now moving at full speed. Their play was quick and incisive, and they would add a second before the half was over.

This time Santi Rodríguez – who had been a nuisance all half – found space down the right and was played through by Gabriel Pereira. After settling himself, Rodríguez calmly slotted the ball home to claim his first goal of the campaign in the 36th minute.

The second half saw no changes for NYCFC but a trio of substitutions and an early goal for the visitors – Christian Benteke heading past Luis Barraza via a cross from the left-hand side.

In response, Talles Magno riggled free down the left before firing off an effort that the goalkeeper was able to handle. The defensive unit was engaged not long after following a slaloming run by Theodore…

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