The San Jose Earthquakes were looking to build up some positive momentum after drawing a point vs. Orlando at home as they head to the Big Apple to take on a New York City Football Club that has skyrocketed up the table of the Eastern Conference winning their previous four games in impressive fashion.
The game day was set for a beautiful day at Yankee Stadium, in The Bronx, as around 20,000 fans pack the sides of the goal sides to cheer on their home team while San Jose were looking to upset NYCFC at home. San Jose has not had the best luck during their travels to New York having lost every time they have come except for a single draw. As the sun was beaming through the iconic archways atop Yankee Stadium and through the open roof the whistle blew, and off the two teams went.
The Earthquakes were coming in with a lack of some defensive players, due to yellow-card suspensions, and this was already a weakness that has been affecting results already in the past so far this season. We actually saw both teams able to push the ball into the right areas, but no goals were scored in the first half of play. The performance from both teams can be described in two different ways. New York were playing with speed out on the edges in impressive wing play, while San Jose was playing a little slower and calculated. For both teams, there were chances created throughout the first half, but it was left scoreless. The closest chance on a shot of goal came during the 31st minute as NYFC’S Santi Rodríguez had a close chance at a shot on goal with a from outside of the box that was just over the far right corner of goal. Some key notes in the first half was the injury to Bruno Wilson of San Jose, who had to be carted off after the game with ice wrapped around his leg after suffering a knock. He did appear to walk on his own after being carted to the walk-away to the away locker room at Yankee Stadium.
As the second half whistle blew, the fans in attendance were ready for the show to finally begin. NYCFC’S Hannes Wolf scored the opening goal after just getting by San Jose goalkeeper William Yarbrough, who did get a touch on the ball, but it was not enough as it gave the early lead to New York as the fans in Yankee Stadium erupt. Although the 1-0 lead did not last very long. San Jose’s Amahl Pellegrino was able to quickly respond, after being assisted via Hernan López, in order to level the game at 1-1. Unfortunately, this is when the scoring gates opened, and the NYCFC response was to ramp up their speed and attack. After over 20 minutes of the game being leveled both teams were pushing hard, but the momentum drastically changed after a second goal from New York’s Santi Rodríguez. After the second goal the flood gate were open, as NYCFC were determined to preserve their lead over San Jose. Adrian Martínez took the charge as he was able to net three goals in rapid fashion, and complete a hat-trick starting with his first goal in the 85th minute, and two scores in the stoppage time. The stadium was erupting with each score, as it lead to an epic night for the fans who came out to The Bronx to support their club. NYCFC finished the night with a 5-1 scoreline after they continued to apply pressure to secure the +3 points.
NYCFC have been very impressive this season, and it was an honor to be able to witness how they operate. Being around the club at the Coachella Valley Invitational gave me a very early look on how this club could be this season and after a tough start they have turned things around in order to put themselves as one of the better teams in the MLS as a whole. The San Jose Earthquakes, unfortunately, have had the same label applied to them as they look to try to turn things around. You can see throughout their games that there are chances for them, but it is just not coming to a finishing result for the Bay Area team. The New York City Football Club manager Nick Cushing said it best that in the MLS placement in the standings can always change. For New York it’s clear that a string of positive results can change a season, and for San Jose they are looking to get results to get them into a better position for the rest of the Major League Soccer season. The Major League Soccer season is heading into an international break as teams look to address their areas for improvement and adjust to head into the second half of the season which includes Leagues Cup 2024 play vs. Liga MX clubs.
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More Images from San Jose Earthquakes at New York City Football Club (May 31st, 2024)
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