I talk sometimes about Catalyst Moments in sports. Those moments in a game which suddenly can change a team for a season or sometimes in a player, even a career. In the case of the New York City Football Club this season, weirdly what might have been the best thing for this squad was the heartbreak loss to Portland in the Home Opener 2-1. Leading 1-0 in the 85th minute, they gave up 2 goals in short order, turning their first win of the season into an 0W-3L start. We were stunned. The fans were furious, and Head Coach Nick Cushing was out of quotes.
But from that heartbreak of a loss has been a change. The team that was a cellar dweller has jumped to 3rd place in the East in the 11 matches since, picking up 23 points, including a VERY impressive 9 points in an 8 day stretch, culminating with a 2-1 win at home in the first half of the Hudson River Derby. So while I sit here listening to Megumi Hayashibara music (we’re friends for life if you know that name without having to look it up) here’s 10 stats about the NYCFC run that has fans saying, “Maybe NOT Cushing Out…?” Let’s go:
10 STATS
1) In their first three matches, they were outscored 5-1. In the 11 matches since 17-11. While not opponent crushing, a marked difference over the first 3 matches and a 1 goal win is still a win. As the late, great John Madden stated, “At the end of the game the team with the most points on the board is going to win.” And NYCFC in going 7-2-2 they’ve done what’s needed to win.
2) The team is on track to be stronger offensively than last year. Last season NYCFC had 34 goals & 26 assists. This season after 14 games those numbers are 18 & 13. Carrying out that average the rest of the season (even including the first three matches of the year) the club would have 43 goals & 31 assists. Not Game Genie levels, but definitely an improvement for the youngest team in the league.
3) Matt Freese is quickly endearing himself to the NYCFC fanbase. After a trade that frankly surprised many including myself, the Goalkeeper best known to Pidgeon fans as the replacement for Andre Blake at Subaru Park in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, the match where half the Doop squad was out with Covid. But after 14 matches NYCFC has a 2nd best save percentage in the East at 76.5% (and 5th in MLS), facing 68 shots, saving 51. If you’re wondering who has the best save percentage in the league, it’s Dallas at 81.0%. NYCFC faces them on July 6. I put together a GIF that sums up most Union fans right now after their struggles in goal this season. Link is in the comments of the Tweet if you feel like downloading.
4) Speaking of endearing themselves, how about that Hannes Wolf? There was already some hope when the squad brought him to the Bronx at the start of the season but it appears he’s getting acclimated to the new turf. Some quick stats: His last three matches he has 2 goals and a pair of assists and his 4 assists on the season lead the club. Add to that his goal at the end of the first half against Philadelphia was in front of his parents, who flew in to watch him play. One bonus Hannes stat in the next one also.
5) They block a lot of passes this season. So far NYCFC is second in the league with 137 blocked passes this year, second only to RBNY at 140. Kevin O’Toole and Hannes Wolf are tops on the team with 18 each, both being tied for 9th in the league in blocked passes. Coming in with the NYCFC Bronze Medal in that category is Mounsef Bakrar at 16 on the season.
6) Speaking of Mounsef Bakrar, how is THAT young man feeling? After over 30 shots this season without a goal, he finally hit pay dirt in the 65th minute in the most recent match, breaking a 1-1 tie in what proved to be the difference maker. As of now, he’s currently currently 20th in the league in shots at 36. His lack of goals was straight up killing the kid’s head so getting that goal was absolutely needed and might be the start of a string of goal for the 23 year old. But for now, how much do you really need aside from this video?
7) Keaton Parks is 22st in the league (and tops in the squad) with 27 Aerial Duels won. That’s solid, but this kinda blew me away: Christian Benteke leads the league by over 100 wins over #2 with a whopping 155 wins.
8) The team is 9th in the league in shots on goal with 66. 9 in the first 3 matches, 5.2 in the last 11. LAFC tops the league in shots on goal with 82.
9) They’re currently at 28 Yellow Cards this season, or exactly 2 per game. This puts them at 17th in the league, basically middle of the pack. Last year they ended with 79, or 2.32 per game. So the numbers are down.
10) The strength of schedule the rest of the way isn’t brutal. Running through the remaining 20 games on the schedule, the teams they face average out to 1.25 points per game, or basically 10th place in the East.
So there you go, 10 stats for Reddit or your own Tweet (I’m still not calling it X). I’m sure I’ll come back to this later in the season, but until next time and because I don’t know a good way to end this, stay awesome.
About the author – Scott Churchson has been an actor in every way for the past 13 years, from BG to stand in to stunts and principal, a sports writer for the past 4 and is one of the people that created Stream Punk Entertainment. He’s married to a veterinarian, has a cat with three working legs, a mother-in-law who just moved in and is just a simple man trying to make his way in the universe.