Image credit: Ernesto Diaz – Stream Punk Sports
The New York City Football Club heads north of the border this weekend to face an 8th place in the East CF Montreal for the first time this season, TECHNICALLY able to brag that the team is unbeaten in 5 straight. NYCFC is only one of a handful of MLS teams in history to have tied 5 straight matches and should they tie yet again, would only become the fourth team in league history with 6 straight ties. However more than that they team is also winless in 12, going back to April 22 against FC Dallas since the last time they claimed 3 points. As usual, I have questions and some thoughts leading into this match:
5 QUESTIONS
1) Can the Team Increase It’s Shots On Net? During the first 16 (including the US Open match) matches this season NYCFC fired off 66 shots on goal for a 4.125 shot on goal average. In the past 5 matches, 17 shots for a 3.4 average with just 4 goals, so opposing goalkeepers aren’t being challenged as much. Much of that does revolve around a younger squad still learning to gel, but it also shows that the club needs to make the other side work more. On the other hand:
2) Can the Defense Continue To Do IT’S Job? Credit to goalkeeper Luis Barraza (and the most recent match with Matt Freese) and the rest of the backfield as the team has given up just 4 goals during this stretch, including 2 clean sheets and a pair of one goal matches as well. This is a vast improvement from the first 16 matches of the year, where they gave up 22 goals so an absolute positive there.
3) Will Playing In Montreal Be The Cure? So here’s an interesting nugget I picked up when working on this: NYCFC is a more than impressive 5-1-4 in 10 matches at Saputo Field with the CFM’s only win coming back in July 2021. Overall again NYCFC has had Montreal’s number, going 11-2-7 and outscoring the team 36-20 in 20 matches. Additionally Montreal has a slightly worst goal differential in one less game than the Cityzens do, which could exude some faith that the winless drought could come to an end. On the other hand HERE:
4) Can the Team Backdoor Into the Playoffs? Even under the new Play-In format with 9 teams getting in NYCFC sits in 13th place and 5 points behind DC United for the final playoff spot with just 14 games remaining. Certainly a doable scenario but no wins equals no chance.
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.
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