9/12 - RSL vs NYCFC

Real Salt Lake vs New York City FC

Real Salt Lake lost 0-2 to New York City FC, extending RSL's winless run in MLS to 10 matches. NYC themselves were in poor form as well; this result snapped their streak of 6 league games, and 8 in all competitions, without a win. The home side started well, dominating the first 25 minutes. Matt Freese did well to keep the game scoreless, showing why he was a World Cup starting goalie. Shortly before halftime, Nicolás Fernández Mercau broke the deadlock with a wondergoal straight off the training ground. It was smooth sailing for NYCFC in the second stanza, adding a second goal via a clinical counter finished off by young striker Luighi. In a duel between two struggling teams, this was a crucial road victory for NYCFC.

RSL began the game brightly. They were on the front foot, not letting NYC out of their half and peppering Matt Freese's goal. RSL found joy down their left side. Saba Lobjanidze, who began the match at left wing, was finding great positions in the half spaces. The Georgian and Juan Manuel Sanabria, the left wingback, were involved in everything positive for the Utah club in the final third. Their press was effective, keeping NYC pinned in. But after the first half hour, their defensive shape fell apart. The forwards and center midfielders would step high to put pressure on New York City's backline. The back 5, on the other hand, dropped off. This left too much space between the lines. NYC was able to get behind RSL's midfield and drive at the backline far too often. It's a fundamental mistake which made it very easy to play against RSL for the last hour of the match. The hosts' press also lost its intensity, with the exception of Sergi Solans, who has a great work rate against the ball. So, when the ball would go wide, New York's fullbacks had enough time to pick out passes in the gaps left by Salt Lake's wide open defensive structure. Whether they are fully committing to a high line of confrontation, or dropping into a lower block, Real Salt Lake needs to solve their defensive structure.

In attack, Real Salt Lake struggled to create any opportunity of real danger past the 25th minute. They like to use the full width of the pitch, stretching the opponents out to manufacture spaces inside for their front line. They were doing a great job of this down the left flank in the opening. However, they got zero attacking width down the right side. Alexandros Katranis began this match at right wingback, and as a left footed dominant player, he prefers to cut onto his preferred foot. His positioning was also relatively conservative, as Mastroeni looked to improve his rest defense. If Katranis is going to fill this role, they need their right attacking midfielder to provide width. Morgan Guilavogui does not do that. The Guinean DP is so good at combining, but he often operates centrally. There was nobody challenging Nico Cavallo on New York City's left side of defense. This makes it really easy for New York City to pinch in and eliminate central spaces. In turn, Guilavogui's impact on the game is severely limited, as he doesn't provide much in the 18 yard box. When Mastroeni made some substitutions in the second half, forcing Lobjanidze to right wingback, Saba immediately created danger down the right. For an offense built around exploiting the wide areas, it's essential to have players who are comfortable operating in wide areas. The lack of width down the right side severely restricted RSL's ability to attack in this match.

The Utah side, who began the season so well, are now sitting in 11th in the West - 1 point out of a play-in game spot. With a winless run of form reaching double digits, RSL needs answers. Answers that will have to come in tactical adjustments, as they are suddenly facing an injury crisis. Juan José Arias, who looked impressive in the middle of the back line, sustained a hamstring injury in this one. He joins fellow defender Lukas Engel and RSL's only potent right wingback, Zach Booth, on the list of RSL players with hamstring injuries. And worst of all, Salt Lake will be without their talisman, Diego Luna, who will miss the remainder of the season with a meniscus tear. Mastroeni has a lot of work to do if he wants to get RSL back into the playoffs for Western Conference best sixth straight time.

For NYCFC, this wasn't their greatest performance. But with the likes of Fernández Mercau and Freese, the margins are wider for them. Like in their match against Nashville, New York City exhibited real difficulty building out of the back. To start the match, they were far too static, settling for passing sideways across their backline. This doesn't accomplish anything. What allowed them to find their way into the game was the center midfield becoming more active. When New York City aren't able to build through their midfield, they resort to hopeful long balls over the top. They rely entirely on Fernández Mercau to get them out of pressure. When Aiden O'Neill is fully match fit, he will help with this issue. The Australian is really good at getting on the ball in midfield and dictating the game. If they can establish more central midfield control, NYCFC will return to the playoff caliber team expected from the talent on this roster.

If they can get Alonso Martínez back to full match fitness before the playoffs, they are a team that could make back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances - or more. The Costa Rican made his season debut in this one, coming off the bench in the 88th minute. His first involvement? Stretching the game with a run in behind. Now, his touch was really rusty, but that's to be expected for a player coming off a horrific ACL injury. He is showing that he is still looking to be the same player who lit up the league last season with his relentless runs in behind. In the meantime, Luighi will man the center forward role. He has improved in his short time in MLS, and showed pure striker's instincts for NYC's second goal. His movement was just perfect, creating space for himself in the 18 yard box to clinically finish off a cutback. The assist came from Agustín Ojeda, who was very dangerous once again, tallying his team leading 8th assist of the year. With Ojeda's ability to attack the open space, an attack of Martínez, Ojeda, and Fernández Mercau is one that could be absolutely devastating come November. New York City must make the playoffs first though, and they have a Hudson River Derby with massive implications this weekend. The Pigeons will need to begin with more urgency on the ball if they want to claim all three points against their rivals and remain in a playoff position.