TORONTO – The hill is steep, much steeper after Tosaint Ricketts’ stoppage-time goal, but New York City FC players are not ready to throw in the towel in their Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs Eestern Conference Semifinals series against Toronto FC.
“It’s nowhere near the end,” midfielder Frank Lampard said after Sunday’s 2-0 loss at BMO Field. “We’ve given ourselves a difficult task, particularly the second goal, but we have to believe and we have the whole week to get it right now and play the way we know we can.”
There’s no denying TFC were the better team in the opening leg. The hosts outshot NYCFC 16-9, had a 6-2 advantage in shots on target and also dominated in duels won (75-35). It all started with Toronto FC’s high pressure, which made it difficult for NYCFC to build from the back.
“Basically what they did now was they let us have the first one or two passes out of the back and then they put the pressure on,” goalkeeper Eirik Johansen said. “Especially in the second half with the wind, if there are no options to get out short, you end up clearing the ball and it might not be a good clearance. They came out and pressed us fairly well from the front. It was a bit tough today.”
In part because of Johnasen’s performance, NYCFC did well to weather the pressure, but ultimately it became too much and the MLS playoff debutants conceded twice in the final six minutes.
“They controlled big parts of the game and at times we defended well, but when the pressure keeps coming, it’s not easy to keep clean sheets,” Lampard said.
And without an away goal, NYCFC will need to win at least 3-0 in the second leg at Yankee Stadium next Sunday (4 pm ET, ESPN) to guarantee advancement, though a 2-0 NYCFC win would see the series settled in extra time, and possibly a penalty shootout. While they are unbeaten in their last eight games at home (7-0-1), NYCFC have only claimed a clean sheet three times at Yankee Stadium. They have, however, also beaten their opponents by three or more goals three times.
“We know it’s going to be a tough return leg back at home, but saying that we scored four against them at home before,” Johansen said, referring to a wild 4-4 draw last July. “It’s definitely not impossible.”
While there was disappointment in the NYCFC locker room, there is still a glimmer of hope.
“We have to take a bit of reflection and then be confident,” Lampard said. “It’s a playoff game and a lot of things can happen in 90 minutes. You score an early goal and suddenly it's really game on. We won't take any negative feelings into the second leg.”
Fullback RJ Allen is hoping NYCFC can be buoyed by a large, boisterous crowd at Yankee Stadium, just as TFC was at BMO Field.
“Sunday can’t come quick enough for us,” Allen said. “We’re really looking for it. It’s going to be our fans' first playoff experience. The place will be bumping and we’re excited.”
