NEW YORK — New York City FC may have gotten their mojo back. And just at the right time.
After struggling down the stretch, NYCFC on Sunday turned back the clock to July when they were considered one of the elite teams in Major League Soccer with a vintage performance and a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union to lock up the No. 3 seed and a home game in the Knockout Round of Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The victory on Decision Day presented by AT&T means they will host the Union again on Wednesday night (7 pm ET | FS1, UniMás - full TV & streaming info) with a spot in the conference semifinals on the line.
“It’s not about only the three points and get finally the third place,” forward David Villa said. “It’s about the good face we did today and this is what we need to show in the playoffs.”
NYCFC had entered the game having won just one of their previous nine games.
“It hasn’t felt good to not get results or be on the other side of results, especially at home where it’s supposed to be a fortress. I think we rose to the challenge and we’ll have to keep rising to the challenge going forward if we want to achieve something,” goalkeeper Sean Johnson said. “As you can see from today we have a special group and on any given night when we come out and do what’s necessary, we can play any team off the pitch.”
Perhaps it's the time of the year, or having a first-choice starting XI again with the return of midfielder Yangel Herrera from injury. Whatever the case, NYCFC came out flying in the first half against a Union team that took the game to them back at Talen Energy Stadium in August.
“The intensity, the energy, the feeling we have from the win is what you need going into the playoffs,” midfielder Alex Ring said. “This is what we have to do at least to give ourselves a good chance.”
It was in stark contrast to a week ago at Audi Field, when NYCFC coach Dome Torrent lamented a lack of passion as NYCFC fell into a two-goal hole inside of the opening half hour en route to a 3-1 defeat.
“We came out with a lot of energy,” said defender Ben Sweat, whose cross resulted in an own goal by Union center back Auston Trusty in the 10th minute. “We made sure this week we knew how important tonight was to guarantee that home field for the first round. That was very important. If we can continue this throughout the playoffs, we’ll see what happens at the end of the day.”
Villa, who scored his 14th goal of the season to cap a three-goal first half, said NYCFC’s performance in attack was just part of what impressed him.
“I think the first 30 minutes, not only with the ball, I think it was our best performance without the ball — the intensity, recovering the ball fast when we lose the ball, the people winning the duels in the air, on the floor,” NYCFC’s captain said. “I think it was our best 30 minutes in this intensity.”
