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Match Report — New York City FC

NYCFC can't close out Atlanta, settles for disappointing draw

New York City FC had the lead twice but couldn't hold onto it either time, forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after Atlanta United equalized in the 74th minute at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

,   and  Matthew Mangam
4 min read
Another influential performance from Agustín Ojeda. Photo: newyorkcityfc.com

With five key players missing due to international duty, New York City FC played to a wild 2-2 draw with Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday night.

NYCFC took the lead twice, first on an early own goal from Atlanta's Matthew Edwards, then again on a 57th-minute strike from Andrés Perea, but couldn't hold on either time. New York City instead settled for its ninth tie of the season, with the additional point just enough to move the club back into a playoff spot — ninth place — in the Eastern Conference.

New York City now has some time off throughout the rest of the international break before returning to action in two weeks and facing Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field on October 10.

GAME STATS

Atlanta United: 0.95 xG, 7 shots, 5 shots on target, 51% possession, 503 passes, 84% pass accuracy, 14 fouls, 4 corners, 2 saves

New York City: 0.80 xG, 9 shots, 3 shots on target, 49% possession, 475 passes, 86% pass accuracy, 14 fouls, 3 corners, 3 saves

Goals:
• New York City, Matthew Edwards (OG), 5'
• Atlanta United, Giuliano Galoppo, 10'
• New York City, Andrés Perea, 57'
• Atlanta United, Ajani Fortune, 74'

Attendance: 37,478

Hectic start

Playing a unique lineup due to several absences, NYCFC took an early lead in the fifth minute with help from Atlanta.

With the ball near the halfway line, Nico Fernández Mercau played Agustín Ojeda into space on the wing. Dribbling into the box, Ojeda played a pass across the face of goal that was tapped in by Atlanta defender Matthew Edwards.

New York City couldn't hold on to its early lead, though, and conceded just five minutes later from a corner kick. Elías Báez's outswinging cross was flicked behind by Enea Mihaj to Tomás Jacob, whose pass to the back post was tapped in by Giuliano Galoppo.

The goal was checked for offside, with it looking like striker Breel Embolo may have made an attempt to play the ball from an offside position, but ultimately it was allowed.

It was the 12th goal NYCFC has conceded from a set piece this season, tied for the third-highest mark in the league with two other clubs.

New York City were the better team for the rest of the first half, but went into halftime level with Atlanta.

Agustín Ojeda gets another assist

After playing a key role in NYCFC's opening goal but getting no assist since Atlanta's Edwards provided the final touch, Agustín Ojeda got his well-deserved assist in the 57th minute.

A passing sequence that began at the back and included Jonny Shore and Nico Fernández Mercau eventually progressed to Ojeda on the right, and his low centering cross connected with an unmarked run through the middle of the box from Andrés Perea, who found the back of the net for the second time this season.

The goal was nearly identical to New York City's opening one: Fernández Mercau played Ojeda into space, who played a pass into the box, but this time Perea was there for a simple tap-in.

Ojeda, who was making his 100th career NYCFC appearance against Atlanta, now has a team-leading nine assists this season. With Maxi Moralez out since earlier this spring when he injured his ACL, Ojeda has stepped up immensely, creating chances and distributing the ball effectively.

A costly Tomás Romero mistake

With Matt Freese starting for the United States men's national team in its 4-1 win over Peru earlier today, backup goalkeeper Tomás Romero got his first MLS start of the season in Atlanta.

Romero wasn't at fault for the first goal he conceded, but the same couldn't be said about the second. The strike from Ajani Fortune was hit right at Romero, and he got a hand to it, but he couldn't keep it out of the net as the ball trickled behind him and over the line.

New York City's backline didn't do Romero any favors by not dealing with the situation leading up to the Fortune strike, but the 25-year-old should have done more on Atlanta's second goal. Pascal Jansen admitted as much after the match as well, telling members of the press, "That one is on Tomás. That should've been a save."

The failure to make that save cost New York City two points, which would have been helpful in the club's race for playoff qualification.

A win would have taken the club up to seventh place, at least temporarily, out of the No 8 vs No 9 single-elimination Wild Card match. Instead, the draw gets New York City FC back just above the playoff line heading into a prolonged break, but with no separation gained from teams like Cincinnati or Orlando who lost their matches.

Discipline
• Atlanta United, Luke Brennan, yellow card, foul, 43′
• New York City, Raul Gustavo, yellow card, foul, 90+5'

Officials
• Referee: Alexis Da Silva
• Assistant referees: Cory Richardson, Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho
• Fourth official: Laura Rodriguez
• VAR: Geoff Gamble
• Assistant VAR: Robert Schaap
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