The Draw That Feels Like a Loss for NYCFC

It is easy to report on a team when they are winning and scoring goals. Writing about New York City Football Club used to be easy. With only one win in seven matches, it has become much harder. The frustration on the faces of the coach and the players as you ask them questions you have to ask to get the story takes a toll on all. Saturday night was frustration for everyone involved, coaches, fans, players and reporters as the team let a promising start slip away and end in a draw. Even the seven Train did not work properly getting to and from the game. 

New York City created a one goal lead in the first half when Tristan Muyumba pulled down Sati Rodriguez in the box. Rodriguez scored the PK but a long punt and counter attack by Atlanta erased it all in the second half. Brad Guzan sent a long punt down the line to Edwin Mosquera who then made a nice cross into the box where Jamal Thiare headed it neatiny into the net.

All the positive vibes that had been bouncing around the stadium came crashing down, replaced with questions and fears. Would New York City Rally and find another goal even though they have only scored one goal this whole season from build up play? would the team concede a second to Atlanta and collapse entirely? these are the Questions that spring up with your team is 1-4-2 on the season and sitting thirteenth in the Eastern Conference.

The game eventually resulted in a draw but for many it was not enough. There is an expectation around NYC from the fans and players. this season so far and last season’s fall from the playoffs are not enough. A draw just is not enough right now. A few weeks ago after the loss to Portland at home Cushing said that the team was going through a process of growing and in time would get better and better.

“Where are we in the process? at this moment really frustrated and, you know, really disappointed. It feels like a loss, right?” Nick Cushing told me after the match in the post game press conference.

“It is a testament to fans and our football club and the expectation that we have. Where are we in the process? Ya, I am content with where we are in the process. I am not content with the league position and points but we took the game to Atlanta tonight. there was only one team that wanted to win… It is just that chemistry and that click now that we are waiting for that fortune that is going to give us moments…The players are working extremely hard and if you go into the locker room you can see the frustration from the guys.”

The locker room, or at least the mixed press area set off for us to talk to the players, was just as Cushing described. The team is palpably frustrated with the lack of results. You could see it in their faces, hear it in their voice as they answered our questions.

“I think there is a lot of disappointment in the dressing room because I think we had a lot of chances in this first half to kill this game off. Of course they had chances but it is almost impossible to blow this game in my opinion. Ya. it is frustrating because we need point and we need wins and today was a big chance, ” Hannes Wolf said post match when I asked him how the team was feeling. When I asked him if a draw was a fair result he said ” I don’t know if it is fair because like in football if you don’t score and they score it is fair, you know. I think we should win but we were not good enough.”

Apr 6, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC forward Hannes Wolff (17) control the ball during the first half against Atlanta United at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports

This same sentiment was echoed by James Sands, Thiago Martins, Keaton Parks and all the players I chatted with. They all were frustrated with this result and with the prior results. All of them know this team is better than their record and that they have not shown it yet. All of them went on to say that they were going to train really hard this week and try to change the result next week against New England.
A loss to New England at home would be devastating for moral of the club and the fans. New England sits dead last in the Eastern Conference and is one of only two clubs with a worse goal differential than New York City.

After the frustration expressed to night at letting a home win slip thought their fingers against a good Atanta side, a draw or a loss to New England is just not acceptable.

So this week it starts again, back to the training ground, back to the press conferences, back to the pitch and press box for us all. To somehow change this feeling when a draw feels like a loss and pull through and grind out a win again. Only time will tell how long it will take for the youngest team in MLS to go through “the process” and get that win. This reporter is very much looking forward to those interviews after the match.