NYCFC Battle To 0-0 Tie With Chicago Fire

New York City faced off against Chicago Fire on Wednesday as they looked to extend their winning run to four games.

Head Coach Ronny Deila opted to make two changes to the team that started last time out against Columbus Crew, with Alfredo Morales replacing Nicolás Acevedo and Sean Johnson stepping in for Luis Barraza.

NYCFC started with an intensity and aggression that allowed Taty Castellanos to fire of a shot inside the first minute.

In the 11th minute a delightful touch from Thiago Andrade opened up the opportunity for the Brazilian to run down the left and flash a cross just ahead of Castellanos at the back post.

The visitors managed a shot of their own from distance in the 23rd minute, but the ball sailed over Johnson’s goal.

City enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening half, but in Chicago they found a team keen to maintain a low block and limit space in their own half.

That didn’t stop the Fire being an attacking threat, however, and in the 37th minute Boris Sekulić crossed it for Jonathan Bornstein to head over.

The half finished with a well-worked chance for NYCFC after a passing move from back to front finished with Anton Tinnerholm cutting the ball back into the path of Maxi Moralez – his effort ending up off target.

The second period started in a much more end to end fashion, and in the 51st minute Medina pulled it back to Moralez but his effort was blocked.

Chicago were proving more of a threat, and that risk-taking allowed Bornstein to earn a corner in the 62ndminute that ultimately led to a shot for Stanislav Ivanov.

The home side were growing in confidence and that forced NYCFC to be defensively resilient at the back.

Sensing a need for changes, Deila introduced Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Acevedo in place of Thiago and Medina in the 67th minute.

That had an almost impact when Parks, playing in a more advanced role, found himself free on the edge of the Fire penalty area – his curled effort going just past the post.

Unfortunately, Parks would be dismissed just minutes later for a second bookable offense, leaving NYCFC to finish out the game with ten men.

Despite the disadvantage, NYCFC still managed to create chances, and in the 82nd minute a long ball from Johnson allowed Castellanos to flick an effort towards goal.

That would be the Argentine’s last impact on the game, as he was withdrawn in the 83rd minute alongside Thórarinsson in place of Santiago Rodríguez and Malte Amundsen.

Deila would turn to his bench one final time deep into injury time to introduce Andres Jasson in place of Moralez. Ultimately the game would finish scoreless and hand NYCFC a point on the road.

Next up for New York City FC is a trip to BMO Field to face Toronto FC on Saturday, August 7, 2021. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00PM ET (YES Network/NYCFC.com/Radio).