New York City FC II Goals: Flax 7', Shannon 65' (OG)
New England Revolution II Goals: Morgan 20'
Quick ReadÂ
NYCFC II secured back-to-back victories with a hard-fought 2-1 win over New England Revolution II at Icahn Stadium. Cooper Flax opened the scoring inside the opening ten minutes before the visitors equalized in the 20th minute. Jake Shannon’s own goal restored the hosts’ advantage midway through the second half and although reduced to ten men late on, NYCFC II held on to claim an important 2-1 win.
Match RecapÂ
New York City FC were back at Icahn Stadium for the second time in a week as they hosted New England Revolution II.
Matt Pilkington’s side were full of confidence following an emphatic 5-0 win over FC Cincinnati 2 in midweek and were keen to make it back-to-back home victories.
Although the visitors created the first chances of the game, it was the hosts who took the lead in the seventh minute through Cooper Flax.
The midfielder added his name to the scoresheet with a touch of good fortune, as his shot slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Zach Lapierre.
The Boys in Blue continued to threaten, with Adonis Campos registering an effort of note in the ninth minute.
Juan Ponce’s effort from a similar position flew just wide of the goal before Máximo Carrizo fired over moments later.
New England Revolution II grew into the game and found an equalizer in the 20th minute. Matthew Jean-Baptiste found Myles Morgan inside the box, and he dinked the ball over Mac Learned.
The visitors’ momentum continued to grow as the half-hour mark approached, with Cristiano Oliveira drawing a save from Learned.
A flurry of activity then saw three New England efforts blocked in quick succession, with Joshua Macedo, Gabriel Dahlin and Jean-Baptiste all denied.
New England were given another chance to take the lead in first-half stoppage time, but Aarin Prajapati missed the target.
The start of the second half saw an early chance for NYCFC II through Elhadji Samb, who narrowly missed the target.
The two teams then traded chances, with Joseph Sucheki firing over for the hosts before Morgan did the same with a header.
Seymour Reid almost put NYCFC II ahead just after the hour mark with a rasping drive from distance, but his effort flew just over the crossbar.
The hosts were then handed the advantage through an unlikely source. Jonny Lopez’s dangerous cross into the box was flicked into his own net by New England defender Jake Shannon.
Pilkington made his first change in the 71st minute, replacing Samb with Luka Sunjic.
Juan Ponce then went close to increasing NYCFC II’s advantage, only for his shot to be blocked by Matthew Jean-Baptiste.
The contest became somewhat feisty in the final 10 minutes of normal time when a 50-50 challenge involving Joao Loiola resulted in the defender being sent off.
Pilkington responded by introducing Drew Kerr in place of Ponce, with the substitute making an immediate impact. His goal-line block denied Morgan what looked like a certain equalizer.
New England continued to push for an equalizer, with Shannon going close in the 84th minute when his header from the center of the box narrowly missed the target.
The visitors continued to threaten as the game entered its closing stages, but NYCFC II also looked to extend its advantage. Peter Molinari fired wide from inside his own half in the 87th minute before Prajapati missed the target at the other end.
Pilkington made his final change of the night shortly afterward, replacing Máximo Carrizo with Jovan Arroyave.
Cristiano Oliveira’s corner caused further concern for the hosts in the 89th minute, but Shannon’s header sailed over the crossbar.
New England continued to press deep into stoppage time, with Oliveira forcing a save from Learned before Jean-Baptiste and Dahlin both missed the target.
The final chance fell to Sunjic after New England were caught overcommitting. The substitute ran the full length of the field but failed to keep his composure, blazing his effort over the crossbar.
Despite that miss, NYCFC II held on to secure back-to-back victories.
How We Lined Up
What's NextÂ
Next up for New York City FC II is a game against Toronto FC II on Friday, August 28. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00PM ET.
