Facts After the Match: NECvNYC

Oct. 08, 2016

Special edition? Eh...I guess...this on will be short, since I can't find any match stats (unless someone can hook a brother up...).

So...Club Necaxa billed this as the "Copa de la Amistad" or "Copa de la Amistad Cavall". They even made a trophy. But, like the US Open Cup, we couldn't win this one. Final score 2-1 to the home team.

Here's a few things to ponder after the match in the Ciudad de Aguascalientes.

1. Before this match, NYCFC was undefeated outside of the United States, with a record of 4W-1D-0L. Lucky this wasn't a league match...

2. Andrea Pirlo wore the captain's armband for the first time with NYCFC...then passed it on to Tommy McNamara (I believe this is his first time as well...don't know how to check that one...)

3. Kyle Parker was my MOTM choice, but didn't win. Smh...

Who is your @HeinekenSoccer Star of the Match?
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) October 8, 2016

4. This match saw Ballouchy, Mix, Martínez, White, Lopez, and Johansen see their names in the starting XI. Now, Lopez hasn't seen the pitch since the Colorado game on July 30th, getting 24 minutes of playing time. Martínez last played in that game too, going the whole match. White hasn't played since July 24th, when he got a red card in the 89th minute in the 4-1 lost to Red Bull (must have still been on suspension in Vieira's mind...). But for the other three, things are different. Ballouchy, Mix, and Johansen all last appeared in the US Open Cup match against the Cosmos. In terms of league play, Mix hasn't played since the 2-3 loss at home to Salt Lake on June 2nd, Ballouchy hasn't made an appearance since May 18th in the 1-1 draw at Toronto, and...well...let's just say #StartEirik has been a thing for a long time (and may well be coming back after tonight's performance). Out of these players, it's just my opinion that Martínez, Lopez, and Johansen probably did best to plead their cases.

5. This loss doesn't ruin our standings in the table, NYCFC is still going to be in the top three in the East, has a solid chance of making the top two, and ranks fourth choice for MLS Cup on inonit.com. We're good!