Facts After the Match: TORvNYC

Yes! Our first playoff game was yesterday! The buildup during the week was great, the knockout round fixtures were insane, and then on the day of...I had to go to work in the morning. (Yes, I finally have a job...it's part-time, but it's something, I'm grateful.) I got home in the middle of the first match of the day, ate my leftover Pizza Hut (yes, half cheese, half pepperoni, just like I like it), made my predictions just in time right before the starting XI was announced. And then this is what happened:

Yes, it was tough. But like Ian Joy said on Twitter, the half time score is 2-0.

In other words, it is time to one-up what I call the "First of September 2016 Miracle". We came back from 0-1 down at half time to win it. Now, it's 0-2 down, the score being switched because we're at home now, and we have a 95 minute half left to play. But before we get to the second half, let's break down where we sand after the first half at BMO Field.

1. This is NYCFC's first loss in Canada, and second straight loss outside of the States.

2. This was the second match this year that Villa has been subbed out of. The first was the 3-1 loss in Gillette Stadium to the New England Revolution.

3. From whoscored.com: RJ Allen was the best player statistically, with a rating of 6.9. Mikey Lopez scored a 6.7. Tied for third are Villa and Johansen at 6.4. Brillant and Matarrita scored a 6.3. What is shocking: the lowest score of 5.7 goes to Harrison. Lampard, although he started on the bench, also scored a 5.7.

(EDITED, 2nd of Nov.: Lopez did not score a 6.4, but 6.7.)

4. Speaking of Jack Harrison, he earned his first yellow card of his pro career.

5. Eirik Johansen saved another four shots on target yesterday, bringing his total to 10 out of 12.

6. This was one of three games that did not feature Andrea Pirlo. The other two games were the 2-0 loss in Philadelphia on the 23rd of April, and the 1-1 draw at (ironically) Toronto.

7. Blue City Radio asked me for this one before the game, since I had brought this up once before. Here are the results by television network for all 34 games plus this first playoff game.

I don't know why I keep track of this...I guess I just find this interesting. I guess it's more of a superstition, maybe...

8. Chances of getting a result in the second leg next Sunday are decent. The record for matches after a loss is 5W-4D-1L. Scoring three and getting a clean sheet would get the job done. Scoring four would be the safer option, in case Toronto scores the away goal. But Johansen recently told reporters that NYC has scored four against Toronto at home once before, referring to the insane 4-4 draw last year. But let's hope that 4-4 is not the scoreline on Sunday. Let's hope for a huge win.

Have any more? Leave a comment.

Time to show up on Sunday. On to the second leg.

Soccer

MLS

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NYCFC Nation

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