Enemy Scouting Report - New York City FC
(image via New York City Football Club/Twitter)
The Houston Dynamo look to start a home winning streak this Saturday night as they will take on New York City FC. Defending Shell Energy Stadium is a top priority for Ben Olsen and his squad but NYCFC will be a tough challenge to face.
The Pigeons from the Bronx have been in great form the last few seasons. It wasn’t long ago that they earned their first star above their crest. Last season, they came relatively close to running it back, only to lose against Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference Finals.
New York City FC opened the 2023 regular season with a rough start, losing on the road against Nashville SC, 2-0. However, the Blues have found themselves on an unbeaten run since match day 1. The off-season was one for the history books because the team lost major centerpieces in players like goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who moved to Toronto on a free transfer, defender Alexander Callens, who made the jump to Europe on a free transfer to La Liga’s Girona FC, attacking midfielder Maxi Moralez who returned to Argentina to play for Racing Club, and forward Heber, who was traded in late December to the Seattle Sounders for general allocation money. There was a lot of roster turnover in the Big Apple. On paper, many expected for NYCFC to struggle after many key departures, but that has been how it has gone so far.
Head coach Nick Cushing enters his first full season at the helm after taking over for Ronny Deila, who left midway through the season in 2022. Cushing did a great job in keeping the team from derailing and currently everything says that he has maintained the same mentality. The players that the Dynamo will need to suppress will be their creative midfielder, the recently acquired Santiago Rodriguez. The Uruguayan is a menace with the ball. Brazilians Gabriel Pereira and Talles Magno are two very important and dangerous attacking pieces that the Dynamo will look to cutoff near their keeper’s box. Lastly, the ink on Richy Ledezma’s loan deal from PSV Eindhoven hasn’t even dried and he could see action on Saturday.
New York City FC Record: 2W-1L-0D
Results in the last 30 days:
Feb. 25 – Nashville SC 2-0 NYCFC
Mar. 4 - Chicago Fire 1-1 NYCFC
Mar. 11 - NYCFC 1-0 Inter Miami
Mar. 18 - NYCFC 3-2 D.C. United
Past Match Staring XI (from mlssoccer.com)
There will likely be some variation but look to see many of the players in the graphic starting.
2023 Active Roster
Goalkeepers: Luis Barraza, Cody Mizell, Matt Freese
Defenders: Braian Cufre, Maxime Chanot, Malte Amundsen, Thiago Martins, Tayvon Gray, Mitja Ilenic, Tony Alfaro
Midfielders: James Sands, Alfredo Morales, Santiago Rodriguez, Gabriel Pereira dos Santos, Matias Pellegrini, Richard Ledezma, Andres Jasson, Keaton Parks, Justin Haak
Forwards: Thiago Andrade, Kevin O’Toole, Talles Magno
Will the Houston Dynamo earn all 3 points and make Shell Energy Stadium a fortress early on in 2023?
