On a humid evening at Yankee Stadium, New York City FC surpassed expectations with a commanding 4-0 victory against Atlanta United FC, despite entering the match down six players due to the international break.
Even with the absence of key players such as goalkeeper Matt Freese, forward Alonso Martínez, and midfielder Aiden O’Neill, City managed to secure an early lead with Maxi Moralez scoring just before halftime in the 44th minute following a mistake by Atlanta.
The significance of scoring the first goal in a match cannot be overstated. It creates a psychological advantage for the team that scores first, infusing energy and momentum into their game.
Head coach Pascal Jansen recognized his team’s challenging start and stressed the importance of maintaining composure with the ball.
“I told my guys, if you take care of the ball just a little longer, you don’t rush it into the final third, you can get in a situation where you can dominate in a couple boxes,” said Jansen.
The second half witnessed a transformation in NYCFC’s performance that aligned with Jansen’s game plan.
Mounsef Bakrar, who had been feeling pressured after a near-miss at the beginning of the half, quickly found his rhythm. In the 55th minute, he was set up perfectly by Andrés Perea and scored a stunning goal into the top corner, marking his second of the season.
Bakrar’s persistence in practice paid off as he stepped up to fill the void left by absent starters. Jansen commended Bakrar’s hard work, stating, “He works so hard in order to be ready for the team. So it’s a big achievement for him.”
Only two minutes later, Hannes Wolf made an impressive contribution of his own. After receiving a pass from Moralez, he approached Atlanta’s goalkeeper Brad Guzan and, despite initially not having a clear shot, he skillfully maneuvered to find the opening he needed.
Wolf executed a precise shot into the bottom right corner, earning his seventh goal of the season.
In a heartfelt gesture, Wolf revealed an undershirt that read, “For the victims. For peace. For Graz,” dedicating his goal to those affected by the tragic school shooting in his hometown in Graz, Austria, which claimed ten lives.
He expressed the emotional weight of this moment, stating, “My thoughts are there. I’m happy that I could score today and pull up my shirt and send at least a message to all the people, to all the families who lost someone on this terrible day.”
Wolf’s impactful performance didn’t stop there. Just two minutes later, he capitalized on a fast break against Atlanta’s defense. As defender Ronald Hernandez attempted to intervene, Wolf managed to chip the ball past Hernandez and Guzan, and with a bit of luck, the ball found its way into the net, marking Wolf’s eighth goal of the season.
Reflecting on his fast-paced scoring stint, Wolf reminisced, “When I was a kid, it was always like this. When I scored once, if I scored a second, it came quick, so I felt like back in the day.”
City’s fans erupted in excitement as their team scored four goals in quick succession, achieving the fastest scoring burst in the club’s history.
Jansen lauded Wolf’s performance, appreciating his ability to connect with the play and finish cleanly. “Hannes is in a good place right now. How he scored his goals is a good example of being connected at the right moment and knowing where you need to finish in order to get that biggest chance possible,
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