The altitude caused problems, the attack was disjointed, and the energy level was lacking in the first half.
However, New York City FC remains unbeaten after three games, securing a point on the road for the second time in three games after a 0-0 draw with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday afternoon.
And they have Josh Saunders to thank.
The NYCFC goalkeeper put forth another heroic effort with seven saves as 10-man NYCFC shared the points in Commerce City.
The goalkeeper has arguably been the team’s MVP through its first three matches and he is one deflected Kaká free kick away from securing three consecutive clean sheets.
“This is three matches in a row where I think he’s really saved our skins,” NYCFC coach Jason Kreis told the YES Network. “Today was again spectacular and I couldn’t be happier for a nicer guy.”
That Kaká goal came in the first minute of second-half stoppage time as NYCFC and fellow expansion side Orlando City played to a 1-1 draw in both teams' Major League Soccer debut. Saunders was under pressure throughout the first half of NYCFC’s home opener, but he held New England at bay en route to a 2-0 victory at Yankee Stadium last week.
On Saturday, Saunders was solid throughout. He made a diving stop to deny a Gabriel Torres toe-poke in the eighth minute for his best save of the first half. In the second half, Saunders parried an attempt by Marc Burch on a free kick over the crossbar in the 52nd minute.
In the 63rd minute, Saunders stood tall at the edge of the six, knocking away a shot by Torres for another Colorado corner.
“I think the chances they did have were not completely clear-cut chances and they were chances I was willing to give up outside the 18,” Saunders said. “I think we shaded them in good directions and we played the ball very well and forced them into chances that were half-chances.
Any hope NYCFC had of taking all three points were dashed when right back Shay Facey, who made his first professional start, was sent off in the 82nd minute for his second bookable offense.
Kreis then brought on central defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe for Mix Diskerud and moved Chris Wingert to left back as Jeb Brovsky shifted to the right in a reconstructed back four.
“I think at that point it was just come together, keep your spacing tight and work as hard as you can until the whistle blows and get that point,” Saunders said.
And that is the greatest takeaway for NYCFC. For a team playing together for the first time, they have five points from three matches as they get back to Yankee Stadium for another home match next Saturday..
“It’s great for the morale, it’s great for the club,” Brovsky said. “Looking forward, I think the club has put a big effort on defensive work and I think all 11 guys were committed today. Josh [Saunders] made some big saves for us and it’s big-time to go away with a clean sheet.”
Dylan Butler covers New York City FC for MLSsoccer.com.
