DC played NYCFC this past Saturday evening (April 20) in New York City. NYCFC usually plays their home games at Yankee Stadium, but the Yankees were in town, so the game was moved out to Citi Field in Queens (see photo above).
The Screaming Eagles sent a bus up to the game, and the trip was a lot of fun. It was (I believe) the first SE bus trip since before covid hit in 2020. Let's hope there are many more! If you've never been, it's a really cool experience and smoothly run; one of the many perks of being an Eagle. You can check out much better photos than mine by going to our Gallery/Smugmug section of the webpage.
Unfortunately, DC was quite shorthanded. Ted KDP was still out injured, and stalwart defender Conner Antley joined him on the injured list with a lower leg ailment. We also had two key players (Klich and Herrera) missing due to yellow card accumulation. While DC had a few good moments, the result was a 2-0 loss to NYCFC.
Bono started in goal, and there was a 3 man back line of McVey, Bartlett and Matai Akinmboni. Hopkins, Pirani, Stroud, Peltola and Santos were in midfield, and Dajome and Benteke were the forwards.
NYCFC threatened several times early, and finally broke through on an attack. Hannes Wolf crossed to a wide-open Santiago Rodriguez, who converted in the 20th minute. Akinmboni was a step slow covering him. DC had one great chance just before halftime when Stroud found Benteke for an open header, but unfortunately he put it wide. It was 1-0 at halftime.
DC played a little better in the second half, but had trouble connecting passes and was frequently on the back foot. NYCFC missed some very good chances, but it remained 1-0, and DC had a chance for a draw until in the first minute of stoppage time Julian Fernandez scored on a counter to make it 2-0. It could easily have been more.
Second-half substitutions were Murrell for Santos, Martine Rodriguez for Hopkins, and Fletcher for Akinmboni. Murrell had some moments but none really affected the game significantly.
DC had its lowest shot total of the year (11, and only 1 on goal) and 4 corner kicks. NYCFC, by contrast, had 22 shots (8 on goal) and 7 counters.
This was a momentous day for NYCFC; they are now in their 10th year of playing in baseball stadiums, but this week New York City passed legislation to build them their own stadium. The new field is scheduled to open in 2027. There was a press conference before the game featuring the mayor and team owner; see the photo at the bottom of the article.
DC returns home this Saturday (April 27) to play Seattle at Audi Field; Klich and Herrera should be back, as well as the drums in the supporters section (the Saudi preseason protest is now over).
