New York Claims First Victory Of The Season

New York came into Saturday’s contest in East Rutherford still looking for their first win of the season. Buried at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the 2008 runners up needed a win to kick start their campaign and they came through with a 2-0 victory.

Real Salt Lake was in good position coming into the night, having won two of their first three, but the club ousted by New York's run to the final last season was looking to climb even further up the Western Conference table.

First Half

The match started exactly the way New York would’ve hoped for as the home side claimed a lead in just the second minute. Macoumba Kandji was the beneficiary of a Dane Richards cross that was parried into his path by RSL ‘keeper Nick Ramando. The lively forward pounded his shot home from six yards out and the home side had an early lead.

It was only New York’s second goal of the season, with the first coming thanks to a Jay Heaps own goal against the New England revolution. But the big striker almost got his second in the 12^th when newly acquired left back Alfredo Pacheco sent a long ball into his path behind the RSL defense. Kandji rushed Ramando’s net, but sent his effort just wide of the post.

New York continued to dominate throughout and showed signs of finding the form that saw them through to the MLS Cup final last season. Despite the strong showing and some great efforts from striker Juan Pablo Angel and midfielder Jorge Rojas the second goal would not come before the break. The visitors would head to the locker room down by only a goal.

Second Half   

The second half started brightly for RSL when striker Yura Movsisyan’s shot seemed destined to find the net. However, Red Bull defender Kevin Goldthwaite came to New York goalkeeper Jon Conway’s rescue and cleared the deflected shot off the line.

Angel finally gave the home fans a second goal to cheer about in the 57^th. Kandji played the Colombian into box with a well-weighted pass and the polished striker made no mistake with his finish.

The match took a turn in the visitors’ favor nine minutes later when Red Bull defender Jeremy Hall was sent off for a late challenge on midfielder Will Johnson. The man advantage allowed RSL to take over the majority of possession, and pushed the New York squad back on their heels.

But Jon Conway was up to the task of holding a clean sheet in his return from a suspension dating back to last season. The ‘keeper made a string of good saves in the closing 20 minutes, as Movsisyan and midfielder Kyle Beckerman pushed hard, but in vain, to pull their team back into the game.

The goals were not to be for Real Salt Lake, and New York managed to hold on for a 2-0 victory, their first of the season, sending RSL back to Utah empty-handed.

Allen Ramsey, Goal.com

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