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Talles Magno plays hero to give NYCFC the 88th minute lead.
Talles Magno gave NYCFC the lead in the 88th minute with a tidy finish. (0:57)
8:03 PM
The five players who would sit out due to MLS health and safety protocols were the focus of attention.
The likes of goalkeepers and captains would be watching. Three fourths of the usual backline would be out, with center-backs Jack Elliott and Jakob Glesnes and left-back Kai Wagner also out. The Union wouldn't have much depth to change the course of the match should that be required. The manager of New York City FC, Ronny Deila, had more resources on his bench than the counterpart, Jim Curtin.
Talles Magno's late goal gave New York City a win and a place in the MLS Cup, which will be played on Saturday. Live on ABC.
The fans of the teams who win the conference finals are the ones who remember. MLS Cups make an impression. The gutty performance by the Union and NYCFC's comeback on Sunday will likely stay in the memory a bit longer than most.
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The circumstances made for a unique match up. The Union were hurting in terms of personnel. There was concern on Saturday that the game might get out of hand and become a farce. It was a challenge to fill out his lineup card.
He said that when he was writing in the team messages at the beginning of the game, there were a couple of names he didn't know how to spell.
That scenario was avoided. While Deila was complimentary of the Union players who took the field, and noted that Philadelphia's style didn't change, he admitted that the home side's numbers did change the mental dynamic of the match.
He said that it has a different pressure to be more, 'We have to win'.
NYCFC had the majority of the ball in the first half, but never really threatened the Union goal. The patchwork backline led by Aurelien Collin, who had played one minute of competitive soccer for Philadelphia the past two seasons, looked comfortable for the better part of an hour. It looked like the Union would get their "Rocky" moment when Kacper Przybylko forced an own goal from Alex Callens in the 63rd minute.
The Union's legs weren't strong enough to stay there after climbing the mountain. The lead lasted all of the time, with Maxi Moralez hitting a rebound to bring NYCFC level. The Blues were going downhill.
"I think we needed to get a period to get the crowd into it, to have a five-minute window where now it puts a little stress and pressure on New York City." "Maybe they start throwing numbers forward and we can hit them on the counter."
Deila had already made a trio of substitutions, with record signing Magno, Gudmundur Thorarinsson and ISMAel Tajouri-Shradi all of whom helped tip the balance toward the visitors. The Blues' attack was perked up by Tajouri-Shradi and Magno in the final third.
The Eastern Conference final was won by the visitors after NYCFC's Maxi Moralez scored.
As for Curtin, he was stuck with little in the way of options as his band of starters was gassed.
The weapons that came off the bench are expensive.
The most expensive one was delivered in less than two minutes. Magno scored the game-winner from close range in the 88th minute after Thorarinsson robbed Mbaizo and fed him.
The goal was cruel for the Union, since Nathan Harriel had a free head over the bar just minutes before. It was deserved by the NYCFC side that turned up the pressure after halftime.
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