NYCFC goals to stave off elimination because it hosts Montreal

Still alive in the playoff race entering the final two games, New York City Football Club’s margin of error is non-existent.

Taking three points Saturday afternoon at home with a win over lowly CF Montreal is imperative for NYCFC, which is seeking some favorable scoreboard results.

NYCFC (9-12-11, 38 points) begins its final two games in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and three points behind Columbus. NYCFC has the same win total as Toronto, which is one point ahead and trails the New York Red Bulls by one point.

NYCFC will not get the full picture of its positioning until Sunday night. While Columbus is playing at the same time on Saturday afternoon, Toronto and the Red Bulls are playing on Sunday.

A loss or a draw will hardly help, especially since a win or tie by Columbus will eliminate NYCFC. NYCFC can also be eliminated if it loses or ties in conjunction with a Red Bulls victory, a Columbus win, an Orlando win or tie and a Cincinnati victory.

NYCFC has a chance despite rarely winning of late as Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Atlanta decided on Benie Traore’s goal five minutes into second-half stoppage time. Traore’s goal improved NYCFC to 2-6-7 in its past 15 matches and ended a six-game winless skid (0-3-3).

“The fighting spirit was there in the second half, and that is the basics you need, especially in the phase we are in as a team, trying to achieve what we are trying to achieve,” NYCFC coach Pascal Jansen said.

Montreal (6-19-7, 25 points) enters with a minus-30 goal differential after allowing three goals in the second half of its 4-0 loss at Charlotte on Wednesday night.

On Wednesday, Montreal mustered one shot on target out of 10 attempts and was blanked for the 13th time and sixth in its past 10 matches as goalie Samsy Keita allowed three goals in a span of 16 minutes in the 17-year-old’s second start as one of Montreal’s young players seeing time.

“Samsy is one of the players in the squad with the greatest potential,” Montreal coach Philippe Eullaffroy said.

–Field Level Media